The subtitle of this book tells it all: "a searing memoir of the battle to integrate Little Rock's Central High."
This isn't my usual reading fare, but my book club assignment was to read a book set in the 1950s. Nothing much in fiction appealed, but a friendly librarian said she had a book in the YA (young adult) section, and went to get it for me. As I read, I was continually horrified by what awful people we can be, even as teenagers, taught to hate difference. But I was also deeply moved by Beals' courage and the faith her family demonstrated. The title of the book comes from something her grandmother told her. Eventually the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling was obeyed. But today I read that hate crimes in schools have increased, and Blacks are the most frequent target.
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What I’m ReadingI began working in libraries as a seventh grader, courtesy of scoliosis. My orthopedic surgeon wrote me a pass to miss gym class, so I began working in the school library to feed my love of reading. Even after my surgery to correct the curvature, I kept getting out of gym to work in my high school library and then in my college library (for pay, at last!).
So began my eventual career as a college reference librarian—after a detour into teaching high school English. Later I worked for an educational publisher before going back to libraries.
I have a reading and writing life now. I devour both fiction and nonfiction, and will tell you about some of my favorite reads, both old friends and new discoveries.
Here's some library-themed music to get you in the mood.
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