Claudette Colvin

 Claudette Colvin

Twice Toward Justice

Hoose, P. (2009). Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).

ISBN 978-0-374-31322-7

Summary:

On March 2, 1955, an impassioned teenager, fed up with the daily injustices of Jim Crow segregation, refused to give her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Instead of being celebrated as Rosa Parks would be just nine months later, fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin found herself shunned by her classmates and dismissed by community leaders. Undaunted, a year later she dared to challenge segregation again as a key plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, the landmark case that struck down the segregation laws of Montgomery and swept away the legal underpinnings of the Jim Crow South.

Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history.

Analysis:

Phillip Hoose brings to light an important story in his book about Claudette Colvin. Her part in the Montgomery bus boycott is historically overshadowed by the widely-known Rosa Parks narrative.  Claudette’s bold stand paved the way for changes in the segregated south, but she is rarely mentioned. Hoose's writing is an education about the civil rights movement intermingled with Claudette’s own words and youthful perspective. The book includes notes from a series of interviews the author conducted with Ms. Colvin along with photos illustrating her poignant story. The author provides side notes explaining terms and brief explanations of events covered in the book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to dig deeper into the civil rights movement. It is well written and informative.

Reviews:

“This inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make.” 

―Booklist, Starred Review

“Smoothly weaves excerpts from Hoose's extensive interviews with Colvin and his own supplementary commentary.” 

―Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review

“Hoose reasserts her [Claudette Colvin] place in history with this vivid and dramatic account, complemented with photographs, sidebars, and liberal excerpts from interviews conducted with Colvin.” 

―The Horn Book, Starred Review

Awards:

Newbery Honor Book

Robert F. Siebert Honor Book

National Book Award Winner

Yalsa Excellence in Young adult Nonfiction Finalist

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5385.