Freedom Songs

By Yvette Moore

Book Overview

"In the tradition of Mildred Taylor, Moore presents an authentic, disturbing slice of black American history."--Publisher's Weekly

During the spring of 1968, Sheryl Williams, 14, confronts harsh realities while visiting relatives in North Carolina. After witnessing--and then experiencing--acts of prejudice, she understands why Uncle Pete and some neighbors have joined the freedom riders, a group of protesters practicing methods taught by Martin Luther King. Once home in Brooklyn, N.Y., Sheryl decides to collect money for the group by holding a benefit concert with her friends. But will it help to change things?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140360174
• ISBN13: 9780140360172
• Release Date: September 1992
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.4" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Freedom starts in songs

Civil Rights has been my favorite subject as for long as I can remember. Everytime we studied it in History clas I would pay the closest attention. One of my favorite movies has to do with the Civil Rights movement. This book was really good for me. It teaches many things. Not only does it teach you about the struggles and hardships that African American people had to go through back then, but it also teaches that if you beleive in yourself you can do anything and make a change. This story is about a 14 year old girl named Sherl. Her only dream for the upcomming year is to be a "fly girl". However when she goes down South to visit her relatives she finds out what racism really is and how it effects peoples lives. She finds out because her Uncle Pete announces that he is going to become a Freedom Rider. At first she was very proud but after she saw what was happening to other people helping out the Civil Rights cause, she got really scared for her uncles safety. So her and her friends decide to take action. This book is very inspiring. When you read this book you feel happy and everything because you not only know that a small 14 year old girl made a difference in her lives and other peoples lives, but it inspires you and tells you that if you work hard at it and are determined and really beleive in yourself you can make a difference too. Never give up if you feel like you havn't given your best. If you feel hopeless but you also feel like you still have like the smallest bit of hope left, try and try again and you'll be amazed at how much that little bit of hope can grow.

A Road to Freedom

A Road to Freedom When Sheryl and her family go to Ma Pudnum's, Sheryl learns some important lessons. She learns from her Uncle Pete that the smallest things in life are the most important things. She also learns that you can defend yourself in discrimination without violence. I liked the book Freedom Songs because it was uplifting in the way the book ends. Its content was also very well written. There was also always something new and exciting happening in the story. This component kept me interested all the way until the end. Lastly, this book had a good moral to it. The moral was stand up for your rights no matter what the consequence may be.

Wonderful!

This book shows what racism was in the 60s. Sheryl is proud when she heres her uncle has joined the freedom riders but she does not really know how much danger it can really. She really starts to relize after she sees her uncle check under the cars to see if some one have planted a bomb. She even relizes what she can do to help.

An inspiring, well written story with excellent dialogue

This book's prose was lovingly crafted, with some descriptions and images almost like poetry. Moore also created natural, authentic and spirited dialogue, with an excellent sense of internal timing to convey humor and emotion. The characters are realistically and tenderly portrayed - even those who were not central characters are solid and somehow present throughout the book. Moore infused a strong sense of family and community into Sheryl's life which was echoed in the larger national family of freedom riders; similarly, the religious talk surrounding Sheryl in her home and community reverberates with meaning during the freedom rider struggles. This would be a great book for junior high school or high school kids to read for a history or an interdisciplinary English class. Adults would enjoy it and learn from it too! I did.

Sheryl, an African American, discovers her true identity

Sheryl is a young black girl, living in New York City, with dreams of being a fly girl in high school. Her chance comes when she visits her moms' parents in North Carolina, the south. The freedom to explore her new identity is bound by the harsh reality of racism she now faces. This new education in life connects Sheryl with her Uncle Pete, a freedom rider. Yet, his untimely death, in search of freedom, causes her to question her direction in life and the impact of Uncle Pete on her life. This questioning leads to a new lease on life and a solid resolve to make a difference. This book is an excellent lead in for Black history month. The author presents sensitive issues with a touch of grace.