Ida B. Wells is a historic woman whom I have heard much about but discovered I did not know very well. I was pleased to discover that this chapter book for middle grades was written from the first-person perspective, bringing the reader into her narrative in an engaging way. The authors explained that they used modern terminology to describe enslaved people, rather than referring to "slaves", which I thought was a good and important choice. Ida B. Wells was ahead of her time, with courageous activism and insightful writing. I really admire all of her contributions to Black citizens.

At the end of the book, the reader has the opportunity to read columns written by Ida B. Wells, which gives you a window into history as well. In addition to Ida B. Wells' writing, we also see Frederick Douglass's writings in regards to Ida B. Wells. I think this is a fantastic historical reference for readers in middle grades and older. It would be a great supplement for social studies or perfect for a living wax museum resource.

I recommend this book to all schools and libraries.