Weatherford, Carole Boston. All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Illustrated by Ashley Evans. Crown Books for Young Readers.  978-0-593-65016-5. 36 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

“Whatever she did, wherever she was, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose to the top.” Grounded in the refrain “she rose,” this title outlines Ketanji Brown Jackson’s journey from school girl to the first Black woman to serve as an associate justice in the U.S. Supreme Court. She learned the value of education from her parents, who always encouraged her to work hard and believe in herself. She rose to student government leadership positions in her middle school and high school, and she gained confidence as a public speaker by participating in the debate club. After graduating with honors from Harvard and continuing on to Harvard Law School, Ketanji eventually rose to her goal of becoming a federal judge. In 2022, President Biden nominated her to serve on the Supreme Court. Carole Boston Weatherford’s lyrical text is punctuated by Ashley Evans’ vibrant full-spread digital illustrations. Backmatter includes “A Letter to My Granddaughter and All of Our Daughters” by Carole Boston Weatherford and a timeline. 

THOUGHTS: This book is a nod to Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” and Angelou, as well as other Black women including Constance Baker Motley, Shirley Chisholm, and Mae Jemison are referenced as well. This will be a valuable and timely addition to all elementary collections. 

347.73 Civil Procedure & Courts
Biography