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From School Library Journal

April 1, 2022

Gr 3-7-The adults got (mostly) Laurence Fishburne, but Adam Lazarre-White is distinctly the softer, better choice for younger listeners to get to know the late congressman in his own words. Cummings was born to South Carolina sharecroppers who moved to Baltimore "looking for a better life." His modest childhood provided early lessons on combatting racism; in 1962, at 11, he helped integrate the neighborhood pool. He remained firmly grounded in his community, active at New Psalmist Baptist Church. He was a lawyer before being elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, then the U.S. House of Representatives. His honesty made him a target of the 45th U.S. president, but Cummings refused to demean himself. At grave personal cost, he never stopped working for the people. Cummings's beloved widow, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, joins Lazarre-White near book's end. VERDICT Cummings's death in 2019 predated this memoir's publication, but Lazarre-White amplifies his resonating voice for justice.

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Publisher's Weekly

October 26, 2020
Cummings (1951—2019), the late Maryland Democratic congressman, recaps his struggle to overcome racism in politics and a contentious relationship with President Trump in this forceful valedictory. He, along with James Dale (The Power of Nice), recount Cummings's rise from special-ed student to law school grad and 12-term congressman thanks to parents who, despite poverty and workplace discrimination, raised their seven children to have faith in God and fight for civil rights. (His mother's dying words, Cummings recollects, were "Do not let anyone take our votes away.") Cummings rehashes Trump's misdeeds, including taking back promises to support Cummings's drug pricing reforms, separating migrant families at the U.S. border, paying hush money to a porn star, instituting a Muslim ban, and firing off "bullying tweets," including one disparaging Cummings's Baltimore district as a "rodent infested mess." The author's religious and family values shine and are woven seamlessly throughout the narrative in spirited quotes-for example, "We were raised not just by two parents, but by two preachers" and "I often use the words of scripture. I look to God for guidance." Cummings's paeans to family, faith, and general idealism make this a moving tale worth reading.

From Library Journal

Starred review from September 1, 2020

In this posthumous memoir, Cummings (D-MD) reflects on his final years in the U.S. House of Representatives before his death in October 2019. Beginning with a foreword by Nancy Pelosi, the narrative then moves on to recount how Cummings had hoped to work with the Trump administration in a bipartisan manner, which he later realized was not possible owing to obstruction. Although Cummings had a long political career, here he chooses to highlight his work during the Trump presidency, focusing on his time as Chair of the House Oversight Committee, which investigated prescription drug prices, family separation, and the Trump administration during his tenure. The politician includes lessons that he has learned throughout his life, including the importance of his faith, letting go of bitterness, and ensuring that people treated him with respect. Throughout, the congressman's dedication to civil service, desire to mentor younger generations, and admiration for his colleagues shines through. The book concludes as his widow, Maya, remembers his final days; also included are excerpts from eulogies given by prominent political figures. VERDICT Moving insight into a remarkable man, which remains a touching tribute to his accomplishments in the later years of his life. Recommended for political aficionados.--Rebekah Kati, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

Starred review from August 15, 2020
Excellent political memoir by the late Democratic representative from Baltimore, one of the sitting president's most vocal opponents. The descendant of sharecroppers from the South who moved north in the Great Migration, Cummings (1951-2019) was the first of his family to go to college, from which he graduated Phi Beta Kappa, went on to attend law school, and served 12 terms in Congress. This book is not a self-congratulatory recitation of accomplishments, however. The author often returns to a telling episode: Donald Trump promised Cummings that he would work on a long-standing pet project--to lower prescription drug prices--and then did absolutely nothing about it. "One of the lessons of the street is that your first encounter with a person can tell you all you need to know. If a guy is straight with you, he'll be okay. If he isn't, watch out," writes Cummings, who adds that Trump told the media that Cummings had told him, "You will go down as one of the great presidents in the history of our country." It was, notes the author, "a flagrant, shameless, bald-faced lie....One of thousands, it turns out." Trump's constant mendacity led directly to his impeachment, a process in which Cummings played a key role and was unfazed when Trump responded, as ever, with a lawsuit: "Sorry, but when it comes to intimidation with the hope of us backing off--he had the wrong guy, on the wrong issue." Cummings provides a pages-long list of Trump's manifold high crimes and misdemeanors, which resulted in, naturally, a bitter torrent of tweets attacking Cummings and his district, yielding a concise retort, among which was the line, "I know the constitution, Mr. President, even if you don't." The author closes with an account of his final moments by his wife, Maya, and a selection of abbreviated eulogies from leaders including Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. A thoughtful and inspiring exhortation to do better by a much-missed leader.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Library Journal

January 1, 2020

Before his death in October, Cummings, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Maryland's Seventh congressional district starting in 1996, was a high-profile participant in the congressional inquiry regarding Donald Trump's communications with Ukraine and offered a dignified response to Trump's tweet that "no human being would want to live" in Cummings's district. A reminder of a remarkable life in public service; with a 50,000-copy first printing

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From AudioFile Magazine

Laurence Fishburne serves as the lead narrator in this powerful tribute to long-serving Congressman Elijah Cummings, who died shortly before the book's completion. Each chapter relates a story from Cummings's past to a challenge he faced in working with President Trump and his administration. Fishburne's animated and resonant voice is a perfect match to Cummings's memorable public speaking style; it acts as a reflection rather than an attempt at imitation. In addition to Fishburne, the audiobook features a foreword written and delivered by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and a final chapter narrated by Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the congressman's widow. This unique and engaging audio production concludes with recordings of several eulogies from Cummings's funeral. N.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

From Kirkus

A young readers' adaptation of the adult title by the same name describing the inspiring life and accomplishments of the late Congressman Cummings. Cummings shares his story for the express purpose of motivating readers, especially those facing anything like the obstacles he experienced growing up in his beloved Baltimore. Before becoming a longtime member of Congress, he was the child of sharecroppers who departed South Carolina in search of a better life. His given name, like his work and dedication to supporting his community and people, was inspired by his family's Baptist Christian faith, which informs the whole of this work, from his recollections of his education and friendship with a local pastor to the flavor of the abundant advice and guidance he offers readers. Through faith and perseverance, Cummings recounts loss and suffering that is communal and private, personal and political, from the protests erupting after Freddie Gray's murder at the hands of Baltimore police to the series of disappointments that accompanied the election and administration of the 45th president of the United States. The voice of Maya, Cummings' wife, narrates the concluding scenes immediately before and after his passing at age 68 in 2019. Excerpts from eulogies given at his funeral offer added evidence to the immense impact Cummings has had and can continue to have by way of his example. Represents the wholeness of the legacy of a politician who aimed to humanize politics. (Autobiography. 9-15)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. (Online Review)