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ebralz's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to this book and it was one where I definitely don't think I would have enjoyed it if I had read it. It was very powerful and listening to it added to that effect.
staceyg685's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very informative, but lagged a little in the storytelling. I also had trouble believing the voice of her female character Sunny. At times Sunny would describe something in such a way that was to sophisticated for a 12-year-old to write. I did how ever like the characters very much. I think it was very important that each character did not have a black or white view on what was going on. Her father in particular was a well drawn character. The reader can feel his struggle about whether he was ok with the "invaders" or not. He also struggled with whether or not to be proactive in the views that he did have. He seemed very human to me. I will patiently await the third book.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=6793
Whoa. Wiles's ability to mix nonfiction with a fascinating piece of historical fiction is just brilliant.
Revolution is a perfectly-crafted look at one of the toughest times in American history. What Wiles does is truly delve into the emotions felt during the Freedom Summer and some of the smaller actions that may not have made the history books. One of my favorite things about Wiles’s Sixties Trilogy books is that she includes historical resources throughout the book that truly puts the story in context. The primary sources/stories and other embedded pieces of history really show that the narrative she has created is not truly a work of fiction. It may include fictional characters, but the setting, the feelings, the conflict, the time period, the history–those are all fact.
Revolution couldn’t work without the Sunny and her cast of characters though. This book could have gone terribly wrong if the voice, thoughts, and feelings of our protagonist were not so believable since Wiles was having us learn about such a tumultuous time through the eyes of a child. However, no need to worry about that because Sunny is perfect. She is easy to connect to and seems true. My favorite characters are those around her that push her and help change her: Annabelle, Jo Ellen, and Ray. Annabelle is so patient, truly loves Sunny, and has some of the best lines in the book; Jo Ellen is so head-strong, forward-thinking, and intelligent; and Ray is just crazy but also overwhelmingly brave.
I am part of an informal Twitter book club, and our June read was Revolution. Deborah Wiles even stopped by to chat with us! If you are interested in reading it, I archived it here. Warning: There may be spoilers if you haven’t read the book. Some of my favorite quotes from the chat that truly show the impact of the book are:
“What a brilliant idea Deborah Wiles had with these books–to embed all of the history.” -Carrie Gelson
“Sunny’s story hit my heart.” -Michele Knott
“Countdown and Revolution are like…seeing beyond the headlines.” -Cheriee Weichel
“So hard to read how something you think people could do (register) but couldn’t because of effects (lose job, name in paper, etc.)” -Michele Knott
“It took Sunny witnessing the civil unrest to grow up and realize how to accept her own life.” -Kellee Moye
“There is so much about the Civil Rights Movement that seems like it should be easy, but ignorance stops it.” Kellee Moye
“Immerse as much as possible.” -Deborah Wiles, referencing part of her research process
Favorite quote from the book: “Everything is connected. Every choice matters.Every person is vital, valuable, and worthy of respect.” pg. 361
Whoa. Wiles's ability to mix nonfiction with a fascinating piece of historical fiction is just brilliant.
Revolution is a perfectly-crafted look at one of the toughest times in American history. What Wiles does is truly delve into the emotions felt during the Freedom Summer and some of the smaller actions that may not have made the history books. One of my favorite things about Wiles’s Sixties Trilogy books is that she includes historical resources throughout the book that truly puts the story in context. The primary sources/stories and other embedded pieces of history really show that the narrative she has created is not truly a work of fiction. It may include fictional characters, but the setting, the feelings, the conflict, the time period, the history–those are all fact.
Revolution couldn’t work without the Sunny and her cast of characters though. This book could have gone terribly wrong if the voice, thoughts, and feelings of our protagonist were not so believable since Wiles was having us learn about such a tumultuous time through the eyes of a child. However, no need to worry about that because Sunny is perfect. She is easy to connect to and seems true. My favorite characters are those around her that push her and help change her: Annabelle, Jo Ellen, and Ray. Annabelle is so patient, truly loves Sunny, and has some of the best lines in the book; Jo Ellen is so head-strong, forward-thinking, and intelligent; and Ray is just crazy but also overwhelmingly brave.
I am part of an informal Twitter book club, and our June read was Revolution. Deborah Wiles even stopped by to chat with us! If you are interested in reading it, I archived it here. Warning: There may be spoilers if you haven’t read the book. Some of my favorite quotes from the chat that truly show the impact of the book are:
“What a brilliant idea Deborah Wiles had with these books–to embed all of the history.” -Carrie Gelson
“Sunny’s story hit my heart.” -Michele Knott
“Countdown and Revolution are like…seeing beyond the headlines.” -Cheriee Weichel
“So hard to read how something you think people could do (register) but couldn’t because of effects (lose job, name in paper, etc.)” -Michele Knott
“It took Sunny witnessing the civil unrest to grow up and realize how to accept her own life.” -Kellee Moye
“There is so much about the Civil Rights Movement that seems like it should be easy, but ignorance stops it.” Kellee Moye
“Immerse as much as possible.” -Deborah Wiles, referencing part of her research process
Favorite quote from the book: “Everything is connected. Every choice matters.Every person is vital, valuable, and worthy of respect.” pg. 361
caitlinalrogers's review against another edition
5.0
As much as I loved Countdown, I have to say that this book was better in my opinion. Perhaps it was the content- the Civil Rights movement has so many tragic and heroic elements to the cause that it makes for a great read. Also, I learned more about certain people and events than I knew previously through reading this book and seeing newspaper articles and pictures from the time. This is a great book and I would encourage teens, as well as children, to read Revolution.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
In the opinion of this former reading teacher/current school librarian, this documentary novel should be required reading for every middle school student in the U.S. The story was riveting and kid-friendly, and the accompanying historical documentation was precisely the type of multimodal text that our students desperately need in our quest for college and career readiness. Can I give it a 6th star?
