Elena Kagan - (Greenwood Biographies) by Meg Greene (Hardcover)

About the Book

Readers seeking information about Elena Kagan--from her early life and her ascent to the Supreme Court to how she approaches questions of fairness, justice, equality, and civil rights--will find this biography engaging and invaluable.
Elena Kagan can be considered a "wild card" in terms of how she will vote and affect Supreme Court decisions. While largely considered a liberal, her lack of a judicial "track record" and previous work as Solicitor General lend an air of uncertainty as to how she will react to upcoming cases that have proven highly divisive and controversial.

This full-length biography sheds light on Elena Kagan's life, covering her college years at Princeton and her experience in law school as well as her legal career, which eventually led her to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Appropriate for high school, college, and adult readers, the book not only documents Justice Kagan's life, achievements, and the possibilities for the future, but also how Kagan is an inspiring role model who demonstrated independence, determination, and high achievement throughout her career.

• Presents a clear overview of Kagan's legal thought and writings that reveals the basic tenets of her philosophies
• Documents Kagan's accomplishments while serving as dean of Harvard Law School and her rise to the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court, giving readers a clear understanding of the steps and circumstances throughout her successful career
• Illustrates the important differences and similarities between Kagan and recent court appointee Sonia Sotomayor
• Provides a complete bibliography that will direct students to the most important print and electronic sources of additional information about Kagan

Book Synopsis

Readers seeking information about Elena Kagan--from her early life and her ascent to the Supreme Court to how she approaches questions of fairness, justice, equality, and civil rights--will find this biography engaging and invaluable.

Elena Kagan can be considered a "wild card" in terms of how she will vote and affect Supreme Court decisions. While largely considered a liberal, her lack of a judicial "track record" and previous work as Solicitor General lend an air of uncertainty as to how she will react to upcoming cases that have proven highly divisive and controversial.

This full-length biography sheds light on Elena Kagan's life, covering her college years at Princeton and her experience in law school as well as her legal career, which eventually led her to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Appropriate for high school, college, and adult readers, the book not only documents Justice Kagan's life, achievements, and the possibilities for the future, but also how Kagan is an inspiring role model who demonstrated independence, determination, and high achievement throughout her career.

Review Quotes

"[T]he bibliography, table of contents, timeline, and index do make it useful for a student or teacher." --Association of Jewish Libraries

"The thorough coverage begins with a look at each individual's formative years--such as Elena Kagan's Jewish immigrant family--and shows how these events shaped personal and career paths. . . . The book also devotes considerable attention to Kagan's legal arguments and even explains how she did not always agree with her esteemed boss. Black-and-white photos, time lines, and extensive bibliographies round out [this] solid bio." --Booklist

"A concise, fairly thorough, and well-written biography." --ARBA

"This biography is a well-written, heavily researched look into the path that Elena Kagan took throughout her life to get to the position of Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. . . . This creates a full, rich context for young readers. . . . Recommended." --Jewish Book Council

About the Author