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Freedom School, Yes!
Jolie has a lot to be scared about since the new Freedom School teacher, Annie, came to town. Bricks thrown through windows in the dead of night, notes filled with hate, and now a fire has burnt down the church where Annie was supposed to start teaching tomorrow! Without the church, how can she possibly teach Jolie and the other townspeople about black poets and artists, historians and inventors? Unless the people themselves fight back. In this triumphant story based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project, Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper come together to celebrate the strength of a people, and the bravery of one young girl who didn't let being scared get in her way.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2001
112 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 18, 2014
A good introduction to the trials involved during the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project, and to African American history and community. Not a lot of background information is given, it is just told from the point of view of a young girl learning some harsh realities, and discovering a common desire for learning. It is good for fairly young children (my daughter was 6), though it has a scene with a brick through a window and a fire, and some scenes of tension/anxiety, no one actually gets hurt in the story. There is a lot conveyed, though, about the value of community, honoring important ancestors, and striving to persevere. The artwork is watercolor hues of brown, purple, yellow, green, vivid swatches of color that make an excellent backdrop to the story.
November 5, 2009
Freedom School Yes! Is inspired by the real teachers of Freedom School. The author uses the teacher’s experiences and other research to write this fictional story. Jolie is terrified when a brick is thrown through her house window with a note attached that warns the new teacher of Freedom school to leave town. Jolie’s mother offered to house the new white schoolteacher, Annie. Jolie’s fears are magnified when the school is set on fire and is burned to the ground. To her surprise, the community does not let that stop them from having school. While the adults were busy rebuilding the school, classes where held under the tree. But one night when Annie doesn’t return home Jolie realizes how important school and learning are to her. She learns “she was never going to let bein’ scared get in her way again.”
The story begins with a dramatic image of a brick shattering a window and immediately I was hooked. A great book to use in the classroom to share with students a small part of what many African Americans had to endure to go to school; something our students don’t likely think about. It lends itself to teaching students about not taking their education for granted and fighting for what one believes in even if they are scared.
The story begins with a dramatic image of a brick shattering a window and immediately I was hooked. A great book to use in the classroom to share with students a small part of what many African Americans had to endure to go to school; something our students don’t likely think about. It lends itself to teaching students about not taking their education for granted and fighting for what one believes in even if they are scared.
December 1, 2019
The Freedom School, Yes! indeed is a captivating picture book. The artwork is so realistic that you feel as if you personally know all of the characters. Jolie a young girl living in Chicken Creek is torn emotionally about the new Freedom school so to start in her town at her family's church and is even more shocked when her mother volunteers to allow the young white teacher Annie from New York to live with them. Some very cruel vandals throw a brick through their window with a hate note attached on the very first night of Annie's stay, then the church is burned to the ground on the night before school is to begin. The neighbors rally together to rebuild the church on land purchased for a dollar in addition to a new building for the Freedom school. School is held under a hickory tree while the buildings are quickly constructed by dedicated neighbors. Jolie realizes how much Annie and the school mean to her on one night when Annie doesn't come home by supper time as planned but she finds her safe and promises to never allow fear to get in her way of school and learning again. I would use this book as a talking point for segregation, inequality, and the importance of community. I would also take the opportunity to discuss author's craft. Littlesugar uses common southern dialect to bring her characters to life.
November 29, 2023
When white teacher Annie arrives to set up a Freedom School, Jolie, an African-American girl, witnesses the danger that comes with it. From broken windows to angry threats, not everyone in town is supportive of this new idea. When the church burns down, Jolie and the other kids wonder how Annie will teach them, but Annie proves to be a dedicated teacher. Set during the 1964 Freedom Summer School Project, this story highlights the work done by teachers and participants of the Civil Rights movement.
January 14, 2021
An emotional work of historical fiction that sadly was not that long ago in our American History, with much work still needed. Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper do a wonderful job of showing the danger and emotions of the south during the time of Jim Crow for a small community that was fighting to receive an education. Thanks to 600 brave young volunteers, both black and white, the Mississippi Summer project of 1964 worked to bring basic civil rights, knowledge and hope to all.
