"A voice like yours," celebrated conductor Arturo Toscanini told contralto Marian Anderson, "is heard once in a hundred years." This insightful acc...
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Dec 08, 2010
Chris
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Freedman, Russell. The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights (2008)
The Voice That Challenged a Nation is a photo biography of one of the greatest and most famous African American singers of all time, Marion Anderson. Perhaps even more famous than her legendary voice was the Freedom Concert held Easter Sunday, 1939 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. where she performed in a free concert before a crowd of 75,000 as well as a national ra More...
The Voice That Challenged a Nation is a photo biography of one of the greatest and most famous African American singers of all time, Marion Anderson. Perhaps even more famous than her legendary voice was the Freedom Concert held Easter Sunday, 1939 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. where she performed in a free concert before a crowd of 75,000 as well as a national ra More...
Nov 21, 2010
Trish
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I chose to read The Voice that Challenged a Nation, Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights, because I enjoy books about women who make a positive difference for, not only their lives, but the lives of others. At first I did not know she was a singer, but as I began to read the book, I realized she was a tremendously good singer, who lived in the early to mid 1900’s, when civil rights were just getting started, in the US.
This was a great book about the life and times of Mar More...
This was a great book about the life and times of Mar More...
Nov 15, 2010
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Nov 10, 2010
Derek
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Before reading this biography about Marian Anderson I didn't know exactly who she was. I knew that she was an African American and was a part in the civil rights movement. However, I didn't know what she did to help African Americans. After reading this book I would definitely use it in a social studies class because if I didn't know what Anderson did in the civil rights movement I would assume that most of my students also wouldn't know. When civil rights is being taught in a classroom the focu
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Nov 10, 2010
Rachel
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I really enjoyed the book The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights. I really enjoyed this book most in part because I enjoyed as leisure read but it also contains great details that could be shared in a classroom. The characteristics in this book could be used in a literature class as well as in a Social Studies class. In literature class this book would serve as a great example e of a biography novel. This book contains real information pertaining to
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Mar 17, 2010
Carolyn
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I love stories of people who overcome frustrations and challenges that stand in their way on the path to accomplishing their dreams and ambitions. I am even more impressed by those who are able to overcome hardships and achieve success and yet are humble, kind, and outward focused despite the accolades they receive for their endurance.
Such a person was Marian Anderson, a famous "vocalist who had been applauded by European royalty, welcomed at the White House, and adored by appr More...
Such a person was Marian Anderson, a famous "vocalist who had been applauded by European royalty, welcomed at the White House, and adored by appr More...
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Nov 25, 2009
Treasa
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I have seen this book on recommended reading lists for children, and I finally was curious enough to read it and see for myself if it is actually worth recommending. It is. I knew very little about Marian Anderson before reading this (only what I'd learned from reading When Marian Sang by Pam Munoz Ryan, which is also a great book), and this book has inspired me to learn even more about her and try to listen to some of her recordings. Freedman presents Marian's story in a straightforward way so
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Apr 08, 2009
Josie
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Voice that Challenged A Nation: Maria Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights
By Russell Freedman
Published by Clarion Books, New York
2004
Non Fiction: Biography
Freedman writes a wonderful biography of Marian Anderson and her how her rise as an international performer correlated with events in the civil rights movement. The book begins by setting the scene of Anderson's 1939 Easter Sunday performance at the Lincoln Memorial. It is a wonderful way to begin a b More...
By Russell Freedman
Published by Clarion Books, New York
2004
Non Fiction: Biography
Freedman writes a wonderful biography of Marian Anderson and her how her rise as an international performer correlated with events in the civil rights movement. The book begins by setting the scene of Anderson's 1939 Easter Sunday performance at the Lincoln Memorial. It is a wonderful way to begin a b More...
Jan 01, 2010
Josiah
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As much as I've learned about black history from years of studying it every February in school, I was not familiar with the name Marian Anderson before reading this book. Now, I'm so glad to have finally found out about her life!
The Voice That Challenged a Nation isn't really a biography in the traditional sense. Instead, author Russell Freedman has used the life story of opera contralto singer Marian Anderson as a springboard to delve into the civil rights issues of the 1920s, '30 More...
The Voice That Challenged a Nation isn't really a biography in the traditional sense. Instead, author Russell Freedman has used the life story of opera contralto singer Marian Anderson as a springboard to delve into the civil rights issues of the 1920s, '30 More...
