About this item
Friendship defies racism for two boys in this stirring story of the Freedom Summer that followed the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now in a 50th Anniversary Edition with a refreshed cover and a new introduction. John Henry swims better than anyone I know. He crawls like a catfish, blows bubbles like a swamp monster,but he doesnt swim in the town pool with me.Hes not allowed. Joe and John Henry are a lot alike. They both like shooting marbles, they both want to be firemen, and they both love to swim. But theres one important way theyre different Joe is white and John Henry is black, and in the South in 1964, that means John Henry isnt allowed to do everything his best friend is. Then a law is passed that forbids segregation and opens the town pool to everyone.
About the Author
Deborah Wiles's books include the picture book Freedom Summer and the novels Love, Ruby Lavender; The Aurora County All-Stars; the National Book Award finalist Each Little Bird that Sings; and A Long Line of Cakes. The first book in the Sixties Trilogy, Countdown, received five starred reviews upon its publication and has appeared on many state award lists. The second, Revolution, was a National Book Award Finalist. The third book, Anthem, was called "brilliant" in a starred review in Booklist and "musically and culturally immersive" in a starred review in Kirkus Reviews. Wiles lives in Atlanta, Georgia. You can visit her on the web at deborahwiles.com.
