crystal_reading's review
4.0
I read an ARC of this book that was sent by the publisher.
This was a great story that included a thorough history lesson. I had a vague idea about what had gone on in Little Rock, but didn't realize how long the schools had been closed. When I was young, I didn't know about "passing" and I think that this book does a great job of explaining the details and the the everyday types of worries of the time. I felt like I had fallen into history.
Another part of this book that was meaningful, was that the main character is working on finding and using her voice. I was a painfully shy child and could relate to the difficulty of making my thoughts and wishes known to those around me - especially in the midst of injustice.
This was a great story that included a thorough history lesson. I had a vague idea about what had gone on in Little Rock, but didn't realize how long the schools had been closed. When I was young, I didn't know about "passing" and I think that this book does a great job of explaining the details and the the everyday types of worries of the time. I felt like I had fallen into history.
Another part of this book that was meaningful, was that the main character is working on finding and using her voice. I was a painfully shy child and could relate to the difficulty of making my thoughts and wishes known to those around me - especially in the midst of injustice.
literatehedgehog's review
3.0
Some students are reading this for our historical fiction unit. It's an age-appropriate/relevant introduction to segregation and passing. It is told through a white child's perspective so it does teeter on the line of "well of course me the reader doesn't think like that now" , but it does snow a variety of perspectives beyond "racists are evil." As with any historical or contemporary topics, readers would benefit from adult conversations about it.
CW implied and intended violence towards Black people.
CW implied and intended violence towards Black people.
lindseygrant's review
5.0
this was one of my favorite books ever. I would totally read it. So good you can not put it down till you get to the end of the book! :)
readertz's review against another edition
5.0
I loved The Lions of Little Rock! The main character Marlee is faced with some very difficult situations and proves herself to be brave and kind in the face of hatred. This historical fiction book takes place when the Little Rock schools were forced to accept African-American students. The community was so outraged that they chose to close down those schools. Marlee attends one of the white schools that remains open and finds a friend in the new girl, Liz. Marlee realizes when Liz stops coming to school that she's really an African-American girl who was trying to pass as white. Marlee doesn't care about the color of Liz's skin; she just wants her friend back. Everyone should read this outstanding book!
sandraagee's review
4.0
Levine's second novel is just as good as, perhaps even better than her first ([b:The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had|4570908|The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had|Kristin Levine|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255890624s/4570908.jpg|4620259]). Again she's dealing with racial tensions and an unlikely friendship that crosses racial lines, this time set in Little Rock during the process of school integration during the 1958-1959 school year.
While this is a better effort on the part of Levine's publishers than the last book, the cover art still leaves much to be desired. As a result I'm not going to be able to get many/any kids to pick this one up without having to sell it first, which is really unfortunate because it's such an absorbing story and so well-written. The book is clearly very well-researched and I was facinated to read about this somewhat neglected part of the Little Rock story. As a piece of historical fiction this book just blows my mind.
The characters are plenty likable. Supporting character were a tad one-dimensional (the only thing preventing a 5-star rating), but developed just enough to mesh well with each other while allowing readers to become fully absorbed in the setting and the circumstances of the time/place.
While this is a better effort on the part of Levine's publishers than the last book, the cover art still leaves much to be desired. As a result I'm not going to be able to get many/any kids to pick this one up without having to sell it first, which is really unfortunate because it's such an absorbing story and so well-written. The book is clearly very well-researched and I was facinated to read about this somewhat neglected part of the Little Rock story. As a piece of historical fiction this book just blows my mind.
The characters are plenty likable. Supporting character were a tad one-dimensional (the only thing preventing a 5-star rating), but developed just enough to mesh well with each other while allowing readers to become fully absorbed in the setting and the circumstances of the time/place.
afro8921's review
4.0
I acutally liked this book a lot more than I thought I would. I found the character developement believable and the struggle amongst the character plausible. Marlee is a 13 year old girl with typical teen angst about her relationships to her peers, family, and friends. She is almost dibilitatingly shy but overcomes her shyness with the help of her ne friend Liz. There is tension galore as their friendship develops amongst the backdrop of the civil rights movement of the 1960's. This book would be excellent in a teen or tween book discussion group.
mjsteimle's review
4.0
While many of us have at least heard of the Little Rock Nine and the dramatic events surrounding the beginning of integration at Little Rock schools, I was completely unaware of what happened afterward. The following year the school board shut down the high school in order to avoid integration. This is a novel based on those events. The protagonist is an extremely shy junior high school student who becomes interested and involved in race-related events and issues when she is befriended by a Black girl who briefly "passes" at the white junior high.
I thought this book did a great job at highlighting the events of 1958 and 59. The story is told from the point of view of a White protagonist. I think it's good for White people to see themselves in these stories so that they can see themselves as people who can speak up (as long as it's not done in a "White Savior" sort of way). It's also good for Black people to see themselves as protagonists of these stories, because they absolutely are. There is room for both types of characters and stories when we talk about race.
I thought this book did a great job at highlighting the events of 1958 and 59. The story is told from the point of view of a White protagonist. I think it's good for White people to see themselves in these stories so that they can see themselves as people who can speak up (as long as it's not done in a "White Savior" sort of way). It's also good for Black people to see themselves as protagonists of these stories, because they absolutely are. There is room for both types of characters and stories when we talk about race.
annakim's review
4.0
This is a lovely book that can be humorous at time. The main character is likeable and it's wonderful to see her blossom. Levine does a great job creating distinct personalities that it's almost as if I've met her characters in real life. My only complaint is that the minor changes and epiphanies are arrived at so easily, that it beggars belief, especially considering the context of the whole novel. Regardless, this is a great novel highlighting a little know period in our civil rights history.