VOYA

Daisy Bates was the energetic powerhouse behind the handful of courageous Arkansas African American students, known forever after as the Little Rock Nine, who faced down hate-filled crowds of white people to integrate Central High School. Bates started her lifelong career as a civil rights activist more furious than effective. Born in 1914 to an unwed mother who was murdered by white men and abandoned by her birth father, Daisy was raised by close family friends who did their best to redirect Daisy's anger against racism. Daisy's stubborn rebelliousness was reigned in once she met L. C. Bates, an insurance salesman several years Daisy's senior. L. C. was just as passionate about racial justice as Daisy, and together they fought one exhausting battle after another. Once married, they began a controversial albeit unexpectedly successful newspaper, bringing them into the public arena. With Daisy's coaching and guidance, the Little Rock Nine redefined the notion of determined dignity which opened the doors to relentless efforts to integrate, efforts that were by turns soul draining and life affirming. Filled with powerful photographs of that historic confrontation, Polakow's highly recommended biography of Daisy resurrects the life of this twentieth-century crusader. VOYA Codes 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Linnet Books/Shoestring, 108p.; Index. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading., Ages 12 to 18.
—Beth E. Andersen

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Putting a face on the front liners working for civil rights in the United States is a worthy undertaking, and Polakow offers a portrait of one influential individual. When court cases established the right to integrate all-white Central High in Little Rock, AR, in 1957, Bates backed up the nine students who chose that opportunity, providing her vision, commitment, courage, stamina, and political support to make it successful. She and her husband were already involved in the civil rights movement. L.C. Bates had established the Arkansas State Press in 1941, the most influential black newspaper in the state, and Daisy published reports documenting police brutality, racist practices, and legal inequities. The author's text is achievement oriented; there is some background description of personal lives but that is clearly not the point of this consideration. Quotes are documented at the end of the book, and an afterword tells what happened to each one of the "Little Rock Nine." Some black-and-white photographs are included. This is a respectful introduction to an important woman and her husband and an overview of their contributions to civil rights for African Americans.-Tina Cohen, Deerfield Academy, MA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.