Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement

by Ann Bausum Narrated by Cecelia Riddett

Overview

It was 1961. John Lewis and Jim Zwerg are two young men boarding a bus and heading south for Montgomery, Alabama and the thick of the brewing Civil Rights struggle. They are idealists, committed to justice and equality and full of hope for change. This is their Freedom Ride. Arriving in town, suddenly they find themselves helpless in the clutches of an angry white mob armed with bats, chains, and hammers. Both men are beaten within an inch of their lives, for the color of their skin-John was black and Jim was white-and for the ideas they had traveled so far to support. Told from the perspectives of these two Freedom Riders, this Robert F. Silbert Honor Book is a stunning testament to the power of nonviolent resistance in the face of racial discrimination and segregation. A thoughtful reading from narrator Cecelia Riddett brings this important tale of the Civil Rights Movement to life for today's readers. ". [An] excellent work of nonfiction . [that] delivers a galvanizing call to action."-Booklist, starred review

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9-The incredible courage and determination of young people, black, white, male and female, who risked great personal danger and even death as they participated in the freedom rides during the Civil Rights Movement are the focus of this remarkable book. History is told through the experiences of two young men of disparate backgrounds, one black-John Lewis, the other white-Jim Zwerg. A foreword by each man precedes chapters that compare and contrast their families, childhoods, and teenage years, and the events leading up to, and their participation in, the historic rides of the early 1960s. Dramatic black-and-white photographs, accompanied by clear, engaging captions, support the text. Each of the seven chapters is preceded by a full-page photograph. Bausum's narrative style, fresh, engrossing, and at times heart-stopping, brings the story of the turbulent and often violent dismantling of segregated travel alive in vivid detail. The language, presentation of material, and pacing will draw readers in and keep them captivated. Final chapters reveal the paths Lewis's and Zwerg's lives took after the end of the rides, and both men reflect back on that period. A partial roster of riders with brief profiles, an illustrated time line of key moments in the Civil Rights Movement, a resource guide and notes, and a list of further reading conclude the book. A definite first purchase.-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

NOVEMBER 2008 - AudioFile

Bausum's well-regarded book follows the lives of two young men, one black and one white, whose courage and bravery helped shape the Freedom Rides and inspired a nation during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1961, in Montgomery, Alabama, John Lewis and Jim Zwerg were beaten in a violent attack on a bus of Freedom Riders. Cecelia Riddett narrates this gripping account with emotion. Her pacing allows the listener to take in the events and their impact. Her inflection and cadence keep the listener engaged and give the reading a hopeful tone. Spoken song stanzas at beginning of each chapter might have been even more effective had they been sung. The story is a powerful call to action on behalf of the disenfranchised, and forewords by Lewis and Zwerg further elevate the listening experience. J.K.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170729319
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	09/19/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Videos