This Is Your Time

by Ruby Bridges Narrated by Ruby Bridges

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

In 1960, Ruby Bridges was the first Black child to integrate into an all-white school in New Orleans. Since then, this momentous event in history has inspired generations as the fight to end systemic racism is more important than ever. In This Is Your Time, Ruby herself recounts her experience and encourages readers to enact change today. A remarkable call-to-action and essential read for Americans of all ages.

Inspired by the recent wave of activism led by young people fighting for racial justice, civil rights icon Ruby Bridges--who, at the age of six, was the first black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans--shares her story and offers a powerful call to action with this elegant gift book.

Written as a letter from civil rights activist and icon Ruby Bridges to the reader, This Is Your Time is both a recounting of Ruby's experience as a child who had no choice but to be escorted to class by federal marshals when she was chosen as one of the first black students to integrate New Orleans' all-white public school system and an appeal to generations to come to effect change.

Ruby's honest and impassioned words, imbued with love and grace, serve as a moving reminder that "what can inspire tomorrow often lies in our past." This Is Your Time will electrify people of all ages as the struggle for liberty and justice for all continues, and the powerful legacy of Ruby Bridges endures.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Powerful.... Bridges’ hopeful words, her faith born of experience, are soothing and encouraging in this time of unrest and uncertainty." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Timely, powerful, and full of hope. This missive of truth, spoken by a true American hero, deserves a place in all libraries.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“Ruby experienced unimaginable racial hatred, lost her oldest son to random violence, and still advocates for positive change. Kids will relate to Ruby's stories on many levels and be inspired by the difference one little girl made. A profoundly moving book.” —Booklist, starred review

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2020-10-13
International speaker Bridges applies lessons of history to the task before us.

The text of the book reads like a letter, addressed to “you,” the children of today. Each spread has one page of simply phrased text—a short paragraph in a large font against a white background—facing a page of one or two black-and-white photographs. The first 20 pages vividly recount Bridges’ experience as a first grader integrating an all-White school in New Orleans: the angry crowds lining her path, the federal marshals ordered to protect her, the difficult choice her parents faced, her kind teacher from Boston who spent the days alone with her in a classroom emptied of White children whose families protested integration. The words then transition to appreciation of the many children Bridges has spoken with during school visits. She shares individual encounters with hopeful and brave children who inspired her as well as general reflections on racism and generational dynamics. Finally, the text turns to the present day—the need for “love and grace for one another that will heal this world.” Pictures of 2020 protests, sometimes sharing the page with pictures from historical protests, show young people demanding change. The simple layout is powerful: The photographs present a striking reality concerning our collective past and the repetition of history. Bridges’ hopeful words, her faith born of experience, are soothing and encouraging in this time of unrest and uncertainty.

Essential reading for all ages. (Nonfiction. 6-adult)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177852751
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	11/10/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

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