  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 10/15/2015 “Some people had rights, while others had none. Why shouldn’t they have them, too?” This simple phrase captures the efforts of two of America’s greatest figures of social change: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. In remarkably economic prose, Robbins reveals the similarities in their childhoods and demonstrates the enormous impact these friends had on history as they worked tirelessly toward their goals of securing fundamental rights for women and slaves. The importance of loyal friendship is a prominent theme throughout the book—Anthony and Douglass sit together in a cozy room, enjoying tea and cake, listening to each other’s ideas, and supporting the other’s cause. The mixed-media illustrations, composed of acrylics, colored pencil, and collage, are rendered in a loose, highly stylized manner. Bold colors lend an upbeat feel to the illustrations, while layers of paint and mixed media create subtle texture and depth. An author’s note expands the concepts presented in the narrative and frames the story in its historical context. Also included is a short bibliography and photographs of the two pivotal figures. - Copyright 2015 Booklist. School Library Journal - 01/01/2016 K-Gr 3—Robbins imagines the meeting between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass at Anthony's house over tea. Both were champions of freedom and voting rights—Anthony for women and Douglass for African Americans. Emphasizing the commonality between these two famous Americans, the author effectively uses parallel phrasing: "Some people liked [his/her] ideas about rights…. Others didn't." A note mentions that Anthony and Douglass spoke out for each other's causes. Husband-and-wife team Qualls and Alko's beautiful illustrations are rendered in acrylic and gouache, and the two used collages of cutout strips with ink writing, giving the book an 18th-century look. VERDICT Readers will come away remembering a brief episode in history that demonstrates that cooperation can be found in unexpected places.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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