Claudette Colvin

Hoose really pulled me in with the first page. Wow I almost cried and I wanted to slap someone myself. I thought that the problems and struggles of Claudette were very vivid and unimaginable to me. I was able to think about things that I had never thought of through this book. It made me think about her struggles not only with the white population, but also with the black as well. Never did I think about blacks being against the movement. Of course it makes perfect sense, but it just never crossed my mind.
I liked the switch from Claudette to narrator and the information in the side boxes. At first I thought it was too much going on, but it really made the story move quickly. It also allowed the author to give the sides stories without being awkward. Some of the characters were explained and were more understandable once the side boxes were read.
Claudette felt like such a strong character to me because the brave things she did were not pre meditated. “I hadn’t planned it out, but my decision was built on a lifetime of nasty experiences.” Pg. 30. The sit in, along with the hair style stand, and the pregnancy just made me think of what a strong personality she must have had. An outcast with all people and still she stood up to help others. She did seem to be a little bitter as I read, but I would be too. With such life experiences I think she made a wonderful topic for a book and I am thankful she was not forgotten.