June 21, 2019
The history: great. I learned much about a chapter in history I didn't know about. The illustrations: fantastic. Love the author's note, love the characters. The voice bothered me. I don't know why.
February 23, 2021
Mississippi
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September 20, 2021Beautifully told story
December 31, 2021
Brave freedom fighters of all ages work to ensure all children can go to school.
Want to read
May 28, 2022Reading Level: Pre-K-Grade 3
Tags: African American, African American- Civil Rights, Historical Fiction, Prejudice and Discrimination, Race Relations-History, Diversity
Tags: African American, African American- Civil Rights, Historical Fiction, Prejudice and Discrimination, Race Relations-History, Diversity
February 18, 2023
Author’s Note about historical event and people who inspired this story
April 24, 2023
This fictional account is inspired by true events. The illustrations are lovely, and this is great for kids who are learning about the Civil Rights Movement.
November 8, 2011
“Freedom School, Yes!” is set in the 1960s Civil Rights era. It is about the opening of a school in the south that is designed to educate black children and adults.
The book is historical fiction based on research. More than 600 young people both black and white volunteered for the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project. These young people risked their life to travel to Mississippi to work at the Freedom School. Writer, Amy Littlesugar, interviewed three teachers who worked at the school at the time. “Freedom School, Yes!” is a fictionalized account of that experience told from the perspective of an African American child.
The story is set in 1960s Mississippi. Littlesugar does a great job of describing the racial violence during that time. The story opens when a brick is thrown through the window of Jolie’s (the main character) house. Other descriptors are indicative of the south – Jolie running past the cotton fields and language such as Jolie’s uncle calling her sis.
Littlesugar must have thought of many questions when writing and developing the characters for her book. The most obvious being why did Annie (the young white teacher from the north) stay? What did the black families think about the Freedom School? Were they in favor of it no matter what or were they opposed because they did not want the trouble associated with the development of the school?
The main character in the book is Jolie. Joile is initially opposed to the Freedom School. Through the great description of racial violence the reader can understand Jolie’s fear of attending the school. The reader can also understand Jolie’s change of heart when she sees the courage Annie displays in keeping watch over the school.
My rating for this book is four stars. I like the story. Children will be exposed to an aspect of the Civil Rights Movement they may not be privy to otherwise. Teachers can develop accompaniments to the book such as writing prompts and a mini-unit.
The book is historical fiction based on research. More than 600 young people both black and white volunteered for the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project. These young people risked their life to travel to Mississippi to work at the Freedom School. Writer, Amy Littlesugar, interviewed three teachers who worked at the school at the time. “Freedom School, Yes!” is a fictionalized account of that experience told from the perspective of an African American child.
The story is set in 1960s Mississippi. Littlesugar does a great job of describing the racial violence during that time. The story opens when a brick is thrown through the window of Jolie’s (the main character) house. Other descriptors are indicative of the south – Jolie running past the cotton fields and language such as Jolie’s uncle calling her sis.
Littlesugar must have thought of many questions when writing and developing the characters for her book. The most obvious being why did Annie (the young white teacher from the north) stay? What did the black families think about the Freedom School? Were they in favor of it no matter what or were they opposed because they did not want the trouble associated with the development of the school?
The main character in the book is Jolie. Joile is initially opposed to the Freedom School. Through the great description of racial violence the reader can understand Jolie’s fear of attending the school. The reader can also understand Jolie’s change of heart when she sees the courage Annie displays in keeping watch over the school.
My rating for this book is four stars. I like the story. Children will be exposed to an aspect of the Civil Rights Movement they may not be privy to otherwise. Teachers can develop accompaniments to the book such as writing prompts and a mini-unit.
