Bryan, Ashley. Infinite Hope: A Black Artist’s Journey from World War II to Peace. Caitlyn Dlouhy/Atheneum, 2019. $21.99 208p. ISBN 978-1-5344-0490-8. Ages 10-14. P8 Q10
This renowned award-winner artist and writer of children’s stories begins his autobiography when he was drafted at the age of 19 into World War II. Drawing his world of racial segregation in the war, he continued his childhood art to “survive the brutality” around him, much of it directed toward himself and other black soldiers. After putting away the artwork from his war experiences for over 60 years, Bryan now tells his story, complete with sketchbook-journal entries, handwritten to friend Eva, and artwork never made public before. Reproduced letters in the oversized book are made readable by reproduction in blue, small print.
Verdict: The warm, introspective personal narration is enhanced by a variety of media—watercolors, sketches in ink and charcoal, archival black and white photographs, documents, etc. that includes a poignant photograph of Bryan painting the flowers in the gardens of Little Cranberry Island where he lives. The artistic format beautifully brings out Bryan’s experiences. A must for all libraries in its view from the creator of classic children’s books and its perspective of being black in 20th-century United States. The word “peace” in the title reflects not only the end of the war but also the memoir’s sense of Bryan reaching an inner peace.
May 2020 review by Nel Ward.
Oregon Coast Youth Book Preview Center 