Book Review: This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

This Is Your Time
by Ruby Bridges (j Biography Bridges)

“Now is your time!” Ruby Bridges calls with love to peacemakers, young and old.

She uses this little tome to share photos of her experience from the 1960’s to today and to give words of encouragement to readers.

She shares the famous pictures of tiny Ruby, at the stairs of William Frantz Elementary school, flanked by white federal marshals.

She shares the not-so-famous pictures: her brave father, who as a young black man, couldn’t escort his daughter to school. He lost his job and his ability to support his family when his employer fired him in spite of his being awarded a Purple Heart for bravery in Korea. I can only imagine the personal heartache his sacrifice caused him.

She shares photos of Barbara Henry, the teacher who came from Boston to teach Ruby. Although she may have looked like the women protesting outside the school, she became Ruby’s best friend. In a classroom that consisted of just Ruby and Henry, Ruby’s six year old self wrestled with the reality of her unmet expectations of meeting new children and making new friends. Neither she nor her teacher missed a day the whole year; they were there for each other.

She shares photos of protests in 1960 side by side with photos of protests from 2020 and addresses the current challenges to finding equality for all people.

Half of the 60 pages in This is Your Time are black and white photos, and the other half, a declaration by Bridges, which recites facts from the past while it encourages the children of today and celebrates everyone in the march towards our nation becoming truly united, with liberty and justice for all.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Ruby Bridges: A Brave Child Who Made History by Jeri Cipriano, Ruby Bridges (DVD), Ruby Bridges by Madeline Donaldson or Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges.]

[ publisher’s official This is Your Time web page ] | [ official Ruby Bridges web site ]

 

Recommended by Carrie K.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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