December 15, 2014
Freedom School, Yes! Is written by Amy Littlesugar. The book is about a young African American girl named Jolie, who is afraid of her new school teacher. Annie, the new teacher, moved to town and into Jolie’s house with her family so she could teach at the new Freedom School. Once Annie moves in, fear is stricken into Jolie’s family and into the community. People begin to vandalize, throw bricks into the home, and burn down the school/church. When the church is burned down, which is where the school was held, people worry that the school will not meet anymore. But Annie doesn’t let that happened. Instead she holds school under a tree and Jolie and many others learn many new things from Annie. They continue to meet under the tree until the new school is built. When the school is completed, people take turns making sure the building is protected every night. One night Annie decides to stand guard but Jolie is worried about her. So Jolie decides to go run down to the school to help protect Annie incase anything bad happens and this is where she realizes how important both Annie and the school are to her.
This book would be great to read in a 2nd-5th grade classroom. Not only does it discuss diversity, but it is also a historical fiction text. Students can learn about the different events in history that are important to the American culture. Students will be able to see the many changes from history to now. As an activity to go along with this book, the students could learn more about different historical events that happened like slavery for example. Another activity students could do is to write and reflect about their feelings towards everything that happened to the school and Jolie’s house. They could write about how they think they felt or give them words of encouragement during the rough times. This book is one I would consider using in my own classroom one day.
This book would be great to read in a 2nd-5th grade classroom. Not only does it discuss diversity, but it is also a historical fiction text. Students can learn about the different events in history that are important to the American culture. Students will be able to see the many changes from history to now. As an activity to go along with this book, the students could learn more about different historical events that happened like slavery for example. Another activity students could do is to write and reflect about their feelings towards everything that happened to the school and Jolie’s house. They could write about how they think they felt or give them words of encouragement during the rough times. This book is one I would consider using in my own classroom one day.
November 20, 2013
A young African American girl named Jolie has a White freedom schoolteacher staying at her house. The teacher, Annie, decided to help out in the community and teach young African American children in a small church called a Freedom School. The day before school started, the church was burned to the ground and Jolie was extremely hesitant about participating in the school. While the community rebuilds the church, Annie decides to still hold school every day underneath the willow trees. As the days go by, Jolie becomes more in love with school and learns about many African American heroes. When the church is finally finished, Jolie realizes how special that school and her teacher are to her and she begins to appreciate learning about her culture and starts to become a brave little girl.
This children’s book is inspirational and is a perfect example of the genre historical fiction. The author portrays a young African American girl having to deal with prejudice and being fearful of another race. The more she learns about real people who have taken a stand to defend themselves, she too becomes more brave and begins to want to learn more. The author includes historical figures and teaches the reader a few facts about each person. Overall this was a wonderful book that highlighted a period of time where discrimination was a major issue and it is seen through the eyes of a young narrator.
This children’s book is inspirational and is a perfect example of the genre historical fiction. The author portrays a young African American girl having to deal with prejudice and being fearful of another race. The more she learns about real people who have taken a stand to defend themselves, she too becomes more brave and begins to want to learn more. The author includes historical figures and teaches the reader a few facts about each person. Overall this was a wonderful book that highlighted a period of time where discrimination was a major issue and it is seen through the eyes of a young narrator.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2009
Appropriate for 3-8th grade, and full of snippets of historical truth, a little girl named Jolie, afraid of life, was very angry that a white woman named Annie that had come to Chicken Creek to teach at the new Freedom School bringing trouble with her. The girl would sit and star gaze and think about heroes like Benjamin Banneker and how he counted the stars like she loved to do. Resentful at first because of the backlash, Jolie was terrified as the white people of Chicken Creek would throw bricks through the windows in the middle of the night. They burned the church where the school was to be held. It was eventually rebuilt on a plot of land somewhere else, but she still didn't want any part of it. She had one Uncle who would help her understand the significance of education by showing her his Medal of Honor he earned for saving a fellow white soldier. He pointed out to her that he still could not sit at the white lunch counter regardless of his heroics. He emplores her to be a part of the new generation that would help to change this. She learns to love Annie, and she learns to love learning. Most of all, she learns not to be afraid of life anymore. Absolutely beautiful and realistic illustrations.
