Starred Review ALA Booklist

Starred Review Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a tempting subject for picture-book biographers is is the third in just over a year. All three of them, however, have different takes on Ginsburg's life. This one shows her pushed down, but never pushed out, of a man's world and demonstrates how she fought for equality in both her life and the lives of others. Oversize and well designed, this gets high marks for the integration of art and narrative. Veteran writer Krull provides a substantial text, longer than many in the genre, with the result being a portrait of both a person and the times that shaped her. Life in the 1950s defined Ginsburg as both a woman and a Jew whose relatives were killed during the war. Observing McCarthyism, Ginsburg decided a career in the law would make her a "fighter for fairness." Her own life experience, including her initial inability to get a job as a lawyer, pushed her to form the Women's Rights Project. Zhang's art, meanwhile, keeps the focus on people, judges, presidents, and Ginsburg's mother, who was her inspiration. A final spread proves that Ginsburg wasn't all work: she went parasailing, white-water rafting, horseback riding, and waterskiing, too. But mostly she worked a lot to make progress in the fight for fairness.

Horn Book

Krull depicts Ginsburg as a smart, strong, independent woman, whose mother's influence has always stayed with her. Ginsburg's accomplishments and famous dissents are highlighted; large, bold statements drive home Krull's themes. The illustrations' mix of traditional and digital techniques at times lend the characters an unfortunate, out-of-place plastic quality. Explanatory pieces on the Supreme Court and Ginsburg's most famous rulings are appended. Timeline. Bib.

Kirkus Reviews

Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought long and hard every step of her journey to become only the second woman to be named to the U.S. Supreme Court.Girls in orthodox Jewish families like Ruth Bader's were expected to marry young and support their husbands' careers. Her mother had followed that path, but she wanted Ruth to have the opportunities she missed. Ruth was determined to be all that her mother had dreamed for her. Krull follows Ruth as she finds a way to succeed in a world in which girls were supposed to hide their intelligence and had limited opportunities for careers. She was passionate about learning and "scary smart," and she was impressed by those who stood up for themselves and for fair treatment of all people. She faced and overcame discrimination on account of her faith and her gender. Large, colorful illustrations complement and highlight the text. Zhang captures the look and style of each era in Ginsburg's life, subtly altering her appearance as she grows older. Naming Ginsburg a "change-maker," Krull optimistically states that women "used to face unfairness" and that society now takes equality for granted. Employing a strongly admiring tone and accessible language, the author emphasizes Ginsburg's struggles, strengths, and triumphs, shouting key points in large, bold, stand-apart typeface.Ginsburg is on the highest court but not on a pedestal in this informative, well-told biography. (timeline, court system outline, case list) (Picture book/biography. 8-12)

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

In this welcome addition to the growing body of Ruth Bader Ginsburg literature for children, Krull offers a detailed account of the Supreme Court justice-s intellectual and professional development. Krull uses small, careful details and anecdotes to personalize Ginsburg-s story, describing how she wore her late mother-s circle pin and earrings for courage as she nervously argued a case before the Supreme Court, while underscoring the impact of her achievements (-In fighting for fairness, she was actually changing the way the country treated women-). Zhan captures Ginsburg-s likeness in soft, creamy mixed-media spreads that portray her as a force to be reckoned with: most of the scenes emphasize her seriousness of purposes, though one playful spread shows her white-water rafting, horseback riding, and waterskiing. A timeline and top-10 list of key Supreme Court decisions and dissents conclude this straightforward, effective biography. Ages 4-8. Author-s agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. (Feb.)

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5 Although similar in style and format to Debbie Levy's I, Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark , this biography focuses more on Ginsburg's law career and the professional obstacles she faced. The author incorporates small details about Ginsburg, such as her wearing her mother's earrings and pin; however, not much other personal information is provided, beyond a list of hobbies. Zhang uses a palette of soft colors, but makes Ginsburg visually stand out through facial expressions. Some of the text is framed by delicate scrollwork on a facing page; at other times, the text is incorporated into the illustrations and certain phrases and quotes are in a different font. "No truth without Ruth" is an oft-repeated line. Back matter includes information on the federal court system, a top 10 list of Ginsburg's Supreme Court opinions, and a list of sources. One quibble: the ending photo of the Supreme Court is of when Ginsburg first joined and features Sandra Day O'Connor and several other retired/deceased judgeswhy not include a more recent image with Sonia Sotomayor? VERDICT Collections with little material on Ginsburg will want to purchase; otherwise, an additional consideration. Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA