Claudette Colvin

This book took almost no time to read, but was such a powerful story!  I had never heard of this girl, like most who have commented on it, but found her story moving.  The author did a great job of bringing Colvin's personality across, her quiet strength and determination, and how she dealt with her situation.  Having excerpts from the interviews helped bring her voice into the story, and made me feel for her, her pain and her joy.  I think the book moved along well and told the story in a timely manner.  The one think I wanted was more pictures of Colvin, at the age when she was arrested, and after.  I know she was a private person, and that she felt "jilted" by the movement that she was such a big part of, but I wanted to see more of her life, and know more about what she did after it was all in the past.  I didn't really know much about the boycott itself, besides that it happened, and the results, I didn't know how it all started, or why that city was the one where it took place.  I didn't know that much about Rosa Parks, either, her story was very interesting.  I think this book could definitely entice a reader to take the reading further, to read more books about this time in history, and find out more about the people and events that took place.  This was a nice dose of history, in an easy to read and digestible, for teens, format.  I think they would enjoy it, and not see it as boring historical mumbo jumbo.  I think it could work for middle school as well, at least for 8th grade.