School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-A well-researched biography of India's first female prime minister. Both her remarkable life, including her triumphs and mistakes, and the history of present-day India receive attention. Dommermuth-Costa presents Gandhi's life within the context of the lives of her father and grandfather, who fought for India's independence. The book traces the woman's turbulent childhood and adolescence as she witnessed family and friends imprisoned repeatedly as they struggled against British colonial rule. Their fight would soon become hers as she eventually succeeded her father, Jawaharlal Nehru. Several chapters focus on Gandhi's ascent from emissary for her father's fledgling government to her own election in 1966. The text gives substantial attention to India's conflicts with other nations, as well as to its own domestic problems, and the prime minister's responses to them. The final chapters deal with her loss of office after political unrest, her reelection in 1980, and finally, her assassination by her own bodyguards in 1984. Many black-and-white photos are included. A good source for information on the woman and her land.-Carol Fazioli, formerly at The Brearley School, New York City (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This biography recounts Indira GandhiÆs life and accomplishments, from her birth in a prestigious Brahmin family to her service as prime minister of India, with schooling, marriage, and motherhood in the background of a life spent in public view. Considerable material is incorporated in a fairly pedestrian style, and well-documented black-and-white photographs illustrate the text. A time line and information about religions in India are appended. Bib., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
