Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters

Let It Shine profiles ten Black women who fought for civil rights and social justice in America. The collection includes well-known figures like Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, along with lesser-known activists like Biddy Mason and Dorothy Height. Each biographical chapter chronicles key moments in the subject's life, from childhood through their most significant contributions to the freedom movement. The text maintains historical accuracy while remaining accessible to young readers through clear narrative and vivid illustrations by Stephen Alcorn. These interconnected stories span from the era of slavery through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, documenting different forms of resistance and activism. The women featured pursued various paths - from education and legal reform to direct action and community organizing. The book demonstrates how individual determination and courage can lead to transformative social change. Through these ten lives, readers gain perspective on the long arc of the American civil rights struggle and women's central role in advancing justice.

Readers appreciate this children's book for introducing lesser-known Black women activists alongside familiar figures like Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. Teachers and parents note it works well for ages 8-12, with many using it during Black History Month. Readers highlight Stephen Alcorn's distinctive illustrations and Pinkney's poetic writing style. Several reviewers mention the book helps fill gaps in standard history curriculum. Parents report their children connect with the personal details about each woman's childhood and early life. Some readers found the writing style overly flowery for young readers. A few noted that cramming 10 biographies into 120 pages meant each story felt rushed. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (685 ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (244 ratings) Scholastic: 4.7/5 (32 ratings) Common review comment: "The illustrations alone make this book worth owning." Most negative reviews focused on the text density rather than content.

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford The life story of sharecropper-turned-civil-rights-leader Fannie Lou Hamer unfolds through poems that chronicle her fight for African American voting rights.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford This biographical account follows Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey and determination as she guides enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad.

Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told by Walter Dean Myers This biography documents Ida B. Wells's transformation from a Memphis schoolteacher to a journalist who exposed racial injustice and championed civil rights.

Women of Hope: African Americans Who Made a Difference by Joyce Hansen Thirteen profiles present the achievements of Black women who fought for social justice and equality from the 1800s through the Civil Rights Movement.

Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories by Ellen Levine First-hand accounts from young people who participated in the Civil Rights Movement reveal their experiences with segregation, protests, and the fight for equality.

✦ Andrea Davis Pinkney wrote this book after noticing a lack of children's literature featuring African American female leaders, particularly those who fought for civil rights and social justice. ✦ The book's illustrator, Stephen Alcorn, used an artistic technique called serigraphy (similar to silk-screening) to create the distinctive, bold portraits of each woman featured in the text. ✦ The ten women highlighted in the book span more than 200 years of American history, from Sojourner Truth (born into slavery in the 1790s) to Shirley Chisholm (who ran for president in 1972). ✦ The author coined unique nicknames for each subject based on their achievements, such as "Biddy Mason: The Walking Nurse" and "Rosa Parks: The Bus Rider Who Changed History." ✦ Many of the women featured in the book, including Harriet Tubman and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, continued their activism well into their elderly years, breaking both gender and age barriers of their time.