Nov 07, 2009
James
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(Audio CD). This is an amazing story, and a thorough biography of a remarkable woman. For high school readers, the level of detail covers every aspect of Marian Anderson's life from childhood to retirement. The details of contemporary society, politics and culture fill out the picture. For musicians, especially singers, the musical detail is also thorough. I recomend this highly for all readers interested in the advancement of civil rights. The audio CD is not very strong, but after listen
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Nov 09, 2010
Monica
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This was a better read than I expected it to be! I didn't know who Marian Anderson was before I read this book. It was very informative without being boring and difficult to read. The order of facts and information was appropriately organized in a way that I could really understand the events of her life. Marian Anderson overcame so many struggles and fought for equality throughout her life. She made a real difference in the lives of African Americans, especially, because she gave them hope
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Jul 03, 2011
Seasoned biography writer Russell Freedman brings Marian Anderson’s life, struggles, and music to life in this biography. Marian began her music career as a child in the church choir. Her career blossomed as she trained with several different voice coaches, and she performed across Europe and the United States. However, even with Marian’s success, she still faced racism throughout the U.S. Marian took a major stand for black performers when she stood on the Lincoln Memorial and gave a free con
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Nov 19, 2009
Kevin
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When first reading the story of Marian Anderson, one can see an immediate connection to the classroom. Here is a woman that stood tall in the face of adversity during a racist era of American society. Russell Freedman shows that Anderson’s life story is an incredible role model for all students that face adversity. Crowe shows how Anderson’s rights were thwarted by white society; how, not unlike today, the rights of the minority were chosen by the majority. Today’s reader can make a modern c
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Jun 26, 2011
Nikki
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(This book was read as part of my Newbery Award project; it was an Honor Book in 2005.)
I must confess at the outset that I am not much of a biography reader, although I do make exceptions if the subject is especially interesting to me. Marian Anderson was very famous in my childhood and I still like to listen to her recordings. It seemed incredible to me that Russell Freedman, the author of this Newbery Honor Book, had not always known the story of Anderson's concert at the Lincoln Mem More...
I must confess at the outset that I am not much of a biography reader, although I do make exceptions if the subject is especially interesting to me. Marian Anderson was very famous in my childhood and I still like to listen to her recordings. It seemed incredible to me that Russell Freedman, the author of this Newbery Honor Book, had not always known the story of Anderson's concert at the Lincoln Mem More...
May 22, 2011
Lori
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I read this for my Resources for Children class in our Non-fiction section. This is a biography about Marian Anderson, but was also primarily about how black artists were treated in the 1930s and 1940s, so it went beyond just being a biography. Each page had at least one photography either of Marian Anderson, a program for one of her concerts, or a photo depicting Jim Crow laws and segregation in the south. There's an extensive bibliography in the back. It was really interesting and taught m
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Nov 19, 2010
Pamela
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The book opens with Marian Anderson performing to 75,000 people on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on April 9, 1939. After two pages of this historic event, a photograph shows a picture of Marian when she is one and then starts to tell the story of her life. The book tells the story of Marian with text and illustrations. The writing brings all Marian’s accomplishments and struggles to the reader. The illustrations show Marian’s life as a great performer, but the reader also sees pictures d
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Jan 29, 2009
Stven
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A competent book about the life of Marian Anderson, evidently well researched and presenting a good amount of detail and a lot of photographs in 90 pages. What it doesn't convey, which one might expect from the title, is any passion that Marian Anderson may have had about the struggle for equal rights. I'm left wondering whether she had any deep feelings about the issue or was merely caught in the grind of history. In either case she played her role without backing down, becoming a focal poin
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Dec 04, 2009
Karana
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Category: Non-Fiction
The story of Marian Anderson is amazing and intriguing to me; even the title is an attention-getter. I enjoyed every minute of this book and the story of Anderson rising to fame, developing her art, and eventually, through the beauty of music, making our nation a better place. I don't know if high school students would be quite as interested in the book as I am, unless they love opera music or the topic of equal rights. But, I think this book can present a good w More...
The story of Marian Anderson is amazing and intriguing to me; even the title is an attention-getter. I enjoyed every minute of this book and the story of Anderson rising to fame, developing her art, and eventually, through the beauty of music, making our nation a better place. I don't know if high school students would be quite as interested in the book as I am, unless they love opera music or the topic of equal rights. But, I think this book can present a good w More...
