Robert Moses: The Master Builder of New York City

Gr 6 Up—This biography of urban planner Robert Moses effectively demonstrates why he was one of the most polarizing figures in New York's history. Readers see how Moses looked down on rich and poor alike and how his emphasis on the big picture often meant that he did not dwell on those whose homes he destroyed in the name of progress. Moses stayed in power for decades, outlasting mayors, governors, and presidents. Activist and journalist Jane Jacobs is presented as the man's main opponent; cycling around the city, the unpretentious Jacobs is an ideal foil for the larger-than-life Moses. Christin relies heavily on dialogue to tell the story, which keeps the narrative from becoming dry. Balez's artwork is visually striking, capturing with just a few colors the lives of rich and poor, from scenic panoramas to tenement slums. There are a few small errors; for example, Robert Caro's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Power Broker is correctly listed as a biography several times but is incorrectly called a novel inside the front cover.