NONFICTION

Thurgood Marshall

by Teri Kanefield
Abrams. (Making of America: Bk. 6). Apr. 2020. 256p. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781419741043.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4-8–United States Supreme Court Justice and civil rights champion Thurgood Marshall is the subject of the most recent title in the “Making of America” series. Born in Baltimore in 1908, Marshall played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, specifically school desegregation. Kanefield paints a nuanced picture of a courageous leader and includes information about his complex relationship with his first wife, activist Vivian “Buster” Burey. Although some of the pacing drags, particularly descriptions of legal battles, the book’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. The final chapter contextualizes Marshall’s legacy with current events. The author’s final paragraphs are a good jumping-off point for further conversation and critical thinking about the future of American government.
VERDICT A mostly approachable biography about a key player in the civil rights movement and one of the great legal minds of the 20th century. Purchase to refresh dated biographies on Marshall.
Reviewed by ­Jennifer Knight, North Olympic Library System, Port Angeles, WA , Mar 01, 2020

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