This thoroughly researched biography of these famous men is not a boring account of the history and events connected with each. Instead, you’ll be mesmerized by the story telling and gain a deep understanding about the ways and personality of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.—two lives cut way too short. Here’s the publisher description:

Mahatma Gandhi and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. both shook, and changed, the world, in their quest for peace among all people, but what threads connected these great activists together in their shared goal of social revolution?

A lawyer and activist, tiny of stature with giant ideas, in British-ruled India at the beginning of the 20th century.

A minister from Georgia with a thunderous voice and hopes for peace at the height of the civil rights movement in America.

Born more than a half-century apart, with seemingly little in common except one shared wish, both would go on to be icons of peaceful resistance and human decency. Both preached love for all human beings, regardless of race or religion. Both believed that freedom and justice were won by not one, but many. Both met their ends in the most unpeaceful of ways—assassination.

But what led them down the path of peace? How did their experiences parallel…and diverge? Threads of Peace keenly examines and celebrates these extraordinary activists’ lives, the threads that connect them, and the threads of peace they laid throughout the world, for us to pick up, and weave together.

Although a hefty 336 pages it never seems that long. Images are intermixed with the text to provide an appealing layout. Here’s a typical sample page:

Mohandas Gandhi takes over the first half of the book. This brave man did whatever he could to force equality among all races and people. Fascinating details of his family life and career as a lawyer are included along with the incident that convinced him to take non-violent action to lead for change in his native country and the world.

I thought I knew all there was about Martin Luther King Jr., but I was continually surprised at the details of his life. Beginning with the early days to the event that would propel him into a stand of non-violent change happened when he was 15 and his first public speech. His later marriage to Corretta is also given insights. Then the tale continues depicting the many scenes of hatred and that fateful day in Memphis.

The research is supported by an extensive list of sources and an excellent bibliography. Another plus is the timeline provided in the back pages of the many events that shaped their lives. The author goes a step further by providing details on each the two assassins and clues as to what made them resort to such a violent choice.

A must for libraries and the home shelf, this is the definitive source to engage middle grade readers and up in the life stories of these two great individuals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Uma Krishnaswami is the author of several books for children including Book Uncle and Me (International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award, USBBY Outstanding International Book)and Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh (Asian Pacific American Librarians Award, FOCAL Award). She was born in New Delhi, India, and now lives in British Columbia, Canada. To learn more, visit her website: umakrishnaswami.org.

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I received an advance copy of the story in exchange for my honest review

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