June 1, 2016
Grades 2-4 From the National Geographic Kids Readers series, this appealing book offers a quick, concise introduction to Sotomayor. Beginning with her swearing in as a Supreme Court justice in 2009, the narrative traces her story chronologically from her family's roots in Puerto Rico through her career as a lawyer and a judge. Raised in the Bronx, Sotomayor dealt with early difficulties such as childhood diabetes and, when she was nine, her father's death. She worked hard to succeed academically. An early goal was to become a judge, and she succeeded as the first Hispanic federal judge in New York State and the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court. Kramer organizes information logically and presents it clearly. In addition to becoming familiar with Sotomayor, readers will also learn a bit about the federal court system and the process of nominating and confirming judges and justices. Illustrations, mainly photos, appear on almost every page along with brief sidebars and quotes. A brightly illustrated introduction to a notable contemporary American.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)