The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor

July 1, 2018

Gr 4-7-Adapted from Sotomayor's memoir, My Beloved World, this edition brings the childhood and early adulthood of the Supreme Court justice to younger readers. Her reflections on her childhood are perceptive and poignant. She hides nothing from readers, confiding in them about her insecurities, sadnesses, and challenges in her journey from adolescence in New York City to college at Princeton University and beyond. Furthermore, she writes about her life in an immigrant family with humor and honesty. Sotomayor often references her logical mind-set, which propelled her success in school and law practice. This also comes through in her experience with juvenile diabetes, her observation of her parents' difficult marriage, the death of her father, her grief over losing her grandmother, and her experience as a Puerto Rican American straddling two cultures. Ultimately, this is a work that is infused with warmth and encouragement. VERDICT A good choice for any juvenile biography collection, especially those where autobiographies and memoirs are popular.-Chelsea Woods, New Brunswick Free Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2018
Grades 7-10 *Starred Review* After seven-year-old Sonia, recently diagnosed with diabetes, awakens to the sound of her parents arguing over who will give her a daily shot of insulin, she decides to take on that responsibility herself. It was the first of many decisions that would challenge her and move her forward. Judiciously pared down from Sotomayor's My Beloved World (2013), this autobiography for young people records her memories of growing up with her father (who died when she was nine), her mother, her brother, and her extended Puerto Rican American family in the Bronx. She also discusses her education in Catholic schools, at Princeton, and at Yale, her pro bono advocacy work, and her career as an assistant district attorney and a partner in a private law firm. The story concludes as she begins working as a district court judge. Readers will come away with a strong sense of Sotomayor's background, her steadfast values, and her ability to stand up for herself and for others. Written in a clear, direct manner and enriched with many personal stories, the book also conveys a sense of her gratitude to family, friends, teachers, and mentors. A lively autobiography of the third woman and the first Latina on the U.S. Supreme Court.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
This young reader's edition of the Supreme Court justice's memoir recounts her lifelong determination and ambition. Beginning with her childhood in the Bronx, Sotomayor thoughtfully traces her personal and intellectual development as she attended Princeton and Yale and eventually landed her first appointment as a judge. The book's density and maturity recommend it for teen readers, who should find Sotomayor's warmth and honesty inspiring. Glos.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from July 15, 2018
The memoir of a woman who rose from the housing projects in New York City's South Bronx to become the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.This is the story of a woman who as a 10-year-old fell under the spell of Perry Mason, a fictional TV lawyer. Her life course was set: She would become a lawyer and, dare she dream it, a judge. With a clear vision, hard work, and determination she set out to make her dream come true. In a series of vignettes that help to illustrate her remarkable spirit and motivations, Sotomayor recalls some of the salient moments of her life. Readers are introduced to her close-knit family, friends, colleagues, and mentors that nurtured her along the way. She chronicles her academic and professional achievements and what it took to be successful. She also presents her core beliefs and struggles, never shying from coming across as human. The account of this exceptional trajectory, told with a storyteller's talent, is filled with a candor and honesty that make her story eminently accessible to young readers. Adapted from her memoir for adults, My Beloved World (2013), in the hope of inspiring children to dream even the dreams they cannot at first imagine, this book should thoroughly achieve that goal. A must read. (glossary, Supreme Court overview) (Memoir. 10-18)

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