"Beals' recollection of white oppression and her rise above it will haunt readers. A must-read for teens." —School Library Journal
From the legendary civil rights activist and author of the million-copy-selling Warriors Don't Cry comes an ardent and profound childhood memoir of growing up while facing adversity in the Jim Crow South.
Long before she was one of the Little Rock Nine, Melba Pattillo Beals was a warrior. Frustrated by the laws that kept African-Americans separate but very much unequal to whites, she had questions. Why couldn’t she drink from a "whites only" fountain? Why couldn’t she feel safe beyond home—or even within the walls of church? Adults all told her: Hold your tongue. Be patient. Know your place.
But Beals had the heart of a fighter—and the knowledge that her true place was a free one.
Combined with emotive drawings and photos, this memoir paints a vivid picture of Beals’ powerful early journey on the road to becoming a champion for equal rights, an acclaimed journalist, a best-selling author, and the recipient of this country’s highest recognition, the Congressional Gold Medal.
This powerful story reveals the heart of the young warrior who would help change a nation.
- A Childhood in the Jim Crow South: Experience the world through young Melba’s eyes as she questions the injustice of "whites only" signs and searches for her place in a divided world.
- The Fight for a Better Education: Discover the story of the Little Rock Nine and the battle for school integration that captured the attention of the entire nation.
- A Story of Courage and Resilience: Follow Melba's journey from a curious girl who was told to "know your place" to a celebrated civil rights champion and recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.
- Rich with Historical Detail: Illustrated with personal photographs and drawings, this memoir brings the pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement to life for a new generation.
? "In a visceral and vital memoir, journalist and activist Beals (
Warriors Don’t Cry), who integrated Central High School as one of the Little Rock Nine, recounts growing up African-American in 1940s Arkansas 'under the umbrella of the rules and traditions of my oppression.'"-
Publishers Weekly, STARRED review "A valuable addition to the stories of life in Jim Crow America."-
Kirkus, review "Beals' recollection of white oppression and her rise above it will haunt readers. A must-read for teens."--
School Library Journal "Young readers will be gripped by Beals' personal courage and determination to march forward for civil rights at such a young age."--
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