Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court justice

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-- This book concentrates on Thomas's roots and how they shaped his judicial and political beliefs. Using quotes and stories to illustrate his familial and educational influences, Halliburton takes a personal look at his subject. He also gives considerable background on the problems of African Americans in our society, the city of Savannah, Georgia, and the workings of the Supreme Court. Thomas's early years are covered fairly well, but the discussion of his nomination to the Court and his stormy Senate confirmation are not explored in any depth. The Anita Hill controversy is given only a brief mention. It is clearly too soon to see what his effect on the Court will be. The book has a clean layout and numerous average-to-poor-quality black-and-white photos. It offers a rather pedestrian profile of the man and his achievements, written in an adulatory tone, and is therefore a marginal purchase at best. Libraries looking for biographies of African Americans in the legal and judicial fields should purchase one of the several fine titles on Thurgood Marshall. --Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO