A Life of Service

June 1, 2022
Grades K-3 Soontornvat recounts the life of Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth, emphasizing her devotion to the service of her country. Born in Bangkok, Thailand, Duckworth grew up traveling all over Southeast Asia, where her father worked for the United Nations. After moving to Hawaii, Duckworth studied hard, excelled at sports, and joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps in college. An accomplished helicopter pilot, she served in Iraq, where she was injured and lost both legs. After her recovery, she turned her attention to politics, becoming a senator in 2016. Soontornvat's prose is succinct yet clear and excels when she relates personal anecdotes, such as Duckworth selling flowers by the side of the road to help the family finances. Details of her 2004 helicopter accident and her painful recovery are also well handled. Phumiruk's pencil-and-digital-collage illustrations are rendered in full color, although khaki tones predominate. Realistic in style, the illustrations are varied, some including multiple images of Duckworth in assorted activities. An excellent addition to the biography shelf and women's history units.

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August 1, 2022
A look into the formative years of Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth is introduced as a young schoolgirl curiously examining a globe. An American citizen who was born in Bangkok, Thailand, she traveled "all over Southeast Asia with her family." Tammy's father worked for the United Nations, and she accompanied him as he helped refugees; while observing, young Tammy decided to dedicate herself to helping others. After bouts of homelessness and food insecurity while growing up, with Tammy supporting the family at one point by selling flowers by the roadside, she attended college and graduate school, then joined the Army National Guard. The evenly paced, thorough narrative reveals that after many years of service, Tammy nearly died in a helicopter crash in Iraq in 2004, leaving her with severe chronic pain and prosthetic legs. Phumiruk uses cooler muted colors to portray the physical and emotional obstacles Duckworth overcame during her long recovery and rehabilitation. Brighter and warmer colors are slowly incorporated onto each page as Duckworth, with the encouragement of a local senator, campaigned, lost one race, but eventually was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Duckworth continued to break down even more barriers after becoming a senator. With the birth of her second daughter, she was able to change chamber rules so that she could bring her infant daughter with her to vote. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A comprehensive look at an extraordinary life and continuing legacy. (timeline, information on Duckworth's achievements, books and websites) (Picture-book biography. 5-9)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2022

K-Gr 3-This picture book biography chronicles the life of Tammy Duckworth, beginning with her childhood in Thailand and leading to her groundbreaking election as a U.S. Senator. During her childhood, Duckworth spent time traveling all over Southeast Asia, and she knew at an early age she wanted to give back to her community. When her father lost his job, the family moved to Hawaii where they struggled to afford to eat each day, and Duckworth helped provide for her family by selling flowers by the side of the road. After attending college and graduate school, Duckworth joined the ROTC, successfully completed flight school, rose through the ranks of the National Guard, and met and married her husband. When the U.S. invaded Iraq, Duckworth disagreed with the decision, but she continued to serve, leading and planning helicopter missions in Balad, Iraq. In 2004, her helicopter was attacked, and Duckworth was pulled from the wreckage, presumed dead. As she recovered slowly in the hospital, Duckworth relearned how to eat and how to walk using prosthetics. Powerful details about Duckworth's childhood and her experiences in the National Guard impart a sense of the senator's resilient spirit; the book concludes on a hope-filled call to action of more work to be done. Back matter includes a time line of major life events, short summaries of political issues most important to Senator Duckworth, and resources for further reading. VERDICT A worthwhile and empowering biography recommended for large nonfiction collections.-Lauren Younger

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 10, 2022
A Thai American creative team collaborates on this biography of Senator Tammy Duckworth, which emphasizes the duality of military service and public service. Born in Bankok, Duckworth “is an American citizen who grew up traveling all over Southeast Asia.” Her father’s job working for the United Nations meant that “the family was never far from the echoes of war,” and visiting refugee camps with her dad, she envisioned “serving America by helping those in need.” Job loss took the family to Hawaii, where they experienced financial precarity, but teenage Duckworth “was determined to soar at school” while helping to keep her family fed. After college and graduate school, her military service as a Black Hawk pilot ended when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq. Recovery from significant injuries pivoted her to politics representing Illinois, first in the House then in the Senate. Soontornvat’s prose and Phumiruk’s scenes of war, rehabilitation, and public service balance bravery with personal sacrifice. Back matter includes a timeline. Ages 5–9.