Let Your Voice Be Heard: The Life and Times of Pete Seeger - Hardcover

Silvey, Anita

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 054733012X ISBN 13: 9780547330129

Publisher: Clarion Books, 2016

Synopsis

Pete Seeger, the iconic folk musician and multiple Grammy winner, discovered early in life that what he wanted to do was make music. His amazing career as singer, songwriter, and banjo player spanned seven decades, and included both low points (being charged with contempt of Congress) and highlights (receiving the Kennedy Center Honor from President Clinton). An activist and protester, Seeger crusaded for the rights of labor, the rights of people of color, and the First Amendment right to let his voice be heard, and launched the successful campaign to clean up the Hudson River. Archival photographs and prints, source notes, bibliography, index.

About this title

About the Author

Anita Silvey has spent more than thirty years in the children's book field, including eleven years as editor-in-chief at the Horn Book Magazine. She is the editor of Children’s Books and Their Creators and the author of 100 Best Books for Children and The Book-a-Day Almanac.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–7—Silvey traces the influences and happenings that would take Pete Seeger, born to classical musician parents, from a place of wealth down to the union halls, small towns, and never-ending crusade against injustice. Seeger is shown learning from the likes of Alan Lomax and Woody Guthrie and coming to understand economic inequality, workers' rights, and civil rights. To bring the message of folk music and peace to a greater audience became Seeger's—and by extension this book's—quest. Through personal interviews, as well as primary source materials, Silvey creates a flowing biography for the middle school audience. She succeeds in portraying the strength of the singer's convictions, even in the face of adversity, which included a 10-year persecution by the House Un-American Activities Committee. Each chapter begins with a verse from Seeger's repertoire of music—some original and others renditions of traditional songs. VERDICT The subject is presented in such a way that readers will feel close to Seeger and be inspired to pursue more information on him and the causes he fought for.—Sharon M. Lawler, formerly at Randolph Elementary, Randolph AFB, TX

Edition details

• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 054733012X
• ISBN 13: 9780547330129
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 112