Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Inspiring profiles of black Americans in history and today.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Written in honor of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States and first black president, THE FIERCE 44 profiles 44 African Americans who made a difference. Some are well-known historical figures (Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman), some are famous contemporary leaders and stars (Aretha Franklin, Barrack Obama, Serena Williams), and some may be unfamiliar to most, such as Robert Abbott, a lawyer, editor and publisher who founded The Chicago Defender newspaper in 1905, and Dr. Charles Drew, a surgeon and medical researcher who developed large-scale blood banks in the early part of World War II. Each biography is accompanied by an illustrated portrait and a statement about why the person was chosen.
Is It Any Good?
This is a fun and encouraging book, great for book reports. The staff of the Undefeated provide concise biographies of The Fierce 44 that deliver rich information about both the person and what needed shaking up in their world. Robert Ball's warm illustrations add to the appeal. Even reluctant readers may enjoy this book enough to read all the way through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the people profiled in The Fierce 44: Black Americans Who Shook Up the World. What other prominent people would you add to your own list of important black Americans.
Which of the fierce 44 individuals you read about here inspire you most, and why?
What does it mean to shake up the world?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Robert Ball
- Genre : Biography
- Topics : Activism , STEM , Arts , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Publication date : December 22, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 12
- Number of pages : 96
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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