EducatingParents.org rating: Approved

Book Review by Goodreads: When four courageous black teens sat down at a lunch counter in the segregated South of 1960, the reverberations were felt both far beyond and close to home. This insightful story offers a child's-eye view of this seminal event in the American Civil Rights Movement. Connie is used to the signs and customs that have let her drink only from certain water fountains and which bar her from local pools and some stores, but still . . . she'd love to sit at the lunch counter, just like she's seen other girls do.

Showing how an ordinary family becomes involved in the great and personal cause of their times, it's a tale that invites everyone to celebrate our country's everyday heroes, of all ages.

Goodreads Review:
When four courageous black teens sat down at a lunch counter in the segregated South of 1960, the reverberations were felt both far beyond and close to home. This insightful story offers a child's-eye view of this seminal event in the American Civil Rights Movement. Connie is used to the signs and customs that have let her drink only from certain water fountains and which bar her from local pools and some stores, but still . . . she'd love to sit at the lunch counter, just like she's seen other girls do.

Showing how an ordinary family becomes involved in the great and personal cause of their times, it's a tale that invites everyone to celebrate our country's everyday heroes, of all ages.

I enjoyed this story for a number of reasons. I loved the accuracy of how the times were during the civil rights movement and the courage and determination exemplified by the characters in the story. I think that this story gives young students an accurate insight into how things used to be and the strength and perseverance that these families had. The illustrations are also accurate and depict the story very well. ( )

This story explains the struggle of what black people went through. Back in the 1900s, black people did not have the same rights as whites. Black people could not drink from their fountain, sit in their restaurant, use their bathroom, and so much more. If they get caught they will get punished violently. In the story, it was hard for Connie and her mother because they could not sit at the counter in the five-and-dime store. It was for whites only. When the whole town listened to Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech, everything begins to change. Black people would protest against segregation. When black people fought for so long for equality, freedom, and rights also, going to jail for protesting cause them to do the same thing as whites. In this society now, I believe this story is perfect to read to young children and young adults. I want children to understand the content of the story, think deeply about it, and learn. I love the dark color illustrations in the story. This story is told from the first-person point of view from the little girl perspective. ( )