Martin Luther King, Jr

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

The dramatic yet brief life of the best-known leader of the civil rights movement is vividly explored. Jakoubek grounds the clear and accessible narrative in the history of African-Americans and skillfully weaves in contemporary accounts of King's activities and the movement's major events. King's own speeches and writings are extensively used to deepen the reader's understanding of and respect for the man. No mere hagiography, Jakoubek does not ignore allegations of King's sexual improprieties or gloss over infighting among the movement's black leaders. His even-handed account, which includes an introduction by Coretta Scott King, is illustrated with well-chosen, precisely captioned black-and-white photos. Ages 10-up. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

Gr 7-10-- In this addition to the series, Dr. King emerges as an articulate, effective leader whose oratorical skills and commitment to his ideals propelled him into the national spotlight. In a straightforward manner, Jakoubek describes King's family background, schooling, ministry, and civil rights involvement, showing a man whose philosophy of nonviolence was to test the soul of a nation. On the whole, the portrayal of King is balanced; his anxieties, doubts, and flaws are revealed, as well as the problems he had with those who opposed him or his nonviolent approach. There is a reference to his infidelities and the FBI's attempt to discredit him. The book has numerous familiar photographs, a chronology, and a bibliography that contains a few entries that are either too advanced or too scholarly for the intended age group. For an insightful look into King and the civil rights movement, this will be a useful resource. --Jeanette Lambert, LaVega School, Waco, TX