Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galiza, Defender of Free Speech by Gattaldo - ADVISABLE

Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galiza, Defender of Free Speech by Gattaldo. PICTURE BOOK, BIOGRAPHY Candlewick Press, 2021. $18. 9781536219180 

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL,   EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Daphne grew up hearing stories about her 4th great grandfather who fought against Napoleon's army when they invaded Malta. She was a girl who knew her own mind, and like her grandfather, fought against injusstice. At 19yo she was arrested during a peaceful protest on false charges and spent 2 days in jail. As an adult, she wrote for a national newspaper and was not afraid to tell the truth. 

The author, Gattaldo was a close friend of Galiza and wrote/illustrated this to honor her memory. I loved it. The illustrations are just a little abstract, which gives the book its poetic feel, even though the text is in prose. I will enjoy introducing my middle school students to this important journalist. Contains some elements that may be upsetting to a younger child.

Lisa Librarian