Many associate Nelson Mandela with his later years as a political prisoner, South Africa's first black president, and a Nobel Prize winner. But this entry in the Gateway Biographies series also presents Mandela's early influences and activism against apartheid. Born to a Thembu chief with four wives and 13 children, Mandela was recognized for his intelligence at a young age and given educational and job opportunities not often awarded to blacks. Doeden's solid text, complemented by numerous photos, explains the racism that once ruled South Africa. It describes Mandela's involvement in the African National Congress and his peaceful forms of protest as well as his later arrest for treason, his trial, and his life sentence. Doeden offers a balanced view, noting both criticisms against Mandela (e.g., his slow response to the AIDS crisis) and the legacy of a better country he left after his death. An informative and inspirational read for biography, character education, and world history studies.

Two well-known international human rights activists are profiled in these slim biographies. Mandela's political life is chronicled closely and chronologically, with too many dates and events encumbering the relatively brief text; Yousafzai's biography is clearer but covers the same ground as her recent memoir. These easy-to-navigate resources are most suitable for younger report writers seeking basic biographical information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind.