King: A Life (Young Adult Edition)

Gr 7 Up–A young reader’s edition of the adult title of the same name examines Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life from the time his parents met in 1920 until his death on April 4, 1968. King, named Michael at birth, was born in Atlanta, GA, on January 15, 1929 during the heart of the Jim Crow era. Little Mike, as his family referred to him, learned quickly that being Black meant, “you don’t count, you’re nobody.” The sting of that reality would be a guiding principle in King’s life as he navigated the incredible weight of being the leader of the Civil Rights movement in a country rife with racism and segregation. Details of King’s personal life (marriage, children, extramarital affairs, alcohol and tobacco use) as well as events leading up to his “I Have a Dream” speech exemplify the humanness of the person he was. Readers will find this biography to be an honest and engaging account of King. Harsh truths about the state of the country, as well as the difficulties endured by persons of color, underscore how far the U.S. has come, and still has to go, on the journey to achieve King’s dream. Black-and-white photographs are included. Events, such as the Montgomery bus boycott, Emmett Till’s death, and anti-war efforts, are covered.