Saturday, December 17, 2016

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Goodman - ESSENTIAL

Goodman, Susan E. The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial illustrated by E.B. Lewis. PICTURE BOOK. Bloomsburg Publishing, 2016 $17.99.  

Sarah Roberts was a young girl growing up in Boston at a time when segregation in schools was enforced.  Despite being a girl of color, Sarah's parents enrolled her in one of the finest school's in Boston, the Otis School. A school for white children.  Sarah attended the school until city officials discovered her enrollment and had her removed.  Angry at the unfairness, Sarah's parents hired an attorney to fight for Sarah and equality for all children in education.  Although Sarah's case did not change the law at that time, it brought the injustice to the attention of many people and later aided and inspired another girl to fight for and win her right to a good education.  

This was a wonderfully written and illustrated story about the struggle to bring equal rights to all seeking an education.  Sarah's heartbreaking and inspirational story will resonate with young readers as they are reminded of the freedoms many children had to fight for. 

EL--ESSENTIAL Gina, Media Specialist

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