March 7, 2010
(Coretta Scott King Award Winner)
Grade Range: Primary through Intermediate (depending upon use).
Found in the primary sections of most libraries, the reading level is appropriate for third to sixth graders. Younger children will understand the story read aloud as long as they have some background knowledge of the Civil Rights era.
Young Jolie is scared when a white teacher comes to town to teach, especially since young Annie, only 19 years old, will be living with Jolie's family! Those fears grow when ignorant racists throw a brick through their window the very night the freedom school teacher arrives. Fear turns to terror that keep many people away, when the night before school begins, the racists burn down the church where the school was supposed to be held.
However, this does not stop the Freedom School! Meeting under a huge hickory tree, Teacher Annie opens up the world to the people who do come and changes their lives forever by teaching them the power of education.
Illustrator Floyd Cooper's artwork really captures the emotions of the characters well.
A bonus! Author Amy Littlesugar includes a bibliography for those who wish to study the Mississippi Summer Project in greater depth. This would be a fantastic history project for older students.
Grade Range: Primary through Intermediate (depending upon use).
Found in the primary sections of most libraries, the reading level is appropriate for third to sixth graders. Younger children will understand the story read aloud as long as they have some background knowledge of the Civil Rights era.
Young Jolie is scared when a white teacher comes to town to teach, especially since young Annie, only 19 years old, will be living with Jolie's family! Those fears grow when ignorant racists throw a brick through their window the very night the freedom school teacher arrives. Fear turns to terror that keep many people away, when the night before school begins, the racists burn down the church where the school was supposed to be held.
However, this does not stop the Freedom School! Meeting under a huge hickory tree, Teacher Annie opens up the world to the people who do come and changes their lives forever by teaching them the power of education.
Illustrator Floyd Cooper's artwork really captures the emotions of the characters well.
A bonus! Author Amy Littlesugar includes a bibliography for those who wish to study the Mississippi Summer Project in greater depth. This would be a fantastic history project for older students.
August 25, 2008
This book would be classified as historical fiction. It is based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project.
In this book, a little girl named Jolie and her family let the Freedom School teacher come and stay in their house. The night the teacher arrives, a brick was thrown at a window with a note attached to it that read, "Freedom School Teacher-Get out or else!" The night before school started, people burned down the school. This did not make anyone give up. They held school under a tree.
I think this book would be best to read to grades 1-6. It teaches a lot of lessons. If you wanted to talk about bravery, standing up for what you believe, value of education, and not giving up. You could talk about brown vs. board, and if you are in Topeka, you could take your class on a field trip to Monroe Elementary. I would read this book first to the class and talk about what happened.
You could have the class (depending on what grade you teach) write down a time when they either stood up for something they believed, when they had to be brave, or a time when they did not give up.
In this book, a little girl named Jolie and her family let the Freedom School teacher come and stay in their house. The night the teacher arrives, a brick was thrown at a window with a note attached to it that read, "Freedom School Teacher-Get out or else!" The night before school started, people burned down the school. This did not make anyone give up. They held school under a tree.
I think this book would be best to read to grades 1-6. It teaches a lot of lessons. If you wanted to talk about bravery, standing up for what you believe, value of education, and not giving up. You could talk about brown vs. board, and if you are in Topeka, you could take your class on a field trip to Monroe Elementary. I would read this book first to the class and talk about what happened.
You could have the class (depending on what grade you teach) write down a time when they either stood up for something they believed, when they had to be brave, or a time when they did not give up.
October 20, 2014
This book would be classified as historical fiction. It is based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project. This story was a about a little girl Jolie and her family that take in a teacher from the Freedom School. The night she gets there a brick was thrown through the window that read "Freedom School Teacher-Get out or else!" Also the night before school was to start the school was burned down but that did not stop the school from being in session. They held school underneath a tree.
