Independent Reading Level: 4th-6th Grade
Awards: Jane Addams Children's Book Award
IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List:
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People

EducatingParents.org rating: Approved

Book Review by Goodreads: When four courageous black teens sat down at a lunch counter in the segregated South of 1960, the reverberations were felt both far beyond and close to home. This insightful story offers a child's-eye view of this seminal event in the American Civil Rights Movement. Connie is used to the signs and customs that have let her drink only from certain water fountains and which bar her from local pools and some stores, but still . . . she'd love to sit at the lunch counter, just like she's seen other girls do.

Showing how an ordinary family becomes involved in the great and personal cause of their times, it's a tale that invites everyone to celebrate our country's everyday heroes, of all ages.

Goodreads Review:
When four courageous black teens sat down at a lunch counter in the segregated South of 1960, the reverberations were felt both far beyond and close to home. This insightful story offers a child's-eye view of this seminal event in the American Civil Rights Movement. Connie is used to the signs and customs that have let her drink only from certain water fountains and which bar her from local pools and some stores, but still . . . she'd love to sit at the lunch counter, just like she's seen other girls do.

Showing how an ordinary family becomes involved in the great and personal cause of their times, it's a tale that invites everyone to celebrate our country's everyday heroes, of all ages.

I enjoyed this story for a number of reasons. I loved the accuracy of how the times were during the civil rights movement and the courage and determination exemplified by the characters in the story. I think that this story gives young students an accurate insight into how things used to be and the strength and perseverance that these families had. The illustrations are also accurate and depict the story very well. ( )