School Library Journal Starred Review (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 1–3— Ketanji Brown Jackson made history as the first Black woman nominated—and then confirmed—to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Coretta Scott King Honor winners Magoon and Freeman tell Jackson's story in this stirring picture book biography, introducing readers to Jackson, whose drive and determination to succeed took her from a childhood steeped in warmth, African culture, and activism, to Harvard Law School and all the way to her current seat. Never afraid to confront racism, Jackson protested a Confederate flag on campus and the obvious dearth of Black teachers. Magoon makes Jackson relatable to readers by highlighting her improv work and her daughter's letter to President Obama, asking him to consider her mother when filling Justice Scalia's seat. The straightforward narrative is uncluttered and easy to read for newly confident readers; Freeman's illustrations will keep emerging readers focused during a read-aloud. Vibrant scenes create texture and warmth in beautiful portraits of Jackson and her family. Comprehensive back matter includes an author's note, glossary, time line, bibliography, and further resources. VERDICT An excellent choice for picture book biography collections.— Rosemary Kiladitis

ALA Booklist

The daughter of former sharecroppers, Ketanji Brown Jackson decided to become a lawyer as a child, watching her father study for his law degree. In high school, she became a student government leader. Although her guidance counselor warned her against aiming too high, she applied to Harvard, where she excelled as an undergraduate, and she stayed to earn her law degree as well. She married a former classmate, and they have two daughters. As a lawyer, Jackson worked in many roles, including public defender, before becoming a federal judge in 2012. Ten years later, the U.S. Senate confirmed her nomination as a Supreme Court justice. Magoon and Freeman, who previously wrote and illustrated The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall's Life, Leadership, and Legacy (2021), have a good sense of what will interest their audience and what they should know about her. With an informative text and a series of striking digital illustrations, this picture-book biography offers an appealing introduction to Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Kirkus Reviews

Magoon and Freeman collaborate for a picture-book biography of the first Black female Supreme Court justice.Ketanji Brown Jackson's parents named her "lovely one," dressed her in dashikis, and kept her hair natural, helping her to develop pride and belief in herself and her future. As a young person, she exuded confidence and sought ways to spread her "shining light," from student government to the debate team. She excelled at Harvard College and Harvard Law School. She married, had two daughters, and held 10 different law-related positions before being nominated to the Supreme Court, an event that placed her in the national spotlight, where once again she inspired people with her poise. Her 2022 confirmation as the first Black woman Supreme Court justice broke a new barrier. Magoon's straightforward prose allows Ketanji's life story to speak for itself. While younger readers may get lost in some of the details of Ketanji's adult experiences in law, the theme of Ketanji's "shining star" connects the phases of her life and shows how she found her purpose. Freeman's digital illustrations work hardest on spreads showing relationships between characters, highlighting the special roles of her parents and children in her life. The images of Ketanji become a bit repetitive, but readers won't tire of the still too rare positive imagery of a superstar Black woman. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A needed celebration of America's potential. (author's note, glossary, timeline, bibliography, further reading) (Picture-book biography. 6-10)

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

Concepts of aiming high and owning personal pride permeate this picture book biography of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (b. 1970). Raised by civil rights activists and “born to shine,” Jackson was taught early on that “she could be and do anything she wanted, just by being herself.” Alongside Freeman’s realistic portraiture, Magoon’s affectionate prose recounts Jackson’s arc from a child hoping to be a lawyer like her father (piling “her coloring books alongside him”) to becoming a skilled member of her high school debate team and top of her Harvard class. Loftier goals carry her through a law degree, a prestigious clerkship, and a stint as a public defender, and concerns that her jobs weren’t “quite right” are eventually assuaged by the arrival of presidential court nominations, and, eventually, confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice. An aspirational closing notes that Jackson’s “star shines as brightly as ever, and now the whole world can see.” An author’s note and glossary conclude. Ages 4–8. (June)