And We Rise
Weighty poems retell civil rights history.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that As We Rise, by Erica Martin, is a history of the civil rights movement, from Reconstruction to the present, told in verse. Violent incidents from history are explored, including the beating and killing of Emmett Till, the assasinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X, bombings by the Ku Klux Klan, and lesser-known incidents like the deaths of young men who were locked in the Negro Boys Industrial School, unable to escape when it caught fire.The "N" word is used in several poems. "Bitch" and "s--t" also appear.
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What's the Story?
When AND WE RISE begins, it is 1877. Reconstruction, the time when U.S. federal troops occupied the states of the former Confederacy, has ended. Jim Crow laws, which dictate rules for segregation of the races, are on the ascent. This sets off a fight for equal rights for Black people that continues in the 21st century.
Is It Any Good?
The poems in this book offer a thought-provoking balance of information and emotion. In And We Rise, debut author Erica Martin uses a range of writing and graphic layout techniques to deliver her message. Some stories are told directly in simple narrative, in free verse or rhyming couplets. Others use heavy repetition for effect. (For instance, "Signs Everywhere You Go" consists of the words "Whites Only" over and over, and a poem about the Montgomery bus boycotts is a count of the days.) Iconic photographs supplement the text. This book could be a great conversation starter and inspire kids to do more research.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the teens who made a difference in history, commemorated in And We Rise. What change would you like to see in your lifetime?
Why is it important to remember history?
In some poems, the author uses the visual effects of words on the page to communicate ideas and feelings. What do you think of that technique?
Book Details
- Author: Erica Martin
- Genre: History
- Topics: Activism, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: February 1, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 17
- Number of pages: 160
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: April 21, 2022
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For kids who love novels in verse and civil rights stories
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