Just Like Jesse Owens by Ambassador Andrew Young as told to Paula Young Shelton, illustrated by Gordon C. James - ESSENTIAL

Just Like Jesse Owens by Ambassador Andrew Young as told to Paula Young Shelton, illustrated by Gordon C. James. BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic, 2022. $18. 9780545554657

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

I just finished the book The Boys in the Boat and this story is set also during the 1936 Berlin Olympics in which Jesse Owens ran track. It is the time of segregation in America - whites go into the front of the theater and blacks go upstairs through the back, even though they pay the same money.  Andrew Young, the main character, plays with boys of both colors even though one of his white friend's aunt gave him a nickel not to play with the "colored boys."  Andrew sees people in his aunt's neighborhood “heiling” Hitler and he is confused why they are  raising their arm like that.  His Dad explains Hitler's view on anyone not of the Aryan race.  Later when he goes to the theater to see the newsreel of the Olympics he sees Hitler on the screen and then later he sees Jesse Owens one of the greatest track Olympians winning gold medal after gold medal.  He is inspired that Jesse proved Hitler wrong and did it all with grace.  He is inspired by Jesse and decides that he will fight for civil rights using nonviolence just like Jesse did. 

James’s  illustrations are breathtaking done in oil pastels.  The story is inspiring for anyone at any age.  It deals with racism in a very understandable and classy way.  The story ended abruptly for me.  At the end of the book the author and the illustrator complete the story giving clarity.  I would have loved some of those facts put in the story to finish it up and tie it in a neat little bow. The ethnicity is widely diverse in this book because of the topic of civil rights.

Emilee-Teacher Librarian