No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

by Kathleen Krull, Nancy Zhang (Illustrator)

Ruth Bader Ginsburg may be one of the most respected women in the United States, but her recognition is nothing short of hard-won. For years before becoming a justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth had to fight the notion that being female meant that she was less smart, less qualified, and less worthy of attention than her male counterparts. Throughout college, law school, and her work life, she faced discrimination—because she was a woman.

But it was in her fight for equality as a lawyer that she made an imprint on American history, by changing the way the law dealt with women's rights and by showing people that unfairness to women wasn’t just a female problem—that it negatively affected men and children, too.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Childrens, Feminism, Womens

48 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2017

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book on RBG and wow = what a life! She has done so much for women's equality in her life. She sounds very upset with several of the rulings that happened recently and she came out hard on the opposing view. So much so that a law about women was changed in 2009.

She would like to see a supreme court that had 9 women on it. I think that sounds like a good thing - a least for a cycle.

I enjoyed the art and there was a build-up in the story of her life a little. It is a little long and I can't say the kids enjoyed it. They asked questions. My niece couldn't understand why women were treated differently back then and I thought this was a good thing. Things have changed so much that we can't imagine those limits. They got a little wiggly and didn't see the importance of the story. Still my niece was interested some by her hard work.

[Becky R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all know why the banners kicked this one out. Ruth was “scary smart” and a G in all the best ways. What an American hero. I wish she was still with us. ❤️

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know anything about Ruth’s life until I read this book. I have to admire her persistence in pursuing the truth and fighting “unfairness,” especially with regards to women. Krull lists at the back of the book some of the major cases in which Ruth fought for the truth. “No truth without Ruth!” Nancy Zhang’s colorful illustrations depict Ruth’s beaming smile, radiating a positive outlook. I wish I could meet her. This biography should inspire young readers, especially girls, to want to pursue truth in their own lives. Highly recommended! You go, Ruth!

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fabulous! Another wonderful biography carefully crafted by Kathleen Krull. She describes RBG's life, step by step, in ways that the reader can appreciate and understand. Nice features such as a timeline are at the back of the book for young students who might be using this for research.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picture book biography of the inspiring life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Very lovely illustrations and an understandable explanation of all of the challenges she had to overcome, her determination to fight for fairness, and how she changed our country before and after becoming a Supreme Court Justice.

[Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having already read a couple Ruth Bader Ginsburg picture book biographies before, I still managed to learn some new things with this one. I've enjoyed seeing which parts of her life have become mainstays and which ones are elaborated upon. This includes a timeline and 10 stand out cases she's been a part of!

I'm definitely interested in reading more book about her!

Expected publication: February 27th

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This children's biography about Bader Ginsburg is filled with pretty illustrations and a lot of great facts about the justice. The end includes a list of her most influential cases and a brief timeline of her life. The artwork scans could have been higher quality; there's a lot of pixelation.

[Jennifer Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and inspiring. My only issue with it is that it said nothing about her having children until the timeline in the back of the book. Having children is also an accomplishment that I wish had been mentioned.

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book! My favorite part was the focus on Ginsburg's relationship with her mother. She would be so proud of her daughter.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Dissent is a better picture book biography on RBG overall but this one does have a ton of information which is good.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!!!!!!!

[Laura Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are at least six children's Ruth Bader Ginsburg biographies available. This one is one of my favs in terms of content and illustrations.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy my college library had this title in print because the 48 pages were a delightful mix of colors and information to read in non-digital format. The book kickstarts the story by reminding the reader that there is more fairness for women, today. “Sometimes the things we take for granted today happened because of a single person. This is the story of one of those change-makers: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, fierce fighter for fairness and truth.” Points of interest:

*Ruth chipped a tooth while twirling her baton.
*She kept her mother’s battle with cancer a secret from everyone she knew.
*She missed her graduation since her mother died just the night before.
*Other college students referred to Ruth as “scary smart.”
*In Ruth’s first case as a lawyer before the Supreme Court, she was met with stony silence. Not one of them asked a question (which was highly unusual).
*She always wore her mother’s pin and earrings to her cases before the Supreme Court.
*During her years on the Supreme Court, she went parasailing, white-water rafting, horseback riding, paddleboarding, and water-skiing.

