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ablotial's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book out of the recycle bin at school a few years ago, and finally decided to read it. I'm so glad I did! It's a true story, told by one of the people who, as a teenager, helped to integrate the schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. It really opened my eyes. I mean, I knew that racism was really horrible in the south, and I'd heard about the Little Rock Integration and the soldiers at the school but... somehow, it seemed so far away, so distant. Just another lesson in the history books that happened forever ago and had nothing to do with me. After all, I'm from Maine, I've never really seen a lot of racism in action (though I have witnessed some since moving to Texas, but nothing really awful). But this, this opened my eyes. She's talking about all the stuff normal teenagers talk about - worrying about getting her license, how her dress looks, etc. She listens to Elvis, etc. This was the late 50s! My mother was in high school at this time as well! Though in New York, so she didn't witness any of these types of things at her school. But... yeah, it's an amazing book, told by Melba (Pattillo) Beals, with use of her diary from when she was living through it. I cried many times throughout this book. And it's obvious it's a true story because it doesn't have a happy ending. But ... really, I highly recommend this to just about everyone. Go, read it.
bethgiven's review against another edition
5.0
These experiences told by Melba Pattillo Beals, one of the nine black students who integrated Central High School during the 1957-57 school year, is such an important story. It’s definitely hard to read the long catalog of daily abuses she endured as a fifteen-year-old girl: the physical violence, the bullying, the assaults, the chants and shouting, the isolation from her former friends and from her peers, the guilt. The trauma of her experiences drove her to a constant state of anxiety and to thoughts of suicide. But I think it’s so essential that we know and understand that the civil rights movement can’t be reduced to a few court cases and speeches; it involved real people and more courage than we can fathom.
I loved the wisdom, strength, and courage of Melba’s grandmother and mother. Without their support, Melba could not have made it through this experience.
I see this kind of reading as essential here in 2020. It’s so important that we use our privilege to speak out for the marginalized, even when leaders have made that choice unpopular.
I loved the wisdom, strength, and courage of Melba’s grandmother and mother. Without their support, Melba could not have made it through this experience.
I see this kind of reading as essential here in 2020. It’s so important that we use our privilege to speak out for the marginalized, even when leaders have made that choice unpopular.
asanford's review against another edition
5.0
Everyone should read this book. It is a remarkable first hand account of the Little Rock 9. Never ever should any human treat another human as horribly as these 9 and their families were treated. May we all learn from something that never should have happened.
- the audible version has more than the edition that was used in school.
- the audible version has more than the edition that was used in school.
eeyore031370's review against another edition
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I chose this audiobook for the prompt “author local to me”. I love about 45 minutes from Little Rock. I have heard bits and pieces about the Little Rock Nine over the years. I decided with everything going on in our country today that I wanted to hear about the past. The author did a wonderful job of telling her story and including the other eight teenagers.
reilly_k_'s review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this book for school. It was interesting, I mean I have read worse books for school. It was interesting topic but a very boring plot. I got through it fast because I wanted to read other books and it was a very easy read.
andreasbookishthoughts's review against another edition
I finally finished a book! It has been way too long. I did read this one for school and I did surprisingly enjoy it.
This is a very quick short review.
This book is an autobiography about the battle to integrate Little Rock's (in Arkansas) Central High School. Beals talks about her experiences there and how she and the other 8 black students who attended the use to be all white school were treated.
I thought this was very powerful and it taught me a lot. Am I glad I read it and did not use sparknotes or Wikipedia. Yes. I do recommend this memoir as it talked about an event in US history that I never heard about that should be heard about more.
This is a very quick short review.
This book is an autobiography about the battle to integrate Little Rock's (in Arkansas) Central High School. Beals talks about her experiences there and how she and the other 8 black students who attended the use to be all white school were treated.
I thought this was very powerful and it taught me a lot. Am I glad I read it and did not use sparknotes or Wikipedia. Yes. I do recommend this memoir as it talked about an event in US history that I never heard about that should be heard about more.
olbeelaine's review against another edition
5.0
Best book I’ve read in a long time. Should be required reading in HS history classes to ensure the immense strength of these children isn’t glossed over.
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