Additional information
by Catherine Johnson (Author), Katie Hickey (Illustrator)
Dyslexia friendly!
Catherine Johnson celebrates the incredible life of Josephine Baker in this true story, chronicling her journey from an impoverished childhood to beloved actress, dancer and wartime heroine. Dancer, singer, actress, movie star, civil-rights activist--Josephine Baker was a phenomenon! Overcoming the poverty and abuse of her childhood in a segregated America, Josephine grew up to become one of the biggest stars of the early twentieth century, particularly adored in her adopted country of France. She used her connections to help the Resistance in their fight against the Nazis during the Second World War and later became involved with Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement in the US. Controversial and outspoken, she is an iconic historical figure and Catherine Johnson brings her story vividly to life for a young audience in this enthralling piece of narrative non-fiction. Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.Author Biography
Catherine Johnson is a screenwriter and bestselling author of numerous books for children and young adults. Shortlisted for the 2020 UKLA Book Awards, Race to the Frozen North has sold more than 40,000 copies to date. Her historical novel Sawbones won the Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction, and The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo was nominated for both the CILIP Carnegie Medal and the YA Book Prize. Catherine is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Katie Hickey is a freelance illustrator and recent graduate of Falmouth University. Having grown up in Cornwall and the Middle East, she draws inspiration from her travels and surroundings to inform her artwork. Her illustrations blend narrative and information, bringing stories to life with detail and warmth.
Number of Pages: 120
Dimensions: 0.48 x 7.73 x 5.05 IN
Publication Date: May 12, 2026
