We know Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, Dr. King and more of the civil rights movement people, but do you know Claudette Colvin? She was a teenager who one day was sitting on the bus. She was, like Rosa after her, tired and knew her rights. She said No, I’m not giving up my seat. She would be yelled out, arrested and charged with numerous crimes (none of which were true). And her mother and preacher would bail her out of jail. But that was not the end of the story. 
We see the afterwards in Claudette Colvin: I Want Freedom Now! by Claudette Colvin, Phillip Hoose and Bea Jackson. We see how she was mocked, how a few weeks later Rosa Parks would stand up (or more actually sit down) herself, bus boycotts and more. In fact we see how Claudette and others would go to the highest courts and stop the injustice she was arrested for. 
The author was able to interview Colvin directly (who is now a grandmother, but still sassy). This shows that this piece of history wasn’t “a long time ago so why should we care?” But is relatively fresh, historically speaking. And with current events, we can see one of the original women who helped start what we are still fighting for. The illustrations are well done by being neither busy or lacking. They have decent colors and details. We do not get into the “down and dirty” of things (I have read where Colvin had a reputation that was not favorable and therefore, the leaders did keep her involvement a little quieter than it could have been) but it shows how a small act can have a big impact.
Read via an online reader copy, currently available. 
