Rockin’ the Boat: 50 Iconic Revolutionaries from Joan of Arc to Malcolm X

From ancient civilizations to the 20th century, 50 movers and shakers get their due in this informative and sometimes tongue-in-cheek guide, which examines Cleopatra, Judah Maccabee, Nat Turner, Michael Collins, and Che Guevara, among others. Fleischer capably places the individuals in their history milieu, zeroing in on the circumstances behind their notoriety, as well as the ways their influence has endured, while sidebars provide additional context and modern parallels (Fleischer compares Roman politicians and brothers Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus to John and Robert Kennedy). A lively narrative, an accessible length (while the profiles are dense, they are kept to roughly four pages each), and deadpan humor—particularly in captions (George Washington is “tight in tights” and Sitting Bull “sits bullishly”)—allow for irreverent, edifying reading. Ages 14–up. (Mar.)