  | We are mighty : 12 ordinary Americans who did the next needed thing Author: McMahon, Sharon | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
You'll meet Maria de Lopez, who drove ambulances during World War I and helped win the vote for women. You'll read about two boys Norman and Alan, who met at a campout, stayed friends for life, and helped lead the country together. And you'll discover how teachers, kids, and quiet changemakers made a mighty difference in their communities.
| Illustrator: | Chapman, Susanna |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (03/01/26)
School Library Journal (05/02/26)
Booklist (04/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 04/01/2026 This nonfiction overview of Americans who “did the next needed thing” and achieved greatness is a miniature version of McMahon’s adult number one New York Times best-seller of 2024, The Small and the Mighty. Each highlights 12 heroes, with 6 appearing in both books. The format is short vignettes, immensely aided by the illustrations, done in watercolor, ink, crayon, and cut paper, which enhance the brief biographies, such as that of a 15-year-old girl, part of a lighthouse family, who rescued four drowning boys. The theme is perhaps best illustrated in the story of Native American Jim Thorpe, whose shoes went missing right before his competition at the 1912 Olympics. Thorpe won gold with two shoes found at the last minute, one of which didn’t even fit. The connections are sometimes illogical, as in the story of Gouverneur Morris, who lost part of a leg years before inscribing the first three words of the Constitution. Entertaining but hamstrung by its brevity. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 05/02/2026 Gr 2–6—This engaging biography collection celebrates 12 ordinary Americans who make simple choices that ripple into meaningful change. For example, superintendent Virginia Randolph spots a school building that "no one had loved…for a very long time" and slowly transforms it into a beloved school that still stands today. Among the book's other subjects are María de López, Julius Rosenwald, Roberto Clemente, and Jim Thorpe. Each vignette is written in engaging, present tense, and events focus on a small, impactful detail rather than a whole life without diminishing each person's future path. Bright, detailed illustrations in watercolor, ink, crayon, and cut paper with a digital tweak fill each spread and highlight individual traits, such as bravery in the face of danger (Ida Lewis, a 15-year-old lighthouse keeper, was given the title of "bravest woman in America"). The choice to exclude dates or written references to race or ethnicity feels especially potent, rendering each act of change simultaneously timeless and current. Back matter includes a timeline, a selected bibliography, and source notes. VERDICT This original, uplifting volume highlights how small actions can create long-lasting effects. Recommended.—Rebecca Kirshenbaum - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
