Winner of the Nautilus Book Award
Winner of the 2021 FOCAL Award
Silver Award Winner, 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards
Winner of the Book Award for Young People’s Literature, 2020 Maine Literary Awards
A Great Kid Books Best New Book
Building on the brilliance of Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, the newest installment in the Fighting for Justice series introduces young readers to another real-life champion for civil rights: Bridget “Biddy” Mason, an African American philanthropist, healer, and midwife who was born into slavery.
When Biddy Mason arrived in California, where slavery was technically illegal, she was kept captive by her owners and forced to work without pay. But when Biddy learned that she was going to be taken to a slave state, she launched a plan to win her freedom. She refused to be defined by her enslavement, and coauthors Arisa White and Laura Atkins devote much of their narrative to Biddy Mason's later life as a business and civic leader in the fledgling city of Los Angeles. Biddy Mason Speaks Up is an age-appropriate yet unflinching examination of slavery, racism, and community healing in the United States. Each chapter begins with lyrical verse and full-color illustrations that draw readers into the narrative, and is followed by visually engaging sections filled with keyword definitions, historical context, timelines, and primary sources. Throughout the book, the authors pose questions to the reader, such as “How do you see power at work in your community?”, making Biddy Mason's story all the more relatable to the present day.
A
Great Kid Books Best New Book
★ “Difficult but necessary, inclusive and respectful, this book does a beautiful job of telling truths about our history and how we construct it.”—Kirkus Reviews
★ “A first purchase for biography, history, and general nonfiction collections alike.”—School Library Journal
“Wonderful.”—Candace Cooper, The Los Angeles Review of Books
“Moving and enlightening.”—Marah Gubar, Public Books
“★★★★★”—Lois J. Wickstrom, Readers' Favorite
“This is as impressive a project as you will ever see to potentize history.”—Matt Sutherland, Foreword Reviews
“A work that possesses undertones of inspiration that finally bloom into empowerment and freedom, Biddy Mason Speaks Up is a great read for all ages.”—China Myers, Duende Literary
“A shining achievement.”—Multiculturalism Rocks!
“Combines moving poetry with informational sections in each chapter along with a full-page illustration of a key scene in that chapter.... Biddy Mason's [story] is one with roots in California and significance everywhere.”—The Pirate Tree
“Highly recommended.”—Midwest Book Review
