Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2014)

Starred Review Presented as a fictionalized memoir of the titular subject, this beautifully drawn and richly colored biography reaches from Mahatma Gandhi's childhood through his assassination. Quinn and Nagar have included a wide scope of information om Gandhi's formative experiences in South Africa and arguments with his wife to helpful incidental scenes that explain Indian caste politics, economics of the British Empire, and other historical background l of which deepens understanding of Gandhi's life and the development of his behavioral code and theories of nonviolent protest. Just as the writing eloquently intertwines explication with reenactments of dramatic, poignant events, the panels are meticulously arranged to move the reader's attention from broad and busy scenes to intimate close-ups. The high production value of the work cluding expressive watercolor illustrations and a sturdy sewn binding sures that this volume will have a long shelf life. A time line and additional sources are included, but it stands likely that this title itself will appear on future bibliographies devoted to concise and authoritative graphic biographies of the man. Pair with Jawaharlal Nehru's Letters of a Father to His Daughter (1929) for context about Gandhi's struggle and John Lewis' graphic autobiography, March: Book One (2013), for more on peaceful protest.

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

Impressive in its text and art, this graphic novel describes how one man defeated an empire by leading patient, nonviolent protests. The story shows an elderly Gandhi reflecting on his life, remembering how his experiences with British colonial authority in South Africa and India taught him that anger and hatred should be met with love and respect. This faith eventually gained India-s independence and influenced the American civil rights movement, though the authors admit that it didn-t overcome the simmering distrust between India-s Hindu and Muslim citizens, which led to Gandhi-s assassination. Relying on Gandhi-s own words to express his thoughts, Quinn-s script is necessarily text heavy; however, the layout does a remarkably graceful job of keeping a reader-s eye moving through each page, and the art itself is lively, though muted in color. Although the format and storytelling conceit is somewhat clichéd, the execution is strong, making the book a good introduction to a serious subject, respectful but not sanctimonious. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Gr 8 Up-On the night before his assassination, Mohandas Gandhi reflects on his life and his achievements, from a childhood affected by India's unjust caste system to his early days as a barrister in a segregated South Africa. Using his experiences and knowledge of religions, Gandhi leads the passive Satyagraha movement in India and starts a revolution against British rule. Clashes between demonstrators and police are artistically depicted, and readers will have lots to think about in terms of the overall effectiveness of icon's actions, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of complete nonviolent resistance. The narrative is comprehensive, touching on most of Gandhi's long and accomplished life, with quotes seamlessly worked into the text. Quinn also tells an honest story, showing Gandhi's troubled relationships with his wife Kasturba and his oldest son, Harilal. Nagar's dark inking and soft-color approach invoke a gentle, watercolor feel and a timeless look. Unique panel variation paired with pictorial action scenes make this an entertaining read, as well as an informative and inspiring one. Extensive back matter includes quotations of the well-known figure. An excellent introduction to an important life. Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI