Dissenter on the Bench by Victoria Ortiz is a well-packaged presentation for young adults who are interested in powerful stories of historical strong women. Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life story, in this version, will appeal to young adults because while it reads in a non-linear historical fashion, the chapters and stories unfold (in the audio version, particularly) as told by a voice who speaks with a younger style, and the perspective of a young Ruth (or, Joan Ruth, as she starts named in the story) and why she changes her name and where her strong value system starts, which will definitely appeal to current younger readers. Actual descriptions of the court process and structure may be more detail than some students are interested in yet the facts are nicely interspersed with the story elements so feel part of the drama rather than feeling like a historical textbook. ( )

Literary Merit: Good
Characterization: N/A
Recommended: Yes
Level: Middle or High School

I'm not usually a fan of non-fiction, but I really enjoyed learning more about Ruth Bader Ginsburg's work through this book. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't know a whole lot about her before reading this, but after hearing about some of the cases she helped to win and some of the laws she helped to pass, I find myself really looking up to her and feeling empowered as a woman. Because this book is non-fiction and not very long, this will be a short review, but I wanted to share my thoughts here regardless.

Dissenter on the Bench follows (as the subtitle implies) the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the only women to ever serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. The book takes us through her early life, then follows with her adult life and the progression of her lengthy and impressive career in the field of law. Divided into chapters, each chapter focuses on both a specific time in Ginsburg's life, as well as a related case that she worked on in her career. For example, chapter four focuses on marriage rights, following both Ruth's marriage to her husband Marty as well as a marriage equality case she helped win for Jim Obergefell. The chapters flip back and forth between the case and Ruth's life, helping to paint a specific portrait of the events in Ruth's own life that led to her decisions in the court later on.

Though I enjoyed this book overall, it felt a little rushed and lacking in some areas. This is by no means a comprehensive look at Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life; it's more like a snapshot of major events and court cases from her lifetime. While this makes it excellent for reluctant readers who want the "Cliffnotes" version of Ginsburg's life, I don't see this being the kind of book that can be used for extensive research. Ortiz does, however, have an extensive list of references, so a student writing a paper on Ginsburg would have a wealth of resources available based on the bibliography in this book. I also had a bit of trouble following the chapters, as Ortiz frequently skips between not only Ruth's life and the cases, but SEVERAL cases in each chapter. Even though I'm a fairly advanced reader, I found myself having to flip back to remember which case was which, and the frequent switching really pulled me out of it at times.

Despite these minor complaints, however, I found it really interesting to learn more about this incredible woman's life, and just how much she has impacted the landscape of modern American law. Ginsburg is not only a champion for equal rights, but an excellent role model for women everywhere, and I feel like teen girls will be blown away by reading about her many accomplishments. I could easily see this book helping to inspire a young girl hoping to get into the government or the field of law one day, as it shows how Ginsburg was able to pave the way for other women due to her fearless commitment to equality and justice. She's an incredibly strong lady, and one I would be honored to meet in person someday.

As I said before, I think this book serves as a great introduction to a powerful public figure that many teens might not have heard of before, and I think it has the potential to get teens interested in pursuing careers in law or in the government. I'm a firm believer that teens are the future, and that their passion and drive will help shape the political landscape of tomorrow. As such, it's never too early to inspire them and remind them that they can accomplish great things if they put their mind to it, and I think this book accomplishes that. It might be flawed, but I think it appeals to reluctant readers, and gives enough resources in the back that it can easily lead to deeper research on the subject. On its own, Dissenter on the Bench serves as a quick introduction to the life and work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and I think it would be a great addition to any library's teen non-fiction collection. ( )

Not 100% linear and not exactly groundbreaking; but still a wonderful introduction to Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life and work. Not only does it highlight RBG's work as a supreme court judge, but it also paints a broad picture of all the landmark cases that she worked on as a lawyer for the ACLU , as a law professor, and as US Court of Appeals judge. This book's primary audience will be tweens and teens, but could also get reluctant adult readers a good overview. Filled with pictures, court cases, and law terms; this book could really get a kid jazzed about how crucial the law can be. Peppered throughout the book is a bit about RBG's personal life; her kids, wonderful husband, and the unconventional family unit they had as a young family. A good intro on the wonderful things that Ginsburg has accomplished for the betterment of this country that will get any reader pumped up to read more. ( )