Demanding Justice

August 1, 2003
Gr 2-4-Cary was an unusual African-American woman for pre- and post-Civil War America. The daughter of a free black family with an abolitionist father, she worked all her life to improve the social and economic status of African Americans through the establishment of the first weekly newspaper owned by a black woman and her teaching and law careers. In seven succinct chapters, this brief biography effectively outlines her life, allowing for some interesting reading even though the writing at times seems stilted. A solid bibliography and a map of the U.S. and Canadian areas where Cary worked are included. Average-quality, black-and-white reproductions of oil paintings appear throughout. An important addition about a much-overlooked figure.-Rita Soltan, Oakland University, Rochester, MI

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2003
A contemporary of Frederick Douglass, African-American activist Mary Ann Shadd Cary taught, wrote a newspaper, earned a law degree, and stood up for equal rights. In trying to enliven Carys story, Ferris invents spurious emotions and indirect dialogue, each snippet softened with a qualifying "surely," etc. Black-and-white illustrations in the style of textured oil paintings appear occasionally. Websites. Bib., ind.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)