About This Book:
Myrlie Evers-Williams’ voice is gentle yet strong, soft yet powerful. It is a soaring song of hope.
Myrlie’s voice didn’t start out that way. She was born into the segregated South and the beautiful brown color of her skin made her a target for hate. It meant she didn’t have the same opportunities as white children, and that meant her dream of playing music onstage one day would be harder to achieve. But this didn’t stop Myrlie. As she grew, she marched for equal rights alongside her husband and activist, Medgar Evers. She fought against Jim Crow laws and for voting rights. She became the chair of the NAACP, and finally, she realized her dream of performing at Carnegie Hall. After that, as a voice for hope and change, Myrlie spoke at President Obama’s second inauguration, inspiring a nation.
Why I Love This Story:
A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie Evers-Williams Story by Nadia Salomon is a moving nonfiction biography that tells readers about the life, and work of Myrlie Evers-Williams. The story begins with Myrlie’s childhood and the adversities she faced growing up in Mississippi. As the book continues, readers learn more about the contribution that Myrile and her husband had to the Civil Rights Movement. Nadia’s use of poetic language beautifully highlights the trials and tribulations that Myrtle faced. The illustrations by London Ladd are warm and draw readers into the story. The front of the book features a detailed timeline, which serves as an excellent classroom resource. The back of the book includes an author’s note about her interview with Myrlie. A Voice of Hope is a beautiful narrative about an untold hero of the Civil Rights Movement.
Ages 5 and up
40 Pages
