Claudette Colvin

I was transfixed by the premise of this story. How had we not heard about a teenager who began the movement of the Montgomery Bus Boycott a year before Rosa Parks? I liked how the author moved between first person and narrator to give the audience a full sense of Claudette as a character. It's hard to realize this tough-as-nails strong female character is a real person. We felt drawn to her struggle and her fight against discrimination from not only the white community but her own black community.

The only time I felt the character needed more definition was when she became pregnant. I was confused as to how someone who was strong enough to defend her civil liberties was weak in the presence of a man. It wasn't until after I read the author's notes on how long it took for Claudette to consent, that I understood the privacy of that chapter in her life.

The plot of the story moved along at a quick pace. The book was a quick read, but kept the reader attached throughout the story. It had an even tempo of quiet development and hard hitting drama. I also liked the sidebars and primary sources used throughout the book to introduce background knowledge.

Overall I thought this book was incredible and one I will use in my own classroom when we study civil rights leaders. I feel like I have neglected an important piece of history, and am glad I have discovered it.