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Witnesses to Freedom: Young People Who Fought for Civil Rights

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Witnesses to Freedom focuses on the efforts and dedication of young African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. The stories of protesters as young as nine years old are narrated as well as told through the eyes of the young freedom fighters. This book highlights not only the more famous young activists that students may not have exposure to, but many young people who did both big and small things to help make the movement. For example, the book opens with a story about Barbara Johns, a teenager who led a movement in her school to boycott for better educational facilities and resources. The book also tells the stories of more famous teenagers like Elizabeth Eckford who integrated Little Rock's all white Central High, and Claudette Colvin who was arrested for not giving up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery bus months before Rosa Park's famous arrest. While the book highlights specific individuals, the stories place a strong emphasis on the importance of group participation for social change. Each young activist was working to inspire others to join the cause, and make the movement truly powerful. Photographs are also included of the young activists which adds a personal touch to their stories of struggle and survival. This book would be an excellent book to introduce students to the struggle and inspire them to want to learn more about the history of African-Americans. The emphasis on the power of young people to make social change makes this book an excellent resource for children. This book would be best suited for older children ages 11 and 12. The book is written in a more mature format, and covers more mature subject matter.