Lovely
One (Adapted for Young Adults)
By
Ketanji Brown Jackson
Publisher:
Bright Matter
Books
Publication
date: January 20,
2026
Print
length: 368 pages
ISBN-13:
979-8217117772
Reading
age: 12 years and
up
Grade
level: 7 – 9
Publisher’s
Blurb:
The New
York Times bestselling memoir now adapted for young adults! Ketanji
Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the U.S. Supreme
Court, chronicles her life story and her extraordinary path to becoming a
jurist on America's highest court in this inspiring, intimate memoir.
Growing up, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's parents taught her that she could
achieve anything she wanted, and be whoever she wanted to be. In high school,
she dreamt of being a Supreme Court judge. In 2022, her dream came true: she
was sworn in as the first African American woman judge.
Lovely One is Justice Jackson's journey to making her dreams a
reality, the hurdles she faced, and the lessons she learned along the way. She
recalls feeling different and lonely as one of the few Black kids at her high
school. At Harvard University, she was homesick and grappled with imposter
syndrome. She took on the difficulties of working in the legal field as a Black
woman, and the challenges of balancing a career and relationships.
But Justice Jackson persevered. She found like-minded people at her high
school's speech club and Harvard's musical theatre group. With support from her
family and strength from friends, she took on the world with optimism,
determination, and hard work. Justice Jackson's story will resonate with
dreamers everywhere, spreading hope and inspiration for generations to come.
This young adult adaptation has a brand-new preface and epilogue and includes
an exclusive prize-winning speech the justice delivered as a high school
student.
My
Thoughts:
This
is an accessible and interesting account of Justice Jackson’s life and
development. She set her sights high from a young age and, with a very
supportive family and community, was able to achieve things so many young
people—and especially young people of color—do not.
That’s
not to say that there were no struggles. In her youth, Jackson often felt a
sense of isolation as the only Black woman in many of her educational
endeavors. She relates her lived experiences with racism and prejudice frankly,
but not in a way that is self-pitying.
I,
of course, love the accounts of her competitive speech and debate career. We in
the speech and debate world are inordinately proud of our alumni who are
examples of just how far the skills learned in our activity can take you.
Jackson
is also frank about negotiating a marriage with two intense careers and her
struggles as a parent of a child who was eventually diagnosed with autism.
Having my own neuro-spicy child, I was able to relate to the sense of
frustration and embarrassment with having a child who doesn’t behave “normally”
at school and is yet extremely bright and capable.
All
in all, an inspiring look at someone who is a role model for all young people
who want to achieve at high levels.
Possible
objectionable material:
Honest
discussions about racism and prejudice, and racial injustice. Family members
die. One is imprisoned for drug-related offenses. A child struggles with
autism. Jackson is from a church-going family and expresses faith in this book.
Who
might like this book:
Those
who enjoy biographies, especially of currently living people. Those who are
curious about Jackson, specifically.
Thank
you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my
honest opinion.
#BookReview
#BookBlogger #NetGalley #Autobiography #LovelyOne #KetanjiBrownJackson
No comments:
Post a Comment