Search This Blog
August Reviews Link-Up
September Reviews Link-Up
October Reviews Link-Up
November Reviews Link-Up
December Reviews Link-Up
2024 Literary Escapes Challenge
2024 Build Your Library Reading Challenge
New Dear America Novel Tackles Civil Rights Movement
Dawnie's stunned when a landmark Supreme Court decision (Brown v. the Board of Education) gives her an unbelievable opportunity to start turning her dream of attending medical school into a reality. When Prettyman Coburn, Hadley's all-white school, is forced by law to allow black kids to enter its doors, Dawnie's the first - and only - colored student to show up. Despite the protesters spitting on her from the sidewalks, despite the other kids staring her down, despite members of Dawnie's own community accusing her of acting "uppity," Dawnie's determined to get the education she deserves. But when her best friend deserts her, her father loses his job for supporting Negro rights, and the Johnsons have to rip their phone from the wall to stop hassling phone calls, Dawnie can't help but wonder - is integration really worth it?
In With the Might of Angels, a new addition to Scholastic's excellent Dear America series, Andrea Davis Pinkney uses the made-up diary of a fictional girl to tell an honest, compelling story about one of the most important events of the Civil Rights Movement. Many of us are familiar with the story of Ruby Bridges, but Pinkney's quick to point out that hundreds of other African-American children took equally courageous steps, some singlehandedly integrating schools in their areas. Dawnie represents all of them. She's an engaging narrator - smart, spunky, and completely sympathetic. Intertwined with the book's main conflict are several subplots that lift the tension, offering lighthearted moments which allow the story to feel both realistic and hopeful. Fans of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the Civil Rights Movement, won't want to miss this one.
(Readalikes: The Dear America series reminds me of the American Girl historical novels. With the Might of Angels is similar to other children's books about the Civil Rights Movement, although I can't think of any specific titles. Can you?)
Grade: B
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for tension and some violence
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of With the Might of Angels from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Reading
Listening
Followin' with Bloglovin'
-
-
Stacking The Shelves5 hours ago
-
-
-
-
Free trip? where ya goin?12 hours ago
-
Audiobook: That Prince is Mine14 hours ago
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!!17 hours ago
-
-
-
Conclave by Robert Harris1 day ago
-
-
-
-
Haiku Reviews...2 days ago
-
-
-
Under the Shadows by Tony Mcfadden3 days ago
-
Review: Where the Crawdads Sing3 days ago
-
Lost Man's Lane by Scoot Carson3 days ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus3 days ago
-
-
-
Sunday Post5 days ago
-
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth5 days ago
-
57. Beezus and Ramona6 days ago
-
-
I have been reading...1 week ago
-
-
-
What to read after ACOTAR2 weeks ago
-
-
-
July TBR??4 weeks ago
-
Reading Recap May 20241 month ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?9 months ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
Grab my Button!
Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ► 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
- ► 2013 (183)
- ► 2012 (193)
- ▼ 2011 (232)
- ► 2010 (257)
- ► 2009 (211)
- ► 2008 (192)
Oh I loved this series while growing up! I'm glad to hear that they published a new addition to the series.
ReplyDeleteI love this series, but I had a hard time getting into this particular book. I agree it was well written and well researched, but I was really put off by the narrator's obsession with sports, since I am probably the least athletic person on the planet. So everytime she talked about sports I just lost interest...
ReplyDelete