Freedom Summer 1964

January 1, 2024
Grades 4-7 In the 1960s, racial violence and voting restrictions for Black residents in the South were largely ignored by people in other regions of the country. But in 1964, a coalition led by activist Robert Moses aimed to change that by training college students from northern states and sending them into Mississippi that summer to teach reading to Black residents, train them to take an active role in the civil rights movement, and encourage voter registration. While several excellent books on Freedom Summer are available for young people, this one is well worth adding to library collections. Nnachi offers a framework for understanding the conditions in Mississippi that led to the Freedom Summer initiative as well as its most significant events, their repercussions, and what was accomplished. The concise narrative, presented in wide-spaced lines, and its juxtaposition with pertinent archival photos are particularly helpful to readers seeking an informative overview of the topic. Throughout the book, sidebars introduce key figures in the civil rights movement, including a few lesser-known leaders. A well-designed, informative introduction to Freedom Summer.

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January 1, 2024

Gr 4-6-This title, published in time for the 60th anniversary of the momentous Freedom Summer and the signing of the Civil Rights Act, places the campaign for voting rights within the greater context of the Civil Rights Movement and highlights lesser-known figures in the struggle for justice. Using clear and concise language, Nnachi presents the status of racial inequity in the mid-20th century, particularly the lack of access to vote in the deep south. She explains how civil rights leader Robert Moses developed the idea to send (largely white, young) Northerners as volunteers to Mississippi in hopes that they would speak up and generate press and publicity about the cause. Readers are introduced to notable figures such as Fannie Lou Hamer, as well as less familiar Flonzie Brown Wright. Young people are also encouraged to speak out and examine injustices in their own lives through text boxes labeled, "Take action!" and "Think more about it!" Nnachi does not shy from naming the violent tactics employed by racist opposition, including the murders of activists. A final chapter draws connections between the struggles of the 1960s and voter repression today, reminding readers that there is still work to be done. The format is standard for an informational text, with text boxes, chapter headings, and photographs interspersed throughout. An engaging and modern palette of red, yellow, green, and orange elevates the layout. Back matter includes a time line, glossary, additional reading and index. VERDICT A compelling and meaningful account of the Freedom Summer movement, relevant to today's readers. Recommended for libraries serving middle school students.-Clara Hendricks

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