Freedom School, Yes!

A young Black girl named Jolie experiences the dramatic summer of 1964 in Mississippi, when northern teachers arrive to establish Freedom Schools. The story takes place against the backdrop of the Mississippi Summer Project, a pivotal civil rights initiative. Jolie and her mother open their home to Annie, a white teacher from the North who comes to teach at the local Freedom School. The community faces opposition and threats as they work to establish the school and provide education despite segregation. Through Jolie's perspective, the book presents the fears, hopes, and determination of a community fighting for equal education rights during the Civil Rights Movement. The story captures a significant moment in American history through the lens of one family's experience. This children's picture book addresses themes of courage, education, and social justice while highlighting the real-life Freedom Schools that helped advance civil rights in the American South. The narrative demonstrates how ordinary people, including children, participated in creating change.

Readers value this book as a child-friendly introduction to the Civil Rights Movement and Freedom Schools. Parents and educators note it helps start discussions about racism and segregation with younger children. Readers appreciated: - The hopeful tone despite serious subject matter - Floyd Cooper's warm, expressive illustrations - The focus on community resilience rather than violence - The author's note providing historical context Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing uneven - A few noted the dialogue feels stilted at times - Limited details about the actual Freedom Schools Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (83 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (12 reviews) "The illustrations do much of the heavy lifting in conveying emotion," noted one teacher reviewer. A parent wrote, "My 7-year-old asked good questions after reading this together." Multiple reviews mention using it successfully in elementary classrooms to teach civil rights history.

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📚 The Freedom School movement educated over 2,500 Black students in Mississippi during the summer of 1964. 🎨 Illustrator Floyd Cooper, known for his unique "subtractive" technique using erasers to create texture, won multiple Coretta Scott King Illustration Honor Awards. ✍️ Author Amy Littlesugar has written several historical fiction books for children, often focusing on significant social justice movements. 🏫 Freedom Schools were part of a larger civil rights initiative called Freedom Summer, which also included voter registration drives and community organizing. 📝 The volunteer teachers in Freedom Schools were primarily college students from the North, who risked their lives to teach in Mississippi despite violent opposition from segregationists.