This is your time

Ruby Bridges, who integrated the New Orleans public schools in 1960 when she was six, has written a letter to young readers describing her pivotal role in the history of civil rights. Her straightforward text is effective, and her experiences come into sharp focus due to the period photographs that appear on every other page. Images of snarling white adults lining the sidewalks of Ruby's school are difficult to look at, especially when interspersed with Ruby's family photos. The narrative and photos go on to address national-level events, again featuring powerful images (some from the 1960s; some from 2020). Ruby's tone turns optimistic when she talks about how young people have always been at the forefront of the fight for social justice, and she offers examples of positive things students have shared with her during her many school visits. She ends by saluting current activists ("This is your time") and expresses her hopes that her story can be a source of inspiration. Ruby experienced unimaginable racial hatred, lost her oldest son to random violence, and still advocates for positive change. Kids will relate to Ruby's stories on many levels and be inspired by the difference one little girl made. A profoundly moving book.

Gr 5 Up--Ruby Bridges displayed courage and resilience when chosen to integrate New Orleans's all-white public school system in 1960 at the age of six. Bridges pens a "letter of peace" addressed to Congressman John Lewis and "the young peacemakers of the world." She briefly describes her experience. She also explains what it was like for her father to witness his young daughter battle adversity and his own struggles. Her father served in the armed forces during the Korean War only to return to the systemic racism of the United States. Her teacher, Barbara Henry, taught Bridges when white parents refused to let their children share a classroom with her student. The text then recalls the children that Bridges has met in the last 25 years that she has spent traveling and speaking. She hopes that young people can break the cycle of racism and continue to rally against injustice in its many forms. Finally, Bridges speaks to the events of today. She addresses the pain and frustration that has led to a summer of protests after the murder of George Floyd by white Minneapolis police officers. She points out the echoes from the past that still reverberate today (there are several historical and contemporary photos that strike a powerful chord), and she shares her own suffering from having lost one of her sons, who was murdered. Ultimately, she advises readers to have "a heart full of grace." Black-and-white photos enhance this short but exceedingly important book. VERDICT Bridges's message is timely, powerful, and full of hope. This missive of truth, spoken by a true American hero, deserves a place in all libraries.--John Scott, Friends Sch. of Baltimore

A letter of love and care from civil rights icon Ruby Bridges to twenty-first-century children marks the sixtieth anniversary of her integration of William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Dedicated to John Lewis, the "conscience of Congress," and addressed to "Young Peacemakers of the World," Bridges's book opens with a photograph of her first-grade self, looking inquisitively at the reader, her hand turning the page of a book. Powerful photographs, a mix of historical and contemporary, demonstrate hard truths throughout, with images shown of federal marshals escorting young Ruby and racist whites brandishing a Black doll in a casket in front of her school; the March on Washington alongside Black Lives Matter marches; and police turning fire hoses on teens in 1963 and spraying protestors with pepper spray in 2020. The book lays bare the ongoing consequences of racial inequality and injustice through descriptions and images of lost Black lives, including those of Freddie Gray and Bridges's own son, Craig. The juxtaposition of historical and contemporary scenes maintains a serious mood throughout, but Bridges's clear-eyed and comprehensible words -- some acting almost as captions to explain the photographs; others expanding on large ideas -- exhort young readers to stay united and positive, serve, and "keep your eyes on the prize" to make change. A boldly written, memorably illustrated message of hope for our time, from one who has fought for social justice all her life. Michelle H. Martin January/February 2021 p.123(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

International speaker Bridges applies lessons of history to the task before us. The text of the book reads like a letter, addressed to "you," the children of today. Each spread has one page of simply phrased text--a short paragraph in a large font against a white background--facing a page of one or two black-and-white photographs. The first 20 pages vividly recount Bridges' experience as a first grader integrating an all-White school in New Orleans: the angry crowds lining her path, the federal marshals ordered to protect her, the difficult choice her parents faced, her kind teacher from Boston who spent the days alone with her in a classroom emptied of White children whose families protested integration. The words then transition to appreciation of the many children Bridges has spoken with during school visits. She shares individual encounters with hopeful and brave children who inspired her as well as general reflections on racism and generational dynamics. Finally, the text turns to the present day--the need for "love and grace for one another that will heal this world." Pictures of 2020 protests, sometimes sharing the page with pictures from historical protests, show young people demanding change. The simple layout is powerful: The photographs present a striking reality concerning our collective past and the repetition of history. Bridges' hopeful words, her faith born of experience, are soothing and encouraging in this time of unrest and uncertainty. Essential reading for all ages. (Nonfiction. 6-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.