Before there was Black Lives Matter, there was the Civil Rights
Movement. And though this book takes place during the era of the Civil
Right Movement, the message is just as important in our world today. In
1958, Minnie Upton, an intelligent, strong-willed, African-American
teenager became one of the first black students to be bussed to an
all-white school in the suburbs of racially tense Memphis Tennessee. She
was greeted with hatred and threats by the incumbent population of the
area and suffered both physical and mental abuse at their hands. But
this is not the story of what Minnie endured. This is the story of
victory and the love that developed between Minnie and Sam, the giant
boy who became her protector and the love she never expected to find.
Sam, though caucasian, was also an outcast because of an affliction he
was born with which caused him to grow at an accelerated rate. Together
they faced the hatred of a divided city and showed the world what true
commitment, courage, and love looked like. It is a coming of age love
story for the ages with an important lesson of morality and acceptance.
A must read for anyone 12 years old and up.