debi_g's review against another edition
This history/fiction blend held my attention for 80 pages, and then I just looked at the pictures and bold print.
The following traits led me to stop reading, and are fully my own issues and not those of the author:
1. The experiences of Caucasion people during the Civil Rights Movement, even when admirable, interest me far less than the experiences of those whose rights were at stake.
2. The format made me work harder at reading than I was willing to work.
3. The writing is aimed at a younger age group than I like to read.
The following traits led me to stop reading, and are fully my own issues and not those of the author:
1. The experiences of Caucasion people during the Civil Rights Movement, even when admirable, interest me far less than the experiences of those whose rights were at stake.
2. The format made me work harder at reading than I was willing to work.
3. The writing is aimed at a younger age group than I like to read.
sarahannkateri's review against another edition
4.0
Listen to this book! Seriously! A+ for the collage of song, sound and speech that is the audiobook. Now, for the book itself...
Sunny is 12, and her biggest plans for the summer involve winning the big prize for memorizing bible verses at vacation bible school and swimming at the city pool and getting tan with her friends. Then "the invaders" come to town and begin mobilizing all the Negroes to vote and everything becomes crazy. The whole country begins calling it the Freedom Summer, the pool shuts down, and Sunny begins to realize there is more going on outside her comfortable family's life...
But Sunny's version of the Freedom Summer isn't the only one out there in her town, and another young teen named Raymond is seeing his own 1964: One with discrimination and guns, and danger...
Great multiple narrator historific about Jim Crow and the Freedom Summer wherein Sunny is relatively bratty and entitled, and her brother Gilette is a little bland, Ray is passionate and sympathetic. The audiobook is engaging, but the book itself is looooong, and seeing the size might be a hard sell for kids. Still, worth it for those willing to tackle historical fiction.
Sunny is 12, and her biggest plans for the summer involve winning the big prize for memorizing bible verses at vacation bible school and swimming at the city pool and getting tan with her friends. Then "the invaders" come to town and begin mobilizing all the Negroes to vote and everything becomes crazy. The whole country begins calling it the Freedom Summer, the pool shuts down, and Sunny begins to realize there is more going on outside her comfortable family's life...
But Sunny's version of the Freedom Summer isn't the only one out there in her town, and another young teen named Raymond is seeing his own 1964: One with discrimination and guns, and danger...
Great multiple narrator historific about Jim Crow and the Freedom Summer wherein Sunny is relatively bratty and entitled, and her brother Gilette is a little bland, Ray is passionate and sympathetic. The audiobook is engaging, but the book itself is looooong, and seeing the size might be a hard sell for kids. Still, worth it for those willing to tackle historical fiction.
ebischoff88's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. There's really no words to explain the feeling that I had when I finished this book.
debz57a52's review against another edition
4.0
I love these books by Deborah Wiles - the way she blends the narrative and setting and all the real-life ads and newspaper clippings and speeches is so cool. I always walk away from these books feeling like I've learned a ton.
This time, we follow Sunny, who is living in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, but she is also adjusting to her dad remarrying and sharing space with two new step-siblings. She misses her mother terribly, which leads her to being uber-interested in the white people who have come to her town from all over the nation that summer to register the town's black people to vote. Sunny spends the book grappling with her own challenge growing up, and ultimately her understanding of the people who live in her town comes to a head when a black boy her age decided to stand up for his rights after the Civil Rights Act is passed. There are bits of To Kill a Mockingbird and Glory B in this book, yes, but Sunny is all her own person and I loved it.
This time, we follow Sunny, who is living in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, but she is also adjusting to her dad remarrying and sharing space with two new step-siblings. She misses her mother terribly, which leads her to being uber-interested in the white people who have come to her town from all over the nation that summer to register the town's black people to vote. Sunny spends the book grappling with her own challenge growing up, and ultimately her understanding of the people who live in her town comes to a head when a black boy her age decided to stand up for his rights after the Civil Rights Act is passed. There are bits of To Kill a Mockingbird and Glory B in this book, yes, but Sunny is all her own person and I loved it.
everthereader's review against another edition
5.0
This book was marvelous. I loved every ounce of it. I love the connection between Franny and Sunny towards the end. Although, I was confused about who Sunny's real mom was I was glad she made peace with her stepmother.