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Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy and Whitney Gardner
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers / Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
ISBN: 9781534424555
Becoming RBG is a straightforward (yet never boring) biography of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, showing what life was like for little Ruth and what inspired her to become RBG. It’s important for today’s teens to see the struggles the previous generation went through to get into male-dominated professions. Ruth was able to break many barriers in her career path and personal life, choosing to have a family and to continue working.
Gardner’s art is clear and crisp and the simple style says so much with just an eye movement or hand gesture. Levy’s text is well-researched and lays out the fundamentals of the judicial system for her readers alongside the narrative, making this an easy read for teens.
Hand this to readers of other strong women biographies such as Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller, Primates, and Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World. If you enjoy Gardner’s artwork, check out her graphic novel Fake Blood.
—Tina Lernø
