Module 6- Historical Fiction: Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

*Summary:

Joe and John Henry are best friends. They swim, run, play, joke, laugh, and shoot marbles together. The only real difference between the two boys is that Joe is white, and John Henry is black. John Henry can’t do some of the things that his friend Joe can do, like swimming in the public pool. When a law is passed in 1964 that prohibits segregation, the two friends are elated: they will finally get to do everything together! Unfortunately their plans don’t quite work out. When Joe and John Henry try to go swimming at the public pool they learn that the white owners are closing the pool down, rather than allowing negroes to swim there. Joe and John Henry are at first heartbroken, but

*Bibliography:

Wiles, D., & Lagarrigue, J. (2001). Freedom Summer. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

*My Rating:

 I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Wiles was able to discuss segregation and racism, but she did not sound preachy. I loved the narrative form of this book, and I think it would help young readers be able to understand segregation and its everyday effects on people. This would be a great book to read aloud to students of almost any age level. 

*Reviews:

Joe, a white boy, and John Henry, a black boy, are close friends. In Mississippi in 1964, however, John is not allowed to go with Joe to such places as the town swimming pool. Then the Civil Rights Act is passed, and the public pool is now open to everyone. Joe and John Henry rush to the pool, only to discover that it is being filled up with asphalt"white folks don't want blacks to use it." The two friends decide to defy racism and fight for freedom by walking together into a once-restricted store to buy ice pops. The hazy, darkish illustrations in impressionistic style create a sense of history that complements the text. This book can be a lead-in to discussion of past and present racial issues.

Yokota, J., & Cai, M. (2002). Freedom summer. Language Arts, 80(2), 151. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/196894588?accountid=7113

*Uses in a library:

This book would be great to read during Black History month at a story time or in a display of picture books for Black History month. Or, the librarian could to a story time about friendship where kids talk about their best friends, and then read this book as a way to introduce the concept of segregation.