Deborah Wiles

Freedom Summer tells the story of two boys, Joe, a white child and John Henry, a black child, in the early 1960's. John Henry's mother works for Joe's family, the boys get to work and play together and are close friends despite social expectations. In the south at this time, many places are still segregated, like the pool and the general store. John Henry and Joe swim at the creek and John Henry is the best swimmer that Joe has ever seen. When the pool is finally becoming desegregated, the boys are so excited to finally be able to go to the pool together. Soon, they find out that the pool is being filled in rather than desegregating, breaking both of the boys hearts. They go to the general store and for the first time, get to buy ice pops together.
This is a good book to teach students about the hardships of segregation and also teaches acceptance.… (meer)

Wow, what an experience this "documentary" novel is! The novel is broken up by photos, quotes, and essays from and about the 1960s. I thought it sounded kind of gimmicky, but it really brought the period alive in my imagination as I was reading. Well done, sirs and madams of Scholastic.

I'm giving this a full five stars for the combination of the originality of the design and the solid, compelling storytelling. The story is driven by Frannie's fear of nuclear annihilation combined with everyday growing up stuff. Frannie's older sister seems to have a secret life that Franny decides to investigate a la Nancy Drew. Franny's uncle suffers from PTSD and draws unwanted attention to her family. Franny has trouble with her best friend and crush on a boy at school. All the while the country is collectively holding its breath while JFK contemplates nuclear war.

I actually read another children's book recently that deals with the Cuban Missile Crisis ([b:This Means War|6659577|This Means War!|Ellen Wittlinger|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275781716s/6659577.jpg|6854331] by Ellen Wittlinger), and this one was much, much better. My only criticism of Countdown is that the mechanics during the climax of the book didn't logically make sense to me. Franny gets caught up in a scary situation, and I didn't really understand how it happened. It didn't take away from the overall quality of the storytelling, though.… (meer)

The setting is the 60's. Historically, in particular, the south is a place of bigotry and hatred. Civil Rights workers who try their best to shine a glaringly bright light on the injustices of prejudice must pay a high price, including death. In Mississippi the "Freedom Summer" movement was in place. Their purpose was to ensure American blacks could vote, just like those of white skin could vote. Black people should be allowed to swim at a local pool, just like those of white skin can swim. Blacks should be able to obtain a job, just like white people could. Blacks should be able to sit in the front of the bus with white people, and children should be able to attend public school!!

In Mobile Alabama, John Henry's mother works for his family. She has a name, and that name is Annie Mae. She walks to the house with John Henry. Joe's family hires Annie Mae, and she is a hard-working, determined woman. The civil Rights legislation is passed, and John Henry should be allowed to swim in the public pool with Joe.

Instead of allowing black children to swim in the public pool, the pool is drained and covered with tar, deep enough to give the message that blacks are not wanted there.

As tears flow in John Henry's eyes, his friend Joe gives him a nickel, and while his pride will not allow him to take Joe's nickel, John Henry knows having his own nickel has some popwer. And, walking up to the store, proudly he holds up his chin and walks with his friend as they separetly purchase a pop sickle. They cannot swim in the pool together, but they are going to test the waters of the the ability to enter a store together, each purchasing a popsickle!… (meer)