Augusta Savage made clay sculptures from her earliest days on, forming farm animals out of clay as a child in the mud pit of her small-town Florida home. But her fervently religious father disapproved of her making art, often smashing the pieces she made. With perseverance in her craft, August continued to sculpt, and by age 27 made it to New York where she found a room in Harlem and attended the Cooper Union. Augusta became well known for her sculpture at the time. As the author's note reveals, Augusta lived with severe depression. She spent the later years of her life in obscurity in upstate New York, and not much of her work has survived to present day. This book was a welcome look into the life of an artist I have never heard of. I'm glad to now ponder her life and am curious to see more of her work.

The text was almost too rose-colored. Though the author mentions Augusta lived in poverty as a child, there is zero mention of racism or sexism, both of which she undoubtedly experienced as a Black woman breaking into the 1920s and 30s art world of New York City. I appreciated the detail of the text, but wondered how much of the story the author had to invent due to a lack of documentation about Augusta's life. The painted illustrations were up and down for me. Some were beautiful and evocative – such as that of Augusta creating a bust of a pastor late at night. Other illustrations felt flat and cartoony. ( )

Augusta Savage loved to play with clay and shape figures from it. Her father disapproved and punished Augusta when he caught her. A teacher at her school suggested she go to New York and there she was admitted to a prestigious school where she learned to sculpt.Finally, she succeeded. I would use this book in my class because It teach us to strive to realize our dreams. It is suitable for 3rd graders. ( )

Augusta Savage, even as a young girl, loved to play with clay, to shape figures from it. Her father, a preacher, disapproved and punished Augusta when he caught her. When the family moved, she was happy to discover a potter who shared his clay with her and encouraged her work. A teacher at her school suggested she go to New York and there she was admitted to a prestigious school where she learned to sculpt. In Her Hands tells Augusta’s story, in little scenes with her parents and teachers. An author’s note at the end tells more of Augusta’s story and provides photographs of two of her most famous sculptures.From the book:‘”Tell me, Miss Savage---what do you know?”Augusta was confused. “I don’t know what you mean.”“Oh, I think you do.” Mr. Borglum smiled. “What matters most to you? When you think about your life, what comes to mind?”Augusta had never been asked that kind of question before. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. Green Cove Springs---that was what she cared about. The place where she’d grown up, with its clay pits and its smelly sulphur springs, and the school she’d gone to, and all the kids she used to play with---Maisie and Margaret and Pee-wee….’ ( )