Summer 2004 Review:

Art Against The Odds is a book that tells about many different art forms, but the one thing that bands them all together is the similarity that they were drawn by people with a disadvantage. Some of the works written about were drawn by prisoners, others by people thought to be insane or mentally unstable. There’s even some info about quilts made by slaves long ago, to tell a story.

My favorite part of the book was reading about the art kids like me had created. The children in the story have far worse lives than I do, but I thought it was interesting. One child in a faraway country made a twisting snake toy entirely out of tons of bottle caps! I thought this toy would actually be fun to fiddle around with.

I also liked to be able to see the paintings in each of the books many illustrations. The details help the words in the book come alive and take meaning. I would recommend this book, Art Against the Odds, to anyone that has ever taken up any interest in drawing. It’s a really inspiring story, and I think some of any age would find this book super if they felt that same way about art.

~ Emma Shebat, grade 7, Canfield Village Middle School