March Forward, Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine

Reviewed by: Kristin Taylor - Biddeford High School, Biddeford, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: July 9, 2018

Review

The author, Melba Pattillo Beals, was one of the nine black high school students chosen, based on merit, to attend the all white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. Forever known to history as the Little Rock Nine. This book are her memories of growing up before that significant mile stone in history.

Beals couldn't understand, from even an early age, why her parents, grandparents and other blacks allowed themselves to be treated a second-class citizens. Always being told to be quiet and mind her "p's and q's", she persisted with the questions. Things changed for her one day while in church and in front of the whole congregation, a member of her community, was hung by the Klu Klux Klan.

A great first person resource on the history of Jim Crow Laws, the attitudes of whites towards blacks and those that questioned, petitioned and succeeded in the struggles of segregation in the south.

There are extremely well done pencil sketches through the book that represent different situations or topics that being discussed in the book. The sketches are simply, but compliment the text really well.

Recommended for grades 7 and up.

Overall Book Score: excellent