Common Sense Media Review
By Diondra K. Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful true tale of girl who desegregated school in 1960.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THIS IS YOUR TIME is a letter to "Young Peacemakers of America" calling them to action -- to create a more united future. Author Ruby Bridges tells her story of independently desegregating an all-White public school, William Frantz Elementary, in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 14,1960. Then 6-year-old Ruby isn't met with smiling faces and welcoming teachers as she enters first-grade, but by angry segregationist protestors and police officers. Born the same year as the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Ruby seems almost destined to be thrust into history, while trying to understand how and why the world is filled with hate. New details of this famous story emerge from the primary source. The story and accompanying historical and contemporary black-and-white photographs parallel the racial injustices and struggles of the civil rights movement and the Black Lives Matter movement, and the role of young people in the protests.
Is It Any Good?
This riveting and emotional story transports readers to an important moment in American history. Sixty years after the events of that day, This Is Your Time reminds readers how history is repeating itself. As Bridges reflects, "the struggle for liberty and justice for all continues." This book calls into question what progress has been made, and what work is left to be done. The book pulls at the heartstrings of readers, as Bridge's terrifying experience is relayed with incredible detail. It also offers hope, as the author reflects on how inspired she is that equity will be achieved through the courageousness and social-consciousness of the next generation. Several black-and-white images from the author's person collection, as well as the civil rights archives, are displayed throughout the book and add context and visual dimension to this powerful story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how school desegregation in the United States looks in This Is Your Time. What did you know about this piece of history before reading the book? What did you learn?
Do you think Ruby's parents made the right decision in allowing her to be the first Black child to integrate into William Frantz Elementary school? How do you think Ruby felt every day of first grade, walking to school with four federal marshals and being the only child in her class, taught by a White teacher?
Do you think its important for children to participate in public demonstrations for social justice and equality? Why or why not?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Activism , History
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : November 10, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 64
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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