Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A pre-MLB biography of Jackie Robinson that focuses on his passion for justice and early encounters with injustice.Beginning with Jack (not yet called Jackie) Robinson's childhood, Bardhan-Quallen outlines some of the discrimination Jack faced: once-a-week segregated swimming times, being the only—and unwanted—black family on their street, and being denied sports opportunities despite excelling, all due to racism. These early life experiences, along with Jack's mother's lessons "to stand up for what was right, even when that was difficult to do," are presented as the foundation that helped Jack cultivate the courage and bravery needed to endure the trials to come. When Jack enrolled in the Army, he chafed against the prevalent racism. After segregation was outlawed in the military, not everyone listened, and when Jack refused to move to the back of a post bus, he was verbally abused and arrested. Though innocent, Jack was court-martialed. He won but decided to leave the Army and "took a job in Kansas City, and then another in Montreal. And in 1947, Jack went to work in Brooklyn, New York." Christie's naïve paintings give Robinson's story emotive heft while painting him as an Everyman, working with the text to immerse readers in Robinson's life before baseball.Powerfully illustrates that this groundbreaking American icon's commitment to equality did not begin or end with baseball—his courage was a lifelong trait. (timeline, author's note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

ALA Booklist (Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2017)

The jaunty red-and-white stripes of the endpapers and the smiling cover portrait of a uniformed Jackie Robinson saluting foretell a good outcome for his titular case. Bardhan-Quallen focuses on an incident of fortitude that indeed came out well. It's a story that will appeal both to baseball fans and those looking for an interesting way to highlight lesser-known aspects of the fight for civil rights. When Robinson was serving in the army during WWII, segregation was in force until late in the war. After it was lifted, Robinson got on an army bus in Texas and, like Rosa Parks some 10 years later, was told to move to the back. He didn't. A court martial ensued, but Robinson stood up for himself and won. Christie's colorful flat backgrounds highlight incidents in Robinson's life, albeit rather stiffly, varying stylistically from his Caldecott Honor Book Freedom in Congo Square (2016). A time line, author's note, and bibliography offer a springboard for readers who want to know more.

Horn Book

This well-told biography relates how Jackie Robinson stood up for what was right even before he was a baseball star, including a central incident when he refused to move to the back of an army post bus in 1944. It concludes as Robinson breaks baseball's "color line" in 1947. Dramatic, expressionistic gouache illustrations offer a visual narrative that extends the text of this American story. Timeline. Bib.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A pre-MLB biography of Jackie Robinson that focuses on his passion for justice and early encounters with injustice.Beginning with Jack (not yet called Jackie) Robinson's childhood, Bardhan-Quallen outlines some of the discrimination Jack faced: once-a-week segregated swimming times, being the only—and unwanted—black family on their street, and being denied sports opportunities despite excelling, all due to racism. These early life experiences, along with Jack's mother's lessons "to stand up for what was right, even when that was difficult to do," are presented as the foundation that helped Jack cultivate the courage and bravery needed to endure the trials to come. When Jack enrolled in the Army, he chafed against the prevalent racism. After segregation was outlawed in the military, not everyone listened, and when Jack refused to move to the back of a post bus, he was verbally abused and arrested. Though innocent, Jack was court-martialed. He won but decided to leave the Army and "took a job in Kansas City, and then another in Montreal. And in 1947, Jack went to work in Brooklyn, New York." Christie's naïve paintings give Robinson's story emotive heft while painting him as an Everyman, working with the text to immerse readers in Robinson's life before baseball.Powerfully illustrates that this groundbreaking American icon's commitment to equality did not begin or end with baseball—his courage was a lifelong trait. (timeline, author's note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Before he made baseball history, Jackie Robinson fought segregation in the U.S. Army. Bardhan-Quallen (Brobot Bedtime) focuses on Robinson-s acts of resistance, including his refusal to give up his seat on a military bus, for which he was court martialed: -He was one of the first black Americans to challenge a segregation law in court. And he won.- The story jumps from this victory to Robinson-s post-Army life, as he played baseball with the Negro League Monarchs, minor league Royals, and Brooklyn Dodgers, where he cemented his legacy as the first African-American major leaguer. Raw, sweeping brushstrokes bring a sense of extemporaneous energy to Christie-s gouache paintings. Readers who only associate Robinson with the baseball diamond will recognize how his success depended as much on his perseverance as his batting average. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Rachell Orr, Prospect Agency. (Jan.)

School Library Journal (Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 2018)

Gr 3-6 Bordhan-Quallen does not mince words when retelling how Jackie Robinson, not yet the iconic ball player, was arrested and subject to a court-martial when he was in the army for sitting at the front of a bus. The author reiterates throughout that many white people "didn't see an officer in the United States Army. They only saw a black man." In Christie's acrylic gouache painted illustrations, Robinson is usually placed in the center, surrounded by often-angry white faces. Christie elegantly shows readers a visual representation of how Robinson must have felt everydaydifferent, out of place, resented. A substantial amount of back matter reinforces the storylike narrative. Bordhan-Quallen includes a time line of the history of segregation in the United States along with Robinson's life, in addition to a bibliography. An author's note with commentary on the importance of standing up for what's right is also included. VERDICT There are many biographies on Jackie Robinson, but this is a worthy addition that focuses on a period of his life before baseball. Kerri Williams, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY