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A review by ehays84
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
5.0
I think if I could pick one book that all Americans should read right now, it would be this one. It speaks of the best of America--when Biblical principles are applied in a functioning democracy. It speaks of courageous love triumphing over terrible hate. We need this more than ever right now.
And I would also choose this book because it is extremely well done. The format is very inviting, with simple language, excellent quotes interspersed, and lots of photographs. And for anyone who might think that this book is too "easy" or "simple", I would challenge you to try to write something like this. It's much harder than it might seem (having written many, many history papers myself). And actually the fact that it is so smoothly done is what makes it seem so easy. Writing anything concise is much harder than writing anything long.
Too many Americans just don't know their own history, and we see that to our peril. The other reason this is so important is that people can be much more thoughtful about their beliefs when considering them in a historical scenario than a current one because current events tie so quickly to fear, but historical ones seem safer. But then, hopefully, parallels are made, and people can change their current beliefs and actions more easily.
I hope that this book will be an excellent ending to the year for my 8th graders.
I plan to read and own all of Freedman's books of this style in the future.
And I would also choose this book because it is extremely well done. The format is very inviting, with simple language, excellent quotes interspersed, and lots of photographs. And for anyone who might think that this book is too "easy" or "simple", I would challenge you to try to write something like this. It's much harder than it might seem (having written many, many history papers myself). And actually the fact that it is so smoothly done is what makes it seem so easy. Writing anything concise is much harder than writing anything long.
Too many Americans just don't know their own history, and we see that to our peril. The other reason this is so important is that people can be much more thoughtful about their beliefs when considering them in a historical scenario than a current one because current events tie so quickly to fear, but historical ones seem safer. But then, hopefully, parallels are made, and people can change their current beliefs and actions more easily.
I hope that this book will be an excellent ending to the year for my 8th graders.
I plan to read and own all of Freedman's books of this style in the future.