People Who Said No: Courage Against Oppression

by Laura Scandiffio

Overview

Sometimes it’s okay to ignore the rules or break the law. In fact, it’s essential! This thought-provoking book features people who did just that: Sophie and Hans Scholl, siblings who distributed antigovernment pamphlets in Nazi Germany; and Andrei Sakharov, who helped develop the nuclear bomb in Cold War Russia, but then spoke out against its use. Some, like Rosa Parks, were not originally in positions of political power but came out of the ranks of regular citizens to stand up for human rights. Others, like Oscar Romero, archbishop of El Salvador, used their power to change the status quo. Also included are Helen Suzman, a South African member of parliament who fought apartheid; Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent years under house arrest for protesting the dictatorship in Burma; and the people of Egypt, who recently brought down the repressive government of Hosni Mubarak. These inspirational profiles of people who followed their moral compass make for riveting stories as well as excellent starting points for discussions about ethics and morality.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554515899
Publisher:	Annick Press, Limited
Publication date:	06/21/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	172
File size:	7 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Laura Scandiffio has worked as an editor for both children's and adult trade books. As an author, her previous book, The Martial Arts Book, showcased her love of history, her meticulous research, and her knack for storytelling.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

The White Rose: Alone Against Hitler 5

Rosa Parks: Bus Ride to Freedom 31

Andrei Sakharov: The Power to Destroy, the Quest for Peace 57

Helen Suzman: Standing Up to Apartheid 85

Oscar Romero: A Voice for the People 107

Aung San Suu Kyi: Prisoner for Democracy 125

Uprising in Egypt: A People's Revolution 153

Main Sources 163

Images Credits 164

Index 165

Editorial Reviews

Talk about character education: here are seven inspirational profiles of individuals and groups from all over the world who have stood up against various forms of oppression, from Nazi Germany to present. While author Laura Scandiffio takes some liberty in adapting conversations and scenes to dramatize various struggles, they are all closely based on true events and the people who sparked them. It is gratifying to find both genders equally represented in these accounts of moral courage.

Green Teacher

I found this book very inspirational. It made me think about how I can change injustice in my everyday life and around the world.

East Van Bookworm

An excellent resource book and information text supporting research projects, literature study groups studying global social justice themes, and global issues.

Resource Links - Sharon P. Armstrong

As she notes in the introduction, the author has woven in scenes and conversations that serve to personalize these stories, while remaining true to history.

Mackin Books in Bloom

By blending storytelling with non-fiction elements, Scandiffio helps readers to relate to these figures as real people, giving life to what may otherwise seem like a distant historical event.

Canadian Children's Book News - Amanda Cannon

Especially relevant to the intended audience, with highly engaging and up-to-date exemplars of the right ways to say no.

Booklist - Erin Anderson

Gr 5–8—Seven profiles of people (Rosa Parks, Andrei Sakharov, etc.) who spoke out against oppression and injustice. Each one highlights a particular period, including the Nazi and apartheid eras. Photographs, graphics, and headings are clear and interesting, and each section contains a brief summary of the period or event. While most will be excellent supplements to history texts, the chapters on Aung San Suu Kyi and on the uprising in Egypt are already out-of-date. Without the benefit of time and some closure, they feel unfinished and will frustrate readers. Given Scandiffio's writing style, sometimes the book reads like good historical fiction. For older readers, however, the imagined dialogue may seem unsophisticated and off-putting; for reluctant readers, it can be a useful introduction to nonfiction works.—Caroline Hanson, Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School, Washington, DC

School Library Journal

An inspiring, informative collection of profiles of people who sacrificed freedom and life to take stands against oppression and to champion human rights. Sophie and Hans Scholl, leaders of a secret student movement opposing the Nazi regime, were executed for treason. Andrei Sakharov helped develop the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb but later became an outspoken critic of nuclear proliferation and was effectively kept under house arrest for years. Aung San Suu Kyi also spent years under house arrest for protesting Burma's dictatorship. For decades, Helen Suzman was the sole member of the South African parliament to fight against apartheid. Rosa Parks' refusal to relinquish her seat prompted the Montgomery bus boycott, one of the first major triumphs of the civil rights movement. Archbishop Oscar Romero challenged El Salvador's oppressive regime and was assassinated. The last and weakest chapter discusses the popular uprising in Egypt that brought down Hosni Mubarak's government. Scandiffio's concise, engaging profiles offer readers an informative overview of these heroes and their accomplishments, and occasional sidebars provide background information. These inspiring stories of people who challenged the status quo make for riveting reading, as well as excellent starting points for research and discussions about civil disobedience, ethics and morality. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 11 & up)

Kirkus Reviews