Nov 10, 2010
Kristen
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I thought “The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights” was a very interesting and informative book. This book is a biography of Marian Anderson, who was a known vocal artist America and Europe during the 1920s and 1930s. As an African American, Marian faced many challenges, throughout the challenges, though, she was supported by a very prominent woman of the time: Eleanor Roosevelt. In order to take a stand against the controversy about her race, Marian
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Oct 21, 2010
Ashley
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Originally reviewed on my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing.
The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman is an in depth look at the life and career of Marian Anderson, and what impact her career had on the 1960s Civil Rights movement.
Before picking this book up, I didn't really know who Marian Anderson was. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't have told you who she was. When I think of the Civi More...
The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman is an in depth look at the life and career of Marian Anderson, and what impact her career had on the 1960s Civil Rights movement.
Before picking this book up, I didn't really know who Marian Anderson was. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't have told you who she was. When I think of the Civi More...
Nov 20, 2010
Laura
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This is a wonderful book to show our students about the struggles and battles that African Americans like Marian Anderson faced. Marian Anderson had a great voice that could captivate audiences but she struggled to boost her career because she was black. This is a well written book that is well illustrated with the photographs of Marian Anderson.
The book is great for both male and female students in middle school and high school. Students that particularly enjoy biographies will lov More...
The book is great for both male and female students in middle school and high school. Students that particularly enjoy biographies will lov More...
Apr 21, 2011
Cynthia
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This is a great Information book about Marian Anderson. Anderson is a black vocalist who changed many discriminitory bans that were inplace during the 1920s and 1930s. Her courage and her love for her music took her all around the world singing for people. She was an inspiration to many people. The book is a good resource book because it has great information at the end of the book for further study of Anderson's life and accomplishments.
Jan 26, 2011
Ryan
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Very interesting - I think my lack of knowledge was due to the type of music, not the performer, but now I'm looking for a few recordings so I have some perspective on the voice. Books like this should come with a CD.
I was struck by the parallel between Hendrix and Anderson - both having to leave the US to be fully appreciated. Other African American artists as well - blues and jazz artists. I also was curious about the political nature of the First Lady - when exactly did that start More...
I was struck by the parallel between Hendrix and Anderson - both having to leave the US to be fully appreciated. Other African American artists as well - blues and jazz artists. I also was curious about the political nature of the First Lady - when exactly did that start More...
Jul 22, 2011
Maria
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If you have never heard of Marian Anderson then read this book! The reader will learn about Marian Anderson's life and her contribution to the civil rights movement. You will find her story uplifting and inspiring. I think any reader could benefit from this book.
Aug 31, 2010
Sue
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This Newbery Honor was a great introduction for young people on the great Marian Anderson. It was well-written and had great photographs. The author was not heavy-handed in portraying the degradation of segregation and racism in the United States during her lifetime.
May 29, 2008
Jessica
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This is an excellent biography of Marian Anderson, a phenomenal singer who sadly is not heard about much these days. She had a range any singer would kill for, and a career that matched it. I find the title of this book odd, because Marian really wasn't concerned with civil rights. She mostly just wanted to sing. She became a figurehead for the civil rights movement, however, when she was banned from singing at Carnegie Hall (I think?), and ended up singing on the steps of the Lincoln Memori
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Apr 26, 2010
Kristina
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A great book about the life of this remarkable woman. Russell Freedman does such a good job documenting facts in an objective way. The pictures are illuminating.
Apr 16, 2009
Melissa
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This is a great book! It is a great book for teaching students to stand up for what they believe in. It is also great for teaching about the Civil Rights Movement.
Jul 30, 2010
Snorkle
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This book was inspiring. I thought it gave a distinct and broad picture of an amazing lady I had never heard about. After I read the book I immediately went online to find samples of Marian Anderson's singing. The book covered her entire lifespan and I enjoyed the vast amount of photographs that accompanied the story. While equal rights was not the major theme of the book, it did have a significant part in the life of Marian and I thought it was interesting to see how she stood up for her rights
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Nov 08, 2011
Katherine
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Nice biography of Marian Anderson. So many things I've read about her stop at her Lincoln Memorial concert. It was good to hear the rest of the story.