This book would be good for grades 2-6 and can be used to examine various issues. Bravery, value of education, Brown vs. the Board of Education could all be examined through this book. I would use this book as an interdisciplinary context the relate reading to social studies. In the classroom, you can have you children act out the book and then write about a time where they felt brave. Another activity is to have the students write letters to the school telling them how they feel about the situation. You could use this book to address the struggles black people had to overcome in the past to achieve equality in education. Great book for diversity.
This book would be good for grades 2-6 and can be used to examine various issues. Bravery, value of education, Brown vs. the Board of Education could all be examined through this book. I would use this book as an interdisciplinary context the relate reading to social studies. In the classroom, you can have you children act out the book and then write about a time where they felt brave. Another activity is to have the students write letters to the school telling them how they feel about the situation. You could use this book to address the struggles black people had to overcome in the past to achieve equality in education. Great book for diversity.
November 1, 2009
Summary-
Freedom School, Yes! was intended for elementary school students. In 1964 there were some areas in Mississippi where the civil rights of black people had not been granted. Therefore, many volunteers went to Mississippi to provide education to black children and adults.
In this story a young girl, Jolie, is afraid because a new school teacher, Annie, moved to town and came to live with Jolie's family. As soon as the Freedom School teacher moved in vandalism began to occur. Bricks are thrown through Jolie's family's window and the church/school is burned down. With the destruction of the church, people think Freedom School would not go on meeting, but Annie didn't let it get in her way. She began leading the school under a tree. Jolie and many others learned many new things from her. When the new school is built people went on to protect it every night, and one night Annie stands guard and Jolie fears that she will be hurt. Jolie runs there to protect Annie in case of vandalism and then she realizes how important Freedom School is to her.
Freedom School, Yes! was intended for elementary school students. In 1964 there were some areas in Mississippi where the civil rights of black people had not been granted. Therefore, many volunteers went to Mississippi to provide education to black children and adults.
In this story a young girl, Jolie, is afraid because a new school teacher, Annie, moved to town and came to live with Jolie's family. As soon as the Freedom School teacher moved in vandalism began to occur. Bricks are thrown through Jolie's family's window and the church/school is burned down. With the destruction of the church, people think Freedom School would not go on meeting, but Annie didn't let it get in her way. She began leading the school under a tree. Jolie and many others learned many new things from her. When the new school is built people went on to protect it every night, and one night Annie stands guard and Jolie fears that she will be hurt. Jolie runs there to protect Annie in case of vandalism and then she realizes how important Freedom School is to her.
April 24, 2018
Freedom School, Yes! is set in the 1960s and is about a school opening in the south to teach African Americans. The book is good for children because even though it is fiction it shows the struggles
African Americans went through at the time. The story is realistic fiction because the story characters are not real, but the but it explains the book explains the struggles of the Freedom School. The illustrations did a good job of depicting the struggle of the time. The artistic style used is realism because the illustrations are realistic.
African Americans went through at the time. The story is realistic fiction because the story characters are not real, but the but it explains the book explains the struggles of the Freedom School. The illustrations did a good job of depicting the struggle of the time. The artistic style used is realism because the illustrations are realistic.
February 21, 2016
I shared this book with my 5th grade students, and they enjoyed it. The illustrations, along with the text, are powerful in their ability to convey the mood and strong emotional weight of this story. The setting is a small town in Mississippi during the summer of 1964. Jolie's family has agreed to host Annie, a 19-year-old girl from the North who has come to teach in the Freedom School. Even before classes begin, someone has thrown a rock and a hateful note through the front window of Jolie's house. Then someone burns the church where the Freedom School classes are to be taught. Undeterred, the Freedom School is held outside under a hickory tree while a new church can be built. One of the things my students appreciated most was the determination of Jolie and her family to make sure the Freedom School would happen no matter what the haters in their community said or did.
