Mary Mcleod Bethune: Voice of Black Hope (Women of Our Time) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "That Saturday afternoon, Mary walked down the dusty road holding one end of the heavy laundry basket while her mother held the other..." (more)
Key Phrases: Miss Wilson, Daytona Beach, Miss Chrissman (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

One of 17 children born to former slaves, Bethune made the most of her life, creating opportunities for herself and other black people. This addition to the Women of Our Times series is an admiring, factual account of her achievements: founder of what later became Bethune-Cookman College; advocate for blacks during the New Deal; organizer, spokeswoman and visionary leader. Though Meltzer said more about the private life of his subject in Dorothea Lange: Life Through the Camera, he is characteristically good at sketching a historical context. Against the background of racial violence in the early 1900s, he states, "Mary Bethune's struggle for decent education and equality appears heroic."
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6 There is nothing new or different here, and although clear language is used, the style appears to be oversimplified. Rich and colorful language such as that found in Sterne's Mary McLeod Bethune (Knopf, 1957; o.p.) and in Peare's biography of Bethune (Vanguard, 1951) is missing here, and the absence is noticeable. More disturbing are the instances of stereotyping found within the first five pages, such as the description of blacks eating, drinking, and dancing in the moonlight after the day's arduous work is done. The most offensive is the description of Mary's beloved grandmother: ``She was ancient now, wrinkled and toothless, her white hair always bound in a red bandana.'' These regrettably negative passages help considerably to lessen one's enthusiasm for reading this biography of an outstanding black American woman whose life achievements deserve their truth to be described in sensitive and caring words and phrases. Full-page black-and-white line drawings are decorative and appealing as they reinforce story detail. One discrepancy, however, is the illustration of Granny Sophia, who is neither wearing a bandana nor appears toothless, as the text describes. Also, because of the brief text and numerous story events, the position of illustrations is seldom in proximity to the text that it is intended to enhance. It is preferable, overall, to recommend Sterne's and Peare's books when appropriate. They provide the truth with what seems to be missing herepoetic beauty without condescension. Helen E. Williams, University of Maryland, College Park
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (January 5, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140322191
• ISBN-13: 978-0140322194
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,076,331 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written story of great inspiration, May 1, 1999

By A Customer

I read this book 2 years ago while getting my teaching credential. I have since put the book in my 4th/5th classroom library, yet it is never there. My students read this story of a hard working single mother and educator constantly. They know that Mary McLeod is one of my heros and they want to read why. I teach in school with little ethnic diversity, and Mary McLeod's story of learning and teaching and fighting for equality has been eye opening. None of my parents or students had heard of Mary McLeod before this year, but this wonderful book of her life has been a huge inspirational hit with the 9 and 10 year olds I teach and their parents.