Older Readers
Whose Right Is It? The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equality.
By Hana Bajramovic.
June 2024. 240p. illus. Holt, $24.99 (9781250225276). Gr. 9–12. 342.7302.
In the second installment in her Whose Right Is It? series, Bajramovic presents a concise and accessible narrative of the creation, fluid interpretation, and impact of the Fourteenth Amendment. Beginning with the full text of the amendment and a short introduction, including an overview of the processes that drive the federal courts, the book covers the origin and construction of the U.S. Constitution, ways the Supreme Court has interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment in the past, and ways the American people have argued for expanding its official protections. Bajramovic brilliantly and clearly lays the groundwork not only for understanding the Constitution, but also the Articles of Confederation, Bill of Rights, and the many legal cases that have changed the amendment’s powers. The Supreme Court was and continues to be incredibly influential in the application of the amendment, which has been transformed dramatically over the course of 150 years. This waxing and waning led to the creation of Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and policies affecting something as fundamental as citizenship. The last section examines many of the cases that have expanded equal protection, such as the Loving and Obergefell cases, and how the political makeup of the Supreme Court can (and already has) changed its interpretation of the amendment yet again. Clear-eyed, even-handed, and incredibly well documented, this ideal classroom pick accessibly introduces an essential and increasingly consequential part of the U.S. Constitution. —Jen Johnson
Middle Readers
All about U.S.: A Look at the Lives of 50 Kids from across the United States.
By Matt Lamothe and Jenny Volvovski. Illus. by Matt Lamothe.
Aug. 2024. 80p. Chronicle, $19.99 (9781797213705). Gr. 3–6. 305.230973.
In 2022, Lamothe ( , 2017) sent out a national call for ordinary families who wanted to share slices of their everyday lives. The 231 responses were culled to create a representative group whose demographics (race, religion, family structure, housing, etc.) closely aligned with national figures. The finalists, one from each state, filled out surveys, sat Readers will probably go right to their own state—and then find themselves hooked. The back matter explains the data-collection process in student-friendly terms and includes photos of all the kids. There’s also a list of sources for report writers. A fun, factual, and engaging resource. —