November 4, 2009
Taken from Goodreads review above:
"Jolie has a lot to be scared about since the new Freedom School teacher, Annie, came to town. Bricks thrown through windows in the dead of night, notes filled with hate, and now a fire has burnt down the church where Annie was supposed to start teaching tomorrow! Without the church, how can she possibly teach Jolie and the other townspeople about black poets and artists, historians and inventors? Unless the people themselves fight back.
In this triumphant story based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project, Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper come together to celebrate the strength of a people, and the bravery of one young girl who didn't let being scared get in her way."
Grades 2-5
"Jolie has a lot to be scared about since the new Freedom School teacher, Annie, came to town. Bricks thrown through windows in the dead of night, notes filled with hate, and now a fire has burnt down the church where Annie was supposed to start teaching tomorrow! Without the church, how can she possibly teach Jolie and the other townspeople about black poets and artists, historians and inventors? Unless the people themselves fight back.
In this triumphant story based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project, Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper come together to celebrate the strength of a people, and the bravery of one young girl who didn't let being scared get in her way."
Grades 2-5
October 31, 2013
Illustrator: Floyd Cooper
Word Count: 1,584
Reading Level: 3.4
Interest Level: P-2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 3.4 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 46498 (05/10/01) / grade: Lower Grades
Reading Counts!: reading level:3.5 / points:3.0
Lexile: 390L
This book is about a young girl named Jolie who's life changed when a new Freedom School teacher named Annie came to town. People threw bricks through her window in the middle of the night, sent hate mail, and burned down the church Annie was supposed to teach at. The only way Annie would be able to teach Jolie and the rest of the town about black history is if they fought back themselves. This book would be great to teach a lesson on the fight for civil rights and the harshness African Americans had to deal with during this period.
Word Count: 1,584
Reading Level: 3.4
Interest Level: P-2
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 3.4 / points: 0.5 / quiz: 46498 (05/10/01) / grade: Lower Grades
Reading Counts!: reading level:3.5 / points:3.0
Lexile: 390L
This book is about a young girl named Jolie who's life changed when a new Freedom School teacher named Annie came to town. People threw bricks through her window in the middle of the night, sent hate mail, and burned down the church Annie was supposed to teach at. The only way Annie would be able to teach Jolie and the rest of the town about black history is if they fought back themselves. This book would be great to teach a lesson on the fight for civil rights and the harshness African Americans had to deal with during this period.
April 11, 2012
Annie is the new school teacher who has come to town to teach at the Freedom School. Townspeople are furious about her coming to teach and have acted with hatred against her by throwing bricks through her window, burning down the church, and sending her hate notes.
This is a story that is based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project. Freedom School, Yes! is great to read to the class during Black History month or when talking about history. This could be tied in to different writing activities or class discussions.
This is a story that is based on the 1964 Mississippi Freedom School Summer Project. Freedom School, Yes! is great to read to the class during Black History month or when talking about history. This could be tied in to different writing activities or class discussions.
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December 2, 2014This book is a touching story of a girl's struggle to cope with the hate in her community. As young Jolie looks forward to her new freedom school starting, she is faced with a hate crime that inhibits the ability for her and her peers to learn as pupils. The illustrations lack detail, but manage to capture the emotions that are felt. Based on actual events, this story presumptuously places the tone in a rather dark area. A lengthy read for a beginner, but educational, and heart-warming all the same.
February 29, 2016
This is a great story to have your children be introduced to the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project. This helped to change the lives of so many black families. So many volunteers both black and white helped to put this project in motion and it was a risk well worth it. I am grateful for this book and am glad I was able to share this with my family.
September 30, 2010
A wonderful story about the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project told through a nine-year-old's perspective. Also includes an author's note about this project. Good for teaching black history.
(Picture Book)
(Picture Book)
December 3, 2013
An important book for those struggling with wanting to go to school. It hasn't always been an option for everyone.
Also I was not aware the schools like this existed. An important historical memory.
Also I was not aware the schools like this existed. An important historical memory.
February 5, 2009
i enjoyed reading this book it was a very touching story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews