Coretta's Journey: The Life and Times of Coretta Scott King

by Alice Faye Duncan (Author) R Gregory Christie (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
From the award-winning author/illustrator team behind Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop

Who was Coretta Scott King? Her black-veiled image at the funeral of her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was moving and iconic. This book introduces readers to the woman behind the veil—a girl full of spunk and pluck, bravery and grit.

“Corrie, you are a brave soldier. I don’t know what I would do without you.” —Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Much more than just a wife, Coretta Scott King was Martin’s partner in the fight for justice. It wasn’t always easy. From an early age, she stood strong against white violence toward her family in the South, and against discrimination as a music student in the North. Coretta found her voice as a classical singer, but she struggled mightily to speak out as an activist in the face of men who thought she should be seen and not heard. But she never wavered. When Martin died, it was Coretta who carried on the struggle, and preserved his legacy so that his voice would be heard by future generations. This important story, told in poetry and prose, is a riveting introduction to an important and instrumental figure in the history of activism and civil rights.

Awards for Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop
Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book • School Library Journal Best Book of the Year • Booklist Editors' Choice • Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book • Booklist Top 10 Diverse Books for Middle Grade or Older Readers • Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books
Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Review quotes

★ "Duncan depicts Coretta's path through both verse and prose; the many poetic forms she employs reflect the complexities of her subject's life, and the strong prose gives a clear picture of her determined personality. Christie's impressionistic mixed-media watercolor illustrations are stunning, beginning with the powerful cover that immediately commands attention. Exuding emotion, each image perfectly complements the intriguing text." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "In a sophisticated, poetic biography in picture-book form, Duncan alternates double-page spreads featuring prose or poems in a variety of forms that highlight Coretta Scott King's accomplishments...Duncan's reverant tone gleams thanks to an effective combination of forthright prose and eclectic poetic forms. Christie conveys the highlights of Coretta's life story in vivid and engaging watercolor renderings." —The Horn Book, starred review

"Duncan's picture-book biography emphasizes the personal strengths and virtues that make CSK a civil rights icon in her own right, in addition to being MLK's life partner. Duncan uses a variety of poetic styles, ranging from acrostics and haiku to free verse, that walk readers chronologically through key moments in CSK's life, while the prose passages generally provide wider historical context. Christie's mixed-media, watercolor illustrations appear on every spread, depicting cited events and individuals, conveying the emotions of those involved, and providing important setting details." —Booklist

"Coretta's Journey should be read by any young person who wants to understand Coretta Scott King's essential contribution to her husband's extraordinary life and enduring legacy. Her courage and dedication were evident both before and after she met Martin. She chose to be a wife and mother but was always Coretta."—Dr. Clayborne Carson, historian and founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University

"Coretta's Journey is complete with compelling prose and vivid illustrations. Alice Faye Duncan seamlessly weaves historical facts together to show that by some universal, divine source, Coretta's marriage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. allowed them both to actualize their life callings to advance civil and human rights." —Daphene R. McFerren, executive director of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis

Alice Faye Duncan
Alice Faye Duncan is the author of multiple children's books, including Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, which received a 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and five starred reviews. Her most recent books include Opal Lee and What it Means to Be Free, Evicted!, and Yellow Dog Blues, illustrated by Chris Raschka.

Keith Mallett is a painter, etcher, and ceramic artist, who has been nominated for the NAACP Image Award. In 2017, he created the Google doodle celebrating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. He has multiple picture books, including Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge, and Curve & Flow: The Elegant Vision of L.A. Architect Paul R. Williams.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781662680045
Lexile Measure
960
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Calkins Creek Books
Publication date
September 26, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF053140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Prejudice & Racism
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
Library of Congress categories
Biographies
Picture books
African American women civil rights workers
King, Martin Luther
King, Coretta Scott

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