This unique book combines a number of techniques to bring a period of history alive to young readers. Jacqueline Woodson introduces Kirkwood's story, prefacing it with the importance of remembering and honoring the past and the labor of civil rights activists as well as the events which have shaped our past and our future.
In 1968, Kathlyn Kirkwood was a senior in a high school in Memphis, TN. This narrative, in verse, opens with photographs and illustrations of the segregated parade her high school marching band participated in, then jumps into broader pivotal events in Memphis, the Sanitation Strike, and the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout these events, Kathlyn remembers her own feelings and activities, her determination to be involved even as she continued attending school, pursued a career, and got married. For fifteen years, she and other activists worked to make Martin Luther King's birthday a federally-recognized holiday and their long-overdue success is triumphant, while still recognizing there is more work to do.
One of the appealing aspects of this book is how much it packs into a brief 100 pages. Vigorous free verse, black and white illustrations, and original documents, like a copy of the letter a teen Kirkwood wrote to her parents asking permission to go on a march, are mixed together to create a strong narrative. Back matter includes not only more details about the lives of Kirkwood and her family, but also on the process for creating a bill and a helpful glossary.
Verdict: As Woodson says in her foreword, it's important that young readers hear the stories of those who fought for their rights while they are still around to tell them. This will capture even the most reluctant of reader with its blend of formats and air of immediacy. Highly recommended for middle grade and teen collections.
ISBN: 9780358387268; Published January 2022 by Versify; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Added to library order list
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