Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the Selma Voting Rights March
Vivid recollections of a teen girl in the Selma march.
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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 Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom is the memoir of Lynda Blackmon Lowery, who as a young girl participated in the voting rights march of 1965 from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. It discusses the use of racial epithets and intimidation used against protesters during the march and shows some historical violence against both children and adults, violence that has been well documented in the media and historical accounts. But here, readers get the rare perspective of a young schoolgirl. The publisher recommends this for kids age 12 and up, but the simple prose is easy to read, so it could be OK for younger readers. It's a great resource for conversations about social injustice in the United States.
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What's the Story?
Lynda's a student who's ready to make life better for the people she loves. As a civil rights protester, Lynda joins hundreds of students who, each day, stand up in the face of violence and hatred to gain access to the basic rights that all other Americans have. She's arrested for protesting nine times before her 15th birthday. After marching on what will be known as Bloody Sunday, Lynda, battered and bloodied, has a choice to make: continue to march or let fear overcome the desire to be free. Does she have what it takes?
Is It Any Good?
Author Lynda Blackmon Lowery does a nice job adapting her story in an easy-to-follow format for a wide range of readers. Her voice is one that's not often heard; this is a story told from the perspective of a young student protestor involved in the movement. Often the adults and their impact are the main focus of such historical accounts, but Lowery shows clearly that students were charged with organizing and carrying out daily protests -- missing school to do so. Through her vivid recollections, Lowery adeptly conveys the excitement, terror, hesitation, fear, and determination the students experienced.
The addition of both archived photos and illustrations help support the story well. TURNING 15 ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM would be a great resource for any discussion of the civil rights movement or modern youth-led protests, including those in Ferguson, Missouri, New York City, and beyond.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the use of media in both the period surrounding the Selma march and the Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City protests about police violence against African-American men. How did media propel both incidents into the national spotlight?
Families also can talk about how they can use their resources to fight injustice. What can you do right now as a child to help stand up for people who are being marginalized?
What was the importance of the Voting Rights Act? Why is it important to vote? Does it make a difference?
Book Details
- Authors: Lynda Blackmon Lowery, Elspeth Leacock, Susan Buckley
- Illustrator: PJ Loughran
- Genre: Autobiography
- Topics: Activism, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Dial
- Publication date: January 8, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 128
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated: November 30, 2020
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