The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Freedman, Russell.  2004.  THE VOICE THAT CHALLENGED A NATION: MARIAN ANDERSON AND THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS.  New York: Houghton Mifflin.  ISBN  06181599762

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Russell Freedman's biography presents the life of Marian Anderson, an African American contralto vocalist whose love and talent for singing played a significant role during the early days of the United States' civil rights movement.  He traces her early beginnings, when she sang with the family's church choir and at small music halls and auditoriums to support her family and her music education.  As critics took notice, she began to travel around the nation, but prejudice often barred her from traveling and performing at larger concert halls, particularly in the South.  After moving to Europe to study with the world's best vocalist coaches and achieving international fame, she returned home to share her love of singing with the American people.  However, she was still barred from singing at prestigious venues, particularly at Constitution Hall, which had been declared a "white artists only" performance center by the Daughters of the American Revolution .  Instead, Marian Anderson sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to a crowd of over 75,000 people and changed the course of history.  This one act thrust the issue of prejudice and racism into the limelight and helped spur change in America.
 

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This carefully researched and well-written biography reveals the life story of Marian Anderson, an individual who made a significant contribution to the civil rights movement, but is often overlooked in history books.  Freedman draws on newspaper and magazine interviews Anderson gave throughout her career; first-hand accounts of those who worked closely with her, such as her long-time accompanist, Kosti Vehanan; and even personal insights and reflections found in her  autobiography.  Personal quotes and cited dialogue help paint a portrait of a soft spoken, but courageous woman who experienced many adversities in her life, yet maintained strength and dignity through it all.   After agreeing to perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the "Freedom Concert," as it was now called, she said, "I could see my significance as an individual in this small affair.  I had become, whether I liked it or not, a symbol, representing my people.  I had to appear."  Each quote is thoroughly documented in the "Chapter Notes" section of the book.  The selected bibliography also affirms the careful research Russell undertook to develop Anderson's complete biography, citing scholarly articles, rare published interviews, and excerpts from Eleanor Roosevelt's syndicated newspaper column, My Day.  

 

The accuracy and credibility of the book is also verified by Russell Freedman's credentials and established reputation.  Prior to the release of this book in 2004, Freedman won the Newbery Medal for LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY in 1988 and had several Newbery Honor books, including ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY (1994) and THE WRIGHT BROTHERS:  HOW THEY INVENTED THE AIRPLANE (1992).  As Dr. Sylvia Vardell states in her book CHILDREN'S LITERATURE IN ACTION: A LIBRARIAN'S GUIDE, "Russell Freedman is generally considered the master of well-researched and well-documented biographies for young people, setting a high standard for others who choose to frame meaningful and interesting biographies for the middle grades and above" (pg. 245).  Freedman's dedication to his craft is evident in his writing style, with meticulously written  sentences that flow easily, and present Marian Anderson's life in a story-like frame that keeps the audience's interest.  Readers can trust that the content within this  biography is factual, free of theory and inaccuracies, and written by a knowledgeable, well-respected author.

Black and white, contemporary photos beautifully complement the text, depicting several images of an elegantly dressed Marian Anderson performing before large crowds at the Paris Opera and Carnegie Hall.  Most notably is a photo that spans two pages and captures the sea of spectators that filled the National Mall for Anderson's "Freedom Concert." The immensity of the photo effectively reflects the monumental impact the event had in the civil rights movement.  Other photos serve to clue readers in on the rampant discrimination Anderson and other African Americans endured, particularly in the South.  These photos include a young boy waiting behind a sign that reads "Colored Taxicab Stand," a group of well dressed African Americans at a bus station's "colored waiting room," and a man walking into a movie theater that leads to the "colored only balcony."  These powerful photos not only personalize Marian Anderson's life for readers, but also highlight the type of prejudice and discrimination she experienced as she made her mark as an African American contralto vocalist. 

