She Sang for the Mountains: The Story of Jean Ritchie--Singer Songwriter, Activist

Jean Ritchie (1922-2015), a singer who sang generationally inherited ballads and heard music everywhere, is centered in this preservationist profile. After an idyllic, isolated musical childhood in Kentucky's Cumberland Mountains with her parents and 13 siblings, the pale-skinned blonde relocates to New York City with a dulcimer in hand, becoming a music teacher. Introduced to folk singers cum protestors--sketched portraits bear the names of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Carl Sandburg, and Doc Watson--by a Library of Congress song collector, Ritchie takes up protest songwriting to oppose coal mining. Hitchcock uses gently melodious, alliterative prose: "Rumbling cars replaced rambling walks. The roar of radios replaced the strum of strings." Earthy, dimensional collage art by Page underlines the story's themes with its organic, handmade feel. A hearty portrait of the "Mother of Folk," emphasizing the belief that music can create change. Ages 8-up. (Aug.)

Gr 2-5--Hitchcock and Page bring to life Jean Ritchie's musical legacy. The folk singer's life is traced from her early days in Cumberland, KY, to New York City, to her return home in her later years. She began as a music teacher and went on to be a protest anthem writer and an inspiration to many folk musicians who are now household names, e.g., Bob Dylan, who had to settle in court over using one of her songs. The illustrations leap off the page with characters that will remind older readers of stop-motion animation, here set against collage backgrounds. In stark scenes, children will also learn about the art of protest songs and Ritchie's own work against strip mining. A great addition to existing literature on climate change, this biography adds the subject to the rich list of activists explored in today's literature. Ritchie's words are featured throughout; the eccentric art fits the atmosphere of Ritchie's life and the heart of the book perfectly. VERDICT Include this Appalachian biography to strengthen nonfiction shelves and introduce readers to a woman they may never encounter otherwise.--Aryssa Damron, DC P.L., Washington, DC