The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy (11) (Women of Action)

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About The Many Faces Of Josephine

Product Description A complete biographical look at the complex life of a world-famous entertainer   With determination and audacity, Josephine Baker turned her comic and musical abilities into becoming a worldwide icon of the Jazz Age. The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy provides the first in-depth portrait of this remarkable woman for young adults. Author Peggy Caravantes follows Baker’s life from her childhood in the depths of poverty to her comedic rise in vaudeville and fame in Europe. This lively biography covers her outspoken participation in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, espionage work for the French Resistance during World War II, and adoption of 12 children—her “rainbow tribe.” Also included are informative sidebars on relevant topics such as the 1917 East St. Louis riot, Pullman railway porters, the Charleston, and more. The lush photographs, appendix updating readers on the lives of the rainbow tribe, source notes, and bibliography make this is a must-have resource for any student, Baker fan, or history buff. From School Library Journal Gr 6 Up—Josephine Baker, entertainer, ex-pat, and activist, is a unique and controversial figure of the Jazz Age. Admitting that verifying the truth of Baker's life proves difficult, Caravantes offers a thorough biography. Where there is more than one version of a story, she is careful to explain the origin of the distortion—often Baker herself, as she rewrote her own history to better suit the image she wanted to project. A remarkable woman nonetheless, Josephine, illiterate most of her life, pulled herself out of extreme poverty and often disturbing conditions in the slums of East St. Louis to become the toast of Paris, where racial prejudice was less pronounced than in the United States. An adoptive mother of 13 children, she was recruited to spy for France during World War II. Baker suffered numerous ups and downs, many of her own making, but she never lost her faith that all people should live in brotherhood. This is a straightforward biography, enhanced by photographs, sidebars, source notes, and bibliography. The prose is workmanlike, but Baker's story is inspiring enough to provide interesting reading beyond simple report writing. Recommended especially for collections in African American and women's studies, but it may also be useful for history and entertainment buffs in general.—Katherine Koenig, The Ellis School, PA Review “A fascinating, compelling story of a remarkably resilient woman who overcame poverty and racial prejudice to become an international celebrity.” —Kirkus Reviews "[A] balanced and readable biography.” —Booklist Online “Baker's story is inspiring enough to provide interesting reading beyond simple report writing. Recommended especially for collections in African American and women's studies, but it may also be useful for history and entertainment buffs in general.” — School Library Journal "If you are interested in American and French history, read this book.  If you love theater, read this book.  If you want to be inspired, read this book.” —TeenReads.com "The life of Josephine Baker is so compelling and intriguing that this makes for a great read for middle and high schoolers alike." —Kid Lit Frenzy "Caravantes’ vivid bio, featuring tons of fun and rarely seen photos, presents Josephine’s years in St. Louis through a holistic lens, with sidebars on the East St. Louis race riots, the everyday lives of African-American Pullman porters, and even fads like the Charleston." — St. Louis Magazine “[A]n easy to read biography that would be good for general collections.” —VOYA About the Author Peggy Caravantes is a former English and history teacher, middle school principal, and deputy school superintendent. She is the author of 16 books for middle grades and young adult readers, including American Hero: The Audie Murphy Story and Petticoat Spies: Six Women Spies of the Civil War. She lives