Written by Hester Bass, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Huntsville, Alabama was a city that did things “like they had always been done.” This meant that the black people of the city were not allowed to eat at the lunch counters with white people and black children could not go to school with white children. But the city was also the “Space Center of the Universe,” and rockets that would “take astronauts to the moon were sprouting beside the cotton fields.” Therefore, the leaders of the town worked with black civil rights leaders to help the city to integrate peacefully.
The book begins by showing readers the discrimination that black people experienced, but then it tells about how they worked to “sow the seeds of freedom.” This was a long and difficult process, but the book takes readers step by step and shows how the citizens of the town eventually realized that integration would be best for everyone. I’m impressed with the way the story progresses and draws readers into the conflict and resolution. I also appreciate the way the pictures not only illustrate the story, but also help the reader to feel empathy for those involved in the struggle.
Review by Laurie Blake, Roosevelt Elementary Media Center
Rating: ★★★★★ (5 stars)
Interest Level: Grades 3-6
Seeds of Freedom: The Peaceful Integration of Huntsville, Alabama
Written by Hester Bass, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis
Candlewick Press
32 pages
Release Date: January 27, 2015
