Coretta Scott King winner Andrea Davis Pinkney brings her talents to a brand-new Dear America diary about the Civil Rights Movement.In the fall of 1955, twelve-year-old Dawn Rae Johnson's life turns upside down. After the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, Dawnie learns she will be attending a previously all-white school. She's the only one of her friends to go to this new school and to leave the comfort of all that is familiar to face great uncertainty in the school year ahead.However, not everyone supports integration and much of the town is outraged at the decision. Dawnie must endure the harsh realities of racism firsthand, while continuing to work hard to get a good education and prove she deserves the opportunity. But the backlash against Dawnie's attendance of an all-white school is more than she's prepared for. When her father loses his job as a result, and her little brother is constantly bullied, Dawnie has to wonder if it's worth it. In time, Dawnie learns that the true meaning of justice comes from remaining faithful to the integrity within oneself.

 

This book was recognised by the Iowa Children's Choice Award. It was recognised in the Historical Fiction category by the Parents' Choice Award.

This book is part of a book series called Dear America .

This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.

There are 324 pages in this book. This book was published 2011 by Scholastic .

Andrea Davis Pinkney is the author of many acclaimed picture books and young adult novels and works for Scholastic Publishing. Brian Pinkney has illustrated numerous books for children and he has written and illustrated several of his own books.