Freedman hooks his readers' interest from the onset of the book by detailing the excitement and anticipation felt in the air as the humongous crowd anxiously awaited for Marian Anderson to perform at the "Freedom Concert."  This serves to set the climax of her role in the civil rights movement which readers learn about in more detail as they delve deeper in the book.  He then goes on to describe the major events of Marian Anderson's life and career in chronological order, beginning with her birth in 1897 in a poverty-stricken area of Philadelphia and concluding with a touching description of her funeral in 1993.  A table of contents and an index serve as useful reference aids to help readers locate specific details, events, or individuals in her life.  Photos and text are neatly arranged throughout the book so as not to overwhelm the reader with too much information.  Appropriate line spacing makes for easier reading, while the carefully chosen photos add subtle details not mentioned in the text.  Photos of various shapes and sizes help to enhance the book's pages, with each one captioned with a concise description.  As an added bonus, Freedman includes images of  several concert programs which list Marian Anderson as the contralto soloist and include details of the arias and Negro spiritual songs she eloquently performed.  Readers in the middle and high school grades will truly enjoy reading about this sensational civil rights icon.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

A Robert F. Sibert Medal Book

A Newbery Honor Book

An Orbis Pictus Honor Book

KIRKUS: "[Freedman] offers instead a fully realized portrait of a musical artist and her times. Well-chosen, well-placed archival photographs, clear writing, abundant research seamlessly woven into the text, and careful documentation make an outstanding, handsome biography. Freedman at his best."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY: "Copious quotes from Anderson's autobiography, papers and interviews allow her resonant voice—and personal grace—to animate these pages. Also included are abundant photos, newspaper clippings and reproductions of concert programs. An engrossing biography."

VOYA: " Freedman creates a masterful biography of Marian Anderson...The prose is sharp and clean with generous use of quotations. All quotes are rewritten and cited in the back as chapter notes, a choice that enhances the immediacy and clarity of the book."

5.  CONNECTIONS

Have students read other books about Marian Anderson:

Arsenault, Raymond.  THE SOUND OF FREEDOM: MARIAN ANDERSON, THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, AND THE CONCERT THAT AWAKENED AMERICA.  ISBN 1608190560

Ryan, Pam Munoz.  WHEN MARIAN SANG: THE TRUE RECITAL OF MARIAN ANDERSON, THE VOICE OF A CENTURY.  ISBN  1591129486

Sutcliffe, Jane.   MARIAN ANDERSON.  ISBN 082259000X

Incorporate this book, along with others, to celebrate Black History Month

Nelson, Kadir.  WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL.  ISBN  0786808322

Nelson, Kadir.  HEART AND SOUL: THE STORY OF AMERICA AND AFRICAN AMERICANS.  ISBN 0061730742

 

Let students hear  Marian Anderson sing in several of her concert performances.  Songs are available in the Community Audio public domain section of the Internet Archive: Digital Library and may be accessed at http://archive.org/details/MarianAnderson-01-05

 

 

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Bartoletti

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bartoletti, Susan Campbell.  2005.  HITLER YOUTH: GROWING UP IN HITLER'S SHADOW.  New York: Scholastic Inc.  ISBN  0439353793

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

Bartoletti's book examines the role children and teenagers played during Hitler's rise to power and rule over Germany between 1933 and 1945.  Specifically, she focuses on an organized group which was established in 1926, known as the Hitler Youth.  While boys were trained for the hardships they would endure in the German military, the girls were educated on how to be good caretakers and wives.  Life in the Hitler Youth included a Nazi education, activities such as camping, hiking, and field exercises, and meetings in which they listened to Hitler's broadcasts and discussed how to better serve the Führer.  Bartoletti balances these Hitler Youth accounts by also including information on the lives of children who resisted the Nazi regime, as well as the lives of Jewish children and families.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This well-written and thoroughly researched book draws the audience in as Bartoletti reveals a side of the Third Reich that is often overlooked: the role of children.  Through compelling first-hand testimonies and interviews given by Hitler Youth, readers begin to understand the mindset of the children who pledged their allegiance to Adolf Hitler.  As one former Hitler Youth recalls, "I can remember the feeling I had when he spoke...At last, here's somebody who can get us out of this mess," citing the difficult economic depression Germany found itself in.  Another former Hitler Youth, Alfons Heck, describes how he felt the first night Nazis began to persecute the Jews: "The brutality of it was stunning... but I also experienced an unmistakable feeling of excitement."  These quotes provide compelling insight on the motivations that drove the Hitler Youth.  Bartoletti also uses excerpts from the personal diaries and letters of a young girl named Sophie Scholl to show readers that not all German youth bought into the Nazi's beliefs. In a diary entry, Scholl writes, "One should have the courage to believe only in what is good.  By that, I do not mean one should believe in illusions.  I mean one should do only what is true and good and take it for granted that others will do the same."  Testimonies, interviews, diary excerpts, and letters are flawlessly woven together to provide readers with insight on how children lived through one of the most difficult time periods in history.  These primary sources also serve to strengthen the credibility of the stories described within the text; all are credited in great detail in both the "Quote Sources" and "Bibliography" sections found at the end of the book.

