NELSON MANDELA

A middle-grade biography of Nelson Mandela brings this globally inspiring leader to life for young readers.

With black-and-white line drawings and a layout that incorporates traditional text with touches of comics, this biography is engrossing. It opens in 1930, as 12-year-old Mandela is sent to the residence of the acting king of the Thembu people, a brush with royalty that would lay the groundwork for his life’s journey. The narrative includes context about the history of colonization of South Africa and the racial structure of the society, allowing readers to gain an understanding of Mandela’s life. Much of the book centers on Mandela’s early life: his adoption into the royal family upon his father’s sickness, learning the great narratives of South African history that countered what he was taught in school, and experiencing Xhosa rites of passage. Isdahl describes how Mandela was affected by the demoralizing pass laws designed to ensure a steady supply of cheap workers for White farmers, as well as other racially oppressive rules and laws pervasive during that time. Readers learn how, in the 1940s, Mandela joined the fight against apartheid, putting his talents and legal skills to work for the African National Congress. The harsh conditions that led to Mandela’s struggle are made clear, making his long-delayed victory all the sweeter.

This extensively researched and passionately told biography is an incredible resource.