Books

= **__BOOK LIST:__** =

//A Dream of Freedom the Civil Rights Movement from 1954-1968//by Diane McWhorter

//Dear Mrs. Parks a Dialogue with Today’s Youth//by Rosa Parks

//Martin’s Big Words//by Doreen Rappaport and Illustrated by Bryan Collier

//My Brother Martin A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Dr. Martin Luther// //King Jr.//by Christine King Farris and Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet

//The Story of Ruby Bridges//by Robert Coles and Illustrated by George Ford

//Through My Eyes//by Ruby Bridges = = = __**BOOK SUMMARIES:**__ =

**//Summary of Through My Eyes //**** by Ruby Bridges **

Ruby Bridges was the first African American students to ever attend an all causation school in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1960. She was six years old at the time. Ruby Bridges experienced a great amount of hatred and discrimination by attending William Frantz Public School during this time period. This is autobiographical tale of what she remembers experiencing, not only on her first day at this school on November 14, 1960, but also what she remembers from the time period itself and her family’s history. Along with her accounts on what happened, readers will also be able to find quotes from newspaper articles during that era, teachers, and family members. They will also be able to view many genuine photographs.

**//Summary of The Story of Ruby Bridges //**** by Robert Coles and Illustrated by George Ford **

Ruby Bridges was the first child to attend an all-white elementary school in America. Through this picture book, the author, Robert Cole, depicts her journey through angry protestors, hatred, prejudice, and the process of segregation. On her first day, Ruby is greeted by a multitude of angry protestors and has to be escorted into the school by federal marshals. Ruby is surprisingly able to aspect their hatred and repay the unkind thoughts with a prayer, where she says, “Please God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, they don’t know what they’re doing.” Coles is truly able to depict Ruby’s unwavering courage and wisdom that has made her such a valuable and important figure in American history.

**//Summary of My Brother Martin A Sister Remembers Growing Up With the Dr. Martin Luther //** **//King Jr. //**** by Christine King Farris and Illustrated by Chris Soentpiet **

Christine King Farris is the sister of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Within this novel, she writes about childhood memories growing up with her brother long before he became a leader in the civil rights movement. She particularly writes about her personal connection with Martin and what it was like to grow up in the South in the 1930s during segregation. Christine remembers Martin wanting to make a difference at the age of seven, when they learn that white and black children are not able to play with one another in a very bitter way. Christine’s memory of Martin is one of the many that predicted his future journey of changing American history forever.

**//Summary of Martin’s Big Words //**** by Doreen Rappaport and Illustrated by Bryan Collier **

 Martin Luther King Jr. was born into a segregated society. Within his world, he saw “White Only” signs everywhere he looked, he not only knew he was different, but he felt different in every way and he was outcast, because of the color of his skin. When Martin began to feel unimportant, his mother was sure to remind him that he was as good as anyone. As Martin grew older, he began to see the importance in words and the role they played in society. He read the Bible and studied Mahatma Gandhi. Soon he began to fight for equal rights through his speeches and words. This is what led to his rising leadership role as a civil rights activist.

**//Summary of A Dream of Freedom the Civil Rights Movement from 1954-1968 //**** by Diane McWhorter **

 This book breaks down the civil rights movement into years. It specially discusses the important events that occur during the years of 1954 all the way until 1968. It contains many original photographs, as well as quotes. Propaganda ads from this time period are also included within the text. It not only provides the reader with a vast amount of information, but also allows the reader to see the events that occurred during these years within a different perspective, unlike they have ever seen before. Some events and topics included are //Brown v Board of Education//, The Montgomery Bus Boycott, Little Rock, and the Freedom Riders.

**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Summary of Dear Mrs. Parks a Dialogue with Today’s Youth //****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> by Rosa Parks **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Throughout the years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in December of 1955 in Alabama, she has been receiving letter after letter from multiple students all over the world asking her questions about her life story. Many letters have asked her about the after effects of that famous day in history, while others have just asked her about how to help make the community and the local school a better environment. Within this novel, Rosa Parks has compiled a multitude of letters and responded to them. This allows many more children all across the world to read and learn from her experiences in a unique way. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -40px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: -25px; width: 1px;">
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Grade Level: __**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> 5th grade

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> **__Subject Areas:__** Social Studies, English/Language Arts, and Reading