I really enjoyed using this novel to help teach my children about both the birth of Gospel music and the struggle for civil rights in the USA. This biography about a laundrywoman's rise to fame as a gifted singer highlights the inconsistencies that exist in a society that will simultaneously praise and discriminate against a person. Mahalia seemed to be able to handle the juggling act with integrity, maintaining her determination to sing for God and not bow to fear. A little nationalistic at times, but a fascinating read that includes snippets of JFK and Martin Luther King.