Extensive use of black and white photographs personalize many of the stories and events discussed in the book.  As readers flip through the pages, they see images that capture the innocence of a class of young girls dressed in white standing with their teachers giving the Nazi salute; the focused determination on the faces of a group of Hitler Youth boys marching in formation; and the anguish experienced by a German soldier who returns home to find his home completely destroyed. To balance these images of Hitler Youth, Bartoletti also incorporates appropriate photographs that capture the devastation suffered by those they oppressed.  Readers see powerful images of a torched synagogue in a pile of ruins, exhausted concentration camp prisoners wearily standing in their striped pajamas, and the tear-streaked face of a terrified Frenchman as German soldiers overtake his city.  It is through photographs that young readers begin to understand the profound impact the Nazi regime had on human history, with each photo effectively triggering a myriad of emotions.  

Bartoletti's lively writing style is objective, with no hints of bias or prejudice towards any of the individuals discussed.  Descriptive sentences and detailed explanations are used to describe the different branches of the Hitler Youth as well as the events that transpired during World War II.  She also incorporates  German words throughout the text to expose readers to the German language, adding to the book's cultural authenticity.  The author's passion and enthusiasm for the subject matter are evident in the "Author's Note" and the "About the Photographs" sections where Bartoletti reveals to readers the lengths she went to to conduct extensive research:  visiting libraries, museums, archives; conducting personal interviews with former Hitler Youth and concentration camp survivors; and traveling to cities like Washington, D.C, Berlin, and Nuremberg.   She encourages readers to learn more about the Hitler Youth and World War II events by directing them to access the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration's online photography collections.  Specific book titles and appropriate resources for young readers are also found in the "Bibliography" section.  To get her readers to contemplate and reflect on the tragedy of events that occurred during the Third Reich, Bartoletti  poses a series of thought-provoking questions at the book's conclusion.  She asks "Could another despot like Hitler rise to power on the shoulders of young people?" and  "What are you willing to do to prevent such a shadow from falling over you and others?"  The answers to these rousing questions will encourage critical thinking and inspire readers further their understanding.  

The book's design is inviting and attractive to readers, with cream-colored pages, use of different fonts and formats, and appropriate line spacing for easier reading.  Carefully selected photographs that are suitable for young readers relay the truth of the events that occurred without overwhelming them with scary and unpleasant images.  Each archived photo is fittingly arranged to complement the text, with each image containing a brief explanation and source from which it was retrieved.  The book is organized in chronological order, beginning with the Hitler Youth's formation in 1926 and ending with Nazi Germany's collapse in 1945.  A table of contents page as well as an index are included to allow readers to easily locate people or events mentioned in the book.  A helpful "Timeline of the Hitler Youth" provides an outline of major events that occurred in the organization's history.  An epilogue provides a fitting conclusion with details of what became of specific individuals mentioned throughout the text.

4.  REVIEW EXCERPTS

Newbery Honor Book

Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

BOOKLIST: "The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum. The extensive back matter is a part of the gripping narrative."

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "Bartoletti is quickly becoming a nonfiction writer who tops lists with her engaging writing, viewpoint, obvious dedication to research and knowledge of how important pictures are to the telling for this audience. Her book is filled with chilling quotes, anecdotal stories derived from research and interviews, and stories about how Hitler’s young were manipulated and used as a primary source of his power and vision for the future."

KIRKUS: "Case studies of actual participants root the work in specifics, and clear prose, thorough documentation and an attractive format with well-chosen archival photographs make this nonfiction writing at its best."

5.  CONNECTIONS

Have students continue to study about the Hitler Youth by using the following books:

Heyes, Eileen.  CHILDREN OF THE SWASTIKA: THE HITLER YOUTH.  ISBN  1562942379

Keeley, Jennifer.  LIFE IN THE HITLER YOUTH.  ISBN  156006613X

Have students read books about children in the Holocaust to balance out perspectives:

Gottfried, Ted.  CHILDREN OF THE SLAUGHTER: YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE HOLOCAUST.  ISBN  0761317163

Holliday, Laurel.  CHILDREN IN THE HOLOCAUST AND WORLD WAR II.  ISBN  0671520547

Have students discuss and answer the questions posed by Susan Bartoletti:  "Could another despot like Hitler rise to power on the shoulders of young people?" and  "What are you willing to do to prevent such a shadow from falling over you and others?"