Review Detail

Ida B. Wells: Journalist, Advocate & Crusader for Justice is a fantastic biography for its intended audience to learn about one of history's journalists and sociologists. The book, though comprehensive, focuses on her younger years from her childhood to her early career in journalism. The book is fast-paced, full of information about the era she grew up in, and gives readers an insight into Ida, a person underneath the headlines.

I found this biography to be fascinating and engaging from start to finish. The book is written like a novel, so it feels as if the authors are sharing Ida's story with us rather than giving us facts nonstop. This element and its combined writing style allow us to connect with Ida on a deeper level and truly see how she overcame her circumstances in order to speak up for others. Her work left such a huge impact on the atrocities she brought to life, and readers will admire her courage against the dangers of her work.

The novel is short and covers enough of Ida's backstory to act as a starting point for learning about her life and motivate readers to learn more about her story. I also appreciate that this book includes some of the text from Ida's own work to give further context to her career and to also let her speak for herself. This is the second installment of the "Rise. Risk. Remember" series, and I'm eager to see which Black woman in history they'll highlight next. A highly recommended read!