The book ends with a timeline, a detailed explanation of the American federal court system, a “Top 10 Moments When Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fought for Fairness on the Supreme Court” page, and a list of sources. The artist used traditional arts media and digital techniques to make the illustrations for this book.

[Laura Giessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always interested to learn new stories about this remarkable woman. I liked the parts about her relationship with her mom; would have liked more about her relationship with her father. Also would have liked more about her husband and marriage. I realize that RBG's accomplishments are the reasons that she has biographies written about her, and this book reviewed many of the milestones of her career, in the text and in the back matter. That being said, it is often the personal and relational tidbits about famous people that I find most intriguing, and I wish there had been more. I liked the point that the author makes on one page: "In fighting for fairness, she was actually changing the way the country treated women." I probably take for granted the gains that RBG has fought for on my behalf. The illustrations weren't my favorite; portraits are difficult. And I didn't really understand the title and refrain throughout the book--no truth without Ruth. ?? The phrases that were bolded on the pages were sometimes a bit...awkward or forced, and it may be too much text for a read aloud. But overall, glad for another picture book about this remarkable woman.

I think I need to check out more books by Kathleen Krull.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It struck Ruth that whenever the law used the word "protection" -as in women needing special protection- it meant the slamming of a door."

"Ruth argued that laws treating men and women differently were unfair -meant to keep women in their place, a place unequal to men"

Sarah Grimke quote "I ask no favor for (women). All I ask of our (brothers) is that they take their feet off out necks. Thank you."

"Unfairness, she said is bad for everyone; it's bad for men, it's bad for children."

"If there was one decision I would overrule, it would be Citizens United."

Slightly dated with her death, but still quite a tribute to her and her accomplishments.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that there are several really good picture book biographies of RBG out there. I Dissent is probably my favorite, but this one is a close second. It does an excellent job covering her career and contributions to history. If you are looking for a book that covers more of her personal life, this one isn't it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't think you can have too many books about RBG. Well-written for middle-graders about the judge and her background. Good backmatter.

[Laura Cobrinik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy Krull and Nancy Zhang's "No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsberg" is a wonderful juvenile biography that is perfect for children in grades 4+. It is also a wonderful biography for adults from ages 18-101+ years of age...
With Zhang's realistic illustrations and Krull's paragraphs by each illustration, "No Truth Without Ruth:..." is a warm, loving biography about a tough and strong Supreme Court Judge, who besides having a hard childhood, (losing her mother when she was just 16), is a true historic story of someone who not only is known for protecting the rights of all women, but is also known as someone who protects each American's life for EQUALITY.
I'm very happy that Krull and Zhang wrote this book about Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who at 85 is still a Supreme Court Judge, a popular "rock star" for many young people and lawyers starting out, and is also an inspiration for all "athletes in training." I'm happy that Ruth Bader Ginsburg has the opportunity to received her honors while she is still alive....I hope this book guarentees Judge Ginsburg to keep her post on the Supreme Court for at least another 8 years.
Thank you Ms. Krull and Ms. Zhang for writing this wonderful book.
Laura Cobrinik,
Boonton Township, NJ

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these picture book biographies for children. They bring famous people alive so you really feel like you get to know them.

[Rachael Dockery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely ludicrous and shameful that the Pentagon has banned this book as a result of Trump’s EO attempting to ban “DEI”.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned quite a bit, and so will the youngsters lucky enough to receive this book.

