A review by frumiouslyalice
Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, a Monumental American Man by Tonya Bolden

5.0

I've decided to change my mind and give this book five stars, because for what it is it fits the mold perfectly. Douglass is not a character talked enough about in American history, and I didn't feel that the book overly deifies him, though why for the life of me anyone would be surprised by that in American history (particularly one aimed at children) is bizarre to me (or is it, because this one is about a black icon). The book is remarkably good at portraying divides in abolitionist movements at the time and for what reasons. It brings up certain follies of Lincoln that go severely under-discussed, and highlights the change from abolitionism to black suffrage. I really appreciate all the photos in the book, and most importantly I realized that most of the photos were not necessarily of the people that the book discusses, but other black figureheads and abolitionists from the time. It doesn't give a face to the vicious racists who railed against him, and though it was a small note, I found it a welcome underlying statement of the book.

Overall a really strong children's biography with more to admire than its flaws, which are more common in kid's nonfiction than people ever seem to give credit for.