Round and Round Together: Taking a Merry-Go-Round Ride Into the Civil Rights Movement [ROUND & ROUND TOGETHER] [Paperback]

by Amy Nathan

Excellent Book

Paperback

First published August 1, 2011

About the author

My books cover a wide range of topics, from women's history to dance to allowances to how to make practicing a musical instrument — or doing homework — less of a hassle.

However, all my books have something in common: They introduce you to amazing people whose stories have inspired me and, I hope, will spur you to keep following your dreams, no matter what kinds of obstacles may pop up from time to time that may seem to block your way. These people found ways around the obstacles they encountered. They all have fascinating stories to tell. I'm glad to have had a chance to get to know them so I can share their stories and ideas with you through my books.

With many of the people I write about, I was lucky enough to be able to interview them. I love interviewing people, speaking with them to find out more about what they like to do, how they've handled the different challenges they've faced in their lives, and what advice they have for kids today. I also love reading about people who lived long ago, something I did for COUNT ON US, which tells the story of women who pitched in to defend the nation from the Revolutionary War on. As a kid growing up in Baltimore, my favorite books were biographies and historical fiction. I remember walking down to my neighborhood branch library every week during the summers after fifth, sixth and seventh grades, to check out yet another biography. I also enjoyed seeing plays as a kid, and acting in them too sometimes, which is another great way to see the world from another person’s point of view.

I've learned so much from the people I've written about in my books. I hope their stories — and the advice they have for young people — will help you with challenges you might face. Such people as:

** Astonishing dancers from top ballet and modern dance companies, several of whom didn’t have the stereotypical classical ballet body type, but who still managed to find their way to in the world of dance (you can find out about them in MEET THE DANCERS);
** Outstanding musicians of the New York Philharmonic who, amazingly enough, didn't always like to practice when they were kids and have advice for kids today who may feel that way, too (MEET THE MUSICIANS);
** Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and other classical and jazz soloists, many of whom took a while as kids to get into the groove of regular practicing until they discovered for themselves the joy and the fun of music-making (THE YOUNG MUSICIAN'S SURVIVAL GUIDE);
** Gutsy female pilots who flew fighter planes for the Army in World War II when that was definitely not something most people thought a woman should do (YANKEE DOODLE GALS & COUNT ON US);
** A courageous young woman who stood up for her rights at a lonely bus stop in North Carolina back in the summer of 1952, doing her part in the face of grave danger to help bring about the end of the Jim Crow era (TAKE A SEAT-MAKE A STAND);
** Some mighty clever kids who found ways to make homework less of a chore and uncovered the secret to getting a raise in their allowance THE KIDS' ALLOWANCE BOOK & SURVIVING HOMEWORK).

Reviews

[Jennie Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember Hairspray? The real, original John Waters movie, not the good for all time zones play and film. Remember the amusement park desegregation? Well, that was real. This is that story.

There are other stories mentioned, like the Glen Echo Carousel protest, which was my original reason for buying this book.

The book is written factual, yet non-scary way.

Segregation is always wrong, yet I feel like the kind of people who would keep children off of toys, or out of pools are a particularly heinous brand of evil. I can't even......

[Claire Cabral · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book was very informative, it was very repetitive. I enjoyed learning about the movement itself but the book really was quite boring. I do recommend reading the book for its history, but I wouldn’t reread it again.

[Kaylee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a nonfiction title and was very informative about the events during the fight for equality. But if you are looking for an action packed, interesting, two sided story this book is not for you. It has good information, but I found it to be one sided. Most of the people portrayed in the book are heroic and we never hear first accounts of the people who are portrayed as negative, even the villains per say. It is quite boring, and often had the same events with different wording over and over. If you are looking for a book that is for fun, it may not be the the best choice. But if you are looking for a school project resource or to learn more about the event, you may consider it.

[Lacey Louwagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, thorough documentation of the ten-year struggle to integrate Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, Maryland, examining the context through which that integration happened. The stories about the hatred and prejudice toward Black Americans are harrowing and depressing, especially because I know there are still people who hold such views, although many of them have learned to be a bit more quiet. The courage of these civil rights activists was amazing, and it gives perspective on many of the current civil rights battles we are fighting, particularly for the rights of LGBTQ individuals.