The U.S. Supreme Court justice refers to the written word as her teachers, lenses, life saver, and mirror. And most importantly, a secret key. This isn’t Sotomayor’s first book, nor her first children’s book. It’s a wonderful departure from her previous books. This book takes children through a world that encourages self-exploration. Turning Pages (Philomel; $18) is a picture book that adapts her autobiography My Beloved World and uses mixed media pencil illustrations to show readers the hardships and triumphs of Sotomayor’s youth. She attributes her youth milestones to what she read, as do many others. She learned to think critically and to be compassionate through books. They helped her to understand the hardships of her Puerto Rican relatives. They were a great help in her studies at Princeton University. She felt far from her family. They helped her to be able to adjudicate justice. Comic books were what helped her overcome Type 1 diabetes at the age of 7. At age 9 she found comfort in her local library, which helped her to understand her father’s death prematurely. Nancy Drew was the first person to inspire Sotomayor’s curiosity. She was inspired by the 1969 moon landing, followed by her immersion in science fiction and space travel literature. In high school, she read the Bible and learned to love her neighbor and to interpret rules with an equitable mind. The art is stunning when one thumbs through Turning Pages. Lulu Delacre is a Puerto Rican illustrator who gives life to Sotomayor’s words through dreamlike, meta drawings that make the book a tribute to Sotomayor’s past and present. Take the cover. The justice’s ascent towards the bench is framed by native Puerto Rican fauna and flora. Young readers will feel as though they are on their own journey through a literary sea. The book’s dynamic pencil illustrations are both fluid and realistic. Young readers are immersed in the possibilities and harsh realities of life. The book encourages reflection and uses the wisdom of the past for understanding struggles such as poverty, discrimination, and equal access to education. Sotomayor addresses both young and old alike. We are all too busy with our daily lives, our phones and the race across town. Sotomayor encourages people to slow down, to appreciate their sense of place and to learn from it. If we don’t know the purpose of our past, we won’t be able to make sense of our future. Sotomayor will be appearing at the Mississippi Book Festival Saturday, Aug. 19, with Margaret McMullan at 10.45 am on the Galloway Stage. She will also sign books in the reception area. Check out our staff picks which we will update throughout the week.