New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2014.
1st ed.
200 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
From the dynamic cover, to the epilogue - I loved this book. It is an amazing story of unsung Civil Rights heroes who took against racism in the US Navy during WWII and helped force greater opportunities for African Americans in the military - and at great cost to themselves.
This book has all the elements of a great tale - a massive tragic explosion, tales of personal courage, rumors of a conspiracy, the suspense of a trial/court martial, and a positive but not rosy ending. And in telling the tale, Steve Sheinkin brings to life the stories of very young men who simply wanted to be given a fair opportunity to be part of the US war effort in WWII.
I really like this book for bringing together so many important threads - worker safety, segregation and racism during WWII (including extreme violence against enlisted African Americans in the south), the stirrings of the great Civil Rights movements of the 50s and 60s, the early career of Thurgood Marshall, and the ways in which change occurs in fits and starts through resistance and personal courage. And it's all done in the relatively brief space of just over 160 pages (along with great photos and illustrations).
I would recommend this book to any student interested in WWII, disasters, the Civil Rights Movement, the military, and US history in general.
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