This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality

In 1956, a year before the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, 14-year-old Jo Ann Allen made history when she and 11 other black students in Clinton, Tennessee, integrated a public high school. As outside protesters arrived, tensions rose and neighbor turned against neighbor. Soon even the students themselves wondered if they should just return to their old school. Jo Ann wanted everything a girl her age should be able to have: friendships, an education, and time to daydream about her crush—but instead, she was thrust into national spotlight as a spokesperson for the cause.

This nonfiction book in verse, the first children's book about a forgotten moment in history, is based on Jo Ann's experience as well as extensive primary research and features archival materials and notes from the authors.