Justice Rising: 12 Amazing Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement

by Katheryn Russell-Brown (Author) Kim Holt (Illustrator)

Justice Rising: 12 Amazing Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A celebration of twelve Black women who were pivotal to the civil rights movement and the fight for justice and equal rights in America.

You've heard the names Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King, but what about the many other women who were crucial to the civil rights movement?

Told through twelve short biographies, this book celebrates just some of the many Black women--each of whom has been largely underrepresented until now--who were instrumental to the nation's fight for civil rights and the contributions they made in driving the Movement forward.

An empowering, eye-opening look at how one person can impact greater change, this book is both a conversation starter and much-needed history lesson for our modern world.

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Publishers Weekly

Russell-Brown recognizes the contributions of Black "sheroes of the Civil Rights Movement" in this collection of 12 brief biographies, followed by a spread on freedom marchers. Opening with Ella Baker (1903-1986), "revered as the mother of the Civil Rights Movement," short chapters profile the work of activists including Coretta Scott King (1927-2006), Rosa Parks (1913-2005), and Bernice Johnson Reagon (b. 1942), among others. Cursory but scene-setting prose details the figures' activist acts, while vibrant digital renderings from Holt provide expressive depictions of the individuals: Ruby Bridges (b. 1954) appears as the sole student in a classroom; Diane Nash (b. 1938) is handcuffed by two white-presenting police officers. Despite their brevity, the life stories offer an accessible platform for further investigation. Back matter includes quotes and sources. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)

Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for Justice Rising

"A book worth uplifting." —Kirkus

"...vibrant digital renderings from Holt provide expressive depictions of the individuals...the life stories offer an accessible platform for further investigation." —Publishers Weekly

"...an engaging primer on the women of the [civil rights] movement...perfectly pitched to a child's perspective...this title will be a strong addition to history or biography collections." —Booklist
Katheryn Russell-Brown

Katheryn Russell-Brown is the author of Little Melba and Her Big Trombone, which received the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, the Eureka! Honor Award, was nominated for the NAACP Image Award, and was named a Best Book of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, among others. She is a professor of Law and the director of the Center for the Study of Race and Race Relations at the University of Florida. Katheryn grew up in a family of music lovers, where R & B was an integral part of the sounds of daily life. She lives in Gainesville, FL.
www.krbrown.net

Laura Freeman received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and began her career working for various editorial clients. Freeman has illustrated more than twenty children's books, including Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor winner Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, the Nikki & Deja series by Karen English, and Fancy Party Gowns by Deborah Blumenthal. In addition to illustrated books and other media, her art can be found enlivening dishes, textiles, greeting cards, and many other products. Originally from New York City, she now lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children.
www.lfreemanart.com
@laurafreemanart

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9780593403549
Lexile Measure
860
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication date
January 10, 2023
Series
-
BISAC categories
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JNF053140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Topics | Prejudice & Racism
JNF025210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/20th Century
JNF007000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | General
Library of Congress categories
History
African Americans
Biographies
Picture books
African American women civil rights workers
Civil rights workers
United States
Civil rights movements
20th century
Civil rights
Women
Race relations
African American civil rights workers
Creative nonfiction

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!