book reviews

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: During this trial, you will learn about a little girl who had no clue just how important she would become.”

Ruth Bader Ginsberg: The Case of R. B. G. vs. Inequality, by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Stacy Innerst, Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2017

Jonah Winters presents Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s life story as a case before the court of the next generation, including such memorable details as how she studied in the bathroom at Cornell and wasn’t allowed into the periodical room, as well as chronicling such major accomplishments as her scintillating dissents.

Add this book to your collection because the author does not shy away from igniting readers’ indignation over the “outrageous nonsense” of racial prejudice and sexism in our society, while showing examples of how one can respond positively and proactively to the “disrespect” that happens “right here in America.”

Writers will appreciate this book because the author’s masterful use of thematic court language throughout the book elevates the genre of the picture book biography to a whole new level, e.g. “Here are the facts of her case;” and “We now offer into evidence…Exhibit A…” Superb back matter includes a glossary of legal and rights-related terminology, as well as an author’s note. But this book wins its case by establishing an intimate, authoritative and persuasive tone right from the beginning, exactly as Justice Ginsburg must have done in her landmark cases for women’s rights.

Illustrators will admire Innerst’s evocative use of watercolors to depict characters’ emotions, such as Ruth’s mother’s luminous intellect and determination, her husband Martin’s devotion, and her own implacable righteousness.

Other books by Jonah Winter include:

Hillary, illus. by Raul Colon
Lillian’s Right to Vote, illus. by Shane W. Evans
Jazz Age Josephine, illus. by Marjorie Priceman
Barack, illus. by AG Ford
Frida, illus. by Ana Juan

Other books by Stacy Innerst include:

The Music in George’s Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue, by Suzanne Slade
Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea, by Tony Johnston
M is for Music, by Kathleen Krull

“There can be just one verdict: Because she did not give up, because she refused to let other people define her limitations as a person, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has herself become a symbol of justice in America.”

Ellen Oh‘s article Dear White Writers poses some interesting questions for me as a curator of this Diverse Book Review series. She challenges white writers to support #WNDB by reading, buying and promoting diverse books, not necessarily by attempting to write them. That is not to say that authors can never cross color/other lines in their fiction–many writers of many backgrounds do this successfully. But what happens when privileged writers claim the diverse spaces on publishers’ booklists when we know that those spaces are limited? Writers of color and other diverse backgrounds can get edged out of the opportunity to tell their own stories, as described by Jacqueline Woodson in her post “Who Can Tell My Story?”. Not okay.

So for today’s Windows/Mirrors Book Review, and in honor of the Year of the Monkey, I am pleased to present, telling her own story:

Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same, by Grace Lin, Little, Brown and Company, 2010

“‘Oh good,” Ling says. ‘I know this story.’”

If you were ever a fan of Frog & Toad, you will love Ling & Ting. Grace Lin perfectly captures the back and forth of a close friendship between two very different people, and like Arnold Lobel, highlights those differences as the root of the loving humor in her stories.

Read this book because it’s the first of four, so you will get to spend a lot of time with these spunky sisters. The language of each chapter cycles back on itself in a way that always moves the story forward, so it supports readers without becoming repetitive. Likewise, the structure of the book builds a cumulative story to a satisfying ending.

Add this book to your collection because Lin has thoughtfully layered her work to be engaging, accessible to new readers, culturally normative AND culturally informative. Its main characters—two twin girls of Chinese descent—challenge the racist stereotype that “all Asians look alike,” something that Lin considered carefully when developing her story. In the illustrations, the Ling & Ting not only dress identically, but also look identical, until the fateful moment early in the series when the irrepressible Ting cannot sit still for her haircut. But in personality the girls could not be more distinct, even though they amiably share interests and activities in all the stories.

“Making Dumplings” was one of my favorite stories, especially with the artistic reference to In the Night Kitchen on the title page. Lin manages to weave in the cultural meaning of dumplings without being the least bit didactic, in a way that further illuminates the premise of the entire book—to be twins does not mean to be exactly the same. The following story, “Chopsticks,” hilariously relates a common childhood experience for many—the challenge of chopsticks.

As a writer, I particularly admire the metaliterary element of the stories “The Library Book,” in which a book refers Ting back to an earlier story, and “Mixed Up,” which like Lobel’s “The Story,” contains a story within a story.

More Books by Grace Lin include:

Novels—