Reading about all of the hurdles RBG encountered just trying to become a lawyer, I thought ruefully of the young women who never had to experience any of this discrimination proudly holding "not a feminist" signs on social media.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this book is on the Department of Defense banned book list for the DOD schools, I had to read to find out what’s so bad in the book. Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for human rights her professional life. She broke many glass ceilings, becoming the second woman on the Supreme Court. It appears that books about women who fought the status quo is not appropriate for school age children.

[alisonwonderland (Alison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun illustrations depict an overview of the life and work of RBG. We owe her so much!

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book not only about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but about how rights for women have changed in what is really the recent past. She is a wonderful role model for girls who don't want to be only what others think they should be. Girls can strive to be any, and every, thing that they want - but they will have to speak up for themselves and support others to do it. I loved the message that the truth and what you believe in is what you need to stand up for in your life and that small steps lead to large changes. It was certainly inspiring to me and I lived through all of it unaware as it was happening. I love when a book allows people of all levels to learn, think, and enjoy!

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book biography is an important reminder that women have had a long, tough fight to be treated equally. And even today we can't take those rights for granted. Ruth Bader Ginsburg had to overcome many unfair hurdles to attend law school, get a job as an attorney, and be treated as an equal before the law. With engaging narrative text and awesome mixed media illustrations, this book would be a good nonfiction resource to share with middle grade readers.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you think you can’t love Ruth Bader Ginsburg anymore than you already do you read No Truth Without Ruth and you find out how very wrong you were. Kathleen Krull is a fantastic writer of non-fiction for young readers and listeners and she perfectly summarized the life of Chief Justice RBG in a way that will make a new generation fall in love too.

[Katy Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Truth Without Ruth is a biography by award-winning author Kathleen Krull. The biography starts by telling about Ruth's childhood and the high expectations her mother had for her academics. It continues to explain the perseverance in succeeding after Ruth's mother passed away shortly before her high school graduation. Ruth decides to become a lawyer after realizing lawyers can fight for fairness for all people, especially for women. The biography tracks Ruth life all the way through her being nominated for and serving on the highest court of all--the Supreme Court. In my classroom, I would use this book for teaching social studies. More specifically, the history of representation of women in government. I love how the book even includes a timeline in the back which can be incorporated into units on timelines in social studies. I think this book would connect well to 3rd and 4th grade social studies standards about civics.

This is a WOW book for me because of the message it sends young students! With perseverance and grit, you can achieve so many things. I think it is especially powerful and inspiring to see the documented life of someone from their childhood through to their huge successes.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It struck Ruth that whenever the law used the word 'protection' - as in women needing special protection - it meant the slamming of a door."

I love how the book portrayed lawyers as crusaders and heroes; that's the way young Ruth envisioned them, from the time she saw lawyers standing up to Joseph McCarthy during the anti-Communist witch hunts of the 1950s. I was also fascinated by the number of times she overcame obstacles that limited women - in sports, in law school, in her religious practice, as a wife and mother. One of the most fascinating, quirky details pointed out that, once she became our second female justice on the Supreme Court, the Court had to add a women's bathroom.

In wearing the pin and earrings of her beloved, educated, supportive mother as she first argued before the Supreme Court, "She was suiting up in armor to fight her opponent that day: the United States government. And truth was her weapon."

A wonderful book about the power of dissent and the importance of fighting for fairness. The text includes a timeline, some background information on the federal court system, and ten of RBG's top cases, as well as a list of sources.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. Written well for the target audience (although maybe a smidge long for a picture book).

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Numerous RBG bios have been recently published for children, and after reading most (all?) of them, this one has little new information to offer. It does include a unique short statement about Joseph McCarthy and Ginsburg's admiration for the lawyers who stood up to him, but other than that, same info. Plus part of the power of her story is that she is a tiny person making a huge difference, and in some of these illustrations, she looks tall and willowy. If your classroom or library has NO RBG bios for young readers yet and this one is the only one available, grab it. Otherwise, take a look at Jonah Winter's book and the exceptional I Dissent by Debbie Levy.