The Freedom Summer Murders

by Don Mitchell

A gripping true story of murder and the fight for civil rights and social justice in 1960s Mississppi. On June 21, 1964, three young men were killed by the Ku Klux Klan for trying to help black Americans vote as part of the 1964 Fredom Summer registration effort in Mississippi. The disappearance and brutal murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner caused a national uproar and was one of the most significant events of the civil rights movement. The Freedom Summer Murders tells the tragic story of these brave men, the crime that resulted in their untimely deaths, and the relentless forty-one-year pursuit of a conviction. It is the story of idealistic and courageous young people who wanted to change their county for the better. It is the story of black and white. And ultimately, it is the story of our nation's endless struggle to close the gap between what is and what should be.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Historical, Crime, Biography, Race

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2014

Reviews

[Mackenzie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Freedom Summer Murders was a very deep and eye-opening book. It starts right off by informing you what happened to those three men during that summer. But trust me when I say that you will not expect what they tell you about those murders. I'm not going to go into details of what happened because it would ruin it for you. I will say that 97% of the time I was either mad or frustrated at the events and reasonings in the book. I couldn't, still can't, and won't ever be able to wrap my head around why those murderers did what they did. But on the other hand, I felt like this book was a very important one because of the lessons that need to be taught. Equality should not be a crime.

There was a paragraph in the book that was so true I needed to include it in here. It states, "If James Chaney, a black man, was the only person who turned up missing in Neshoba County in June 1964 under suspicious circumstances, it probably would have received little, if any, media attention outside of Mississippi. But because two of the men were white and from New York City, it became not only a major New York City story but a national story as well." This is just a tiny sliver of how society was back then. I am not going to say anymore about the book. I just recommend it to anyone who likes the type of books that have an important message behind it and to anyone who wants to learn about what happened in the summer of 1964.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Many people feel that this country is not yet at the place where the killing of a black mother’s son is as important as the killing of a white mother’s son. But the United States is closer to that goal than it was in 1964.” In the wake of tragic events across the country, from the Trayvon Martin case to that of the riots in Ferguson, MO, Mitchell’s biography could not come at a more important time. Thoroughly researched and organized in a fast-paced rea, interwoven with photos and other primary documents, the book documents the lives of three young men in their early twenties (2 white, 1 black), from diverse backgrounds, who were victims of the KKK while volunteering as teachers and community organizers in Mississippi during the 1964 Freedom Summer movement. Many students will be familiar with the civil rights movement and the icons and organizations involved. However, this story delves deeper into lesser known but just as significant individuals whose legacy continues to impact our laws and society today. In fact, this story’s connection between the past and present, concluding with a trial in 2005, is what makes this story uniquely appealing to contemporary audiences. Perfect for teens interested in everything from activism and community service to readers with a taste for mystery and true crime. Note of local interest: Oxford, OH is an important setting in the books, as a training site for what was then known as Western College for Women; WCW later merged with Miami University, where the author also studied. Highly Recommended Purchase – Middle/High School

[Damien Goodwin]

Really Really good book, especially for people who like history or other Crime/Murder books.

[Audrey Burt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely, terribly, atrociously boring. I gave it a 2 because I didn't want to seem disrespectful towards the men who died or toward the person who wrote this book. But really, it was like an essay. It was just a load of information while my other classmates were getting a novel, an actual story. Total waste of time, but I'd definitely learn about the story in some other way (besides this book)

[Anna Orsini · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I am so glad that there is an account of these murders for young readers. We need our kids reading far more literature pertaining to race and civil rights. That said, there were a few things I didn't love about this book. The sentence structures were simple, as was the language. It read more like a biography/nonfiction book I'd expect to see a fourth grader reading rather than a middle schooler. Throughout the book, I felt like I was learning a lot of facts, but I was not moved emotionally very much. With a story like this, it seems more could have been done to make it personal. Overall, I'm glad I read it, and I will encourage my students to read it as well, but I will still search for more personal, critical writing from or about the Civil Rights era.

[Nevan Malwana · Rating 2 out of 5]

As famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The time is always right, to do what is right.” These words of wisdom reflect the journey for a better world in the nonfiction thriller, The Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell. In a time where people were judged on the color of their skin, it took courage to stand up to this age old system. James Earl Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman were three men who saw the injustices in society and stood up to make a change. These three men channel the virtues that all of us should carry with us today: courage, passion, and perseverance. The three men head to Mississippi to assist in a program known as the “Freedom Summer,” a program to bring suffrage to people of color. Then the plot thickens as the men are reported missing, and soon after dead. Follow the investigation of a century to bring justice to three men who wanted to see a better world. This is a great page-turner that I recommend to all, especially those who want a break from monotone non-fiction.
Many hold a brazen point of view when it comes to non-fiction as it being a boring, monotone summary of a happening, but Mitchell shatters that mold bringing an intense novel on an excellent subject. The story unfolds with introduction of the three main protagonists. These men for the most part are pretty average, from humble backgrounds. They all come together and connect one hot summer in Mississippi. In Mississippi, civil rights leaders were organizing a movement known as the “freedom summer”. The freedom summer project had one goal in mind… gain black suffrage. Unfortunately for these men, that was the last thing the people of Mississippi and the KKK were willing to give up. Soon the men are reported missing, with seemingly not a trace of their disappearance. After investigators pick up on the trail, the men’s bodies are found in horrific condition, and all the signs point to murder. From that point on the book turns into a fast paced investigation to bring justice, and find the killer before it’s too late.
The characters in the book, Andrew Goodman, James Earl Chaney, and Michael Schwerner, are three very unique characters. All of the men, although from similar backgrounds, display much of the same traits. All of the men are courageous, as well as passionate. In fact they put their passion of civil rights even in front of the judgement of the ones they love. While not all people hold their beliefs this high, I imagine that some would find this trait relatable. Antagonising characters such as Police Chief Cecil Price are given characteristics that infuriate the reader, and overall make those characters seem like unlikable people. The author’s descriptions and background information of the characters help the reader better understand not only why the protagonists put themselves in danger for their cause, but also why antagonists acted in the bigoted way they did.
Throughout the novel there is one outlying theme, which is defend what you think to be right. Basically from the start the author introduces this theme as he gives the reader background on the heroic journey the main characters have to take, to the point of losing their lives. The author reiterates this throughout the novel telling how even when their lives were in the most danger, they would not back away from the challenge. Finally the author at the end reinstates that the characters impact and legacy will live on forever, due to their persistence defending what they sought to be just.
Mitchell’s tone throughout the novel is for the most part formal. However he focuses more on the informational aspect of a formal tone than the solem aspect. While his tone is not upbeat, it also is not as serious as one would expect for this grave of a topic. With this tone I found the author to be very effective at getting his point across. He did not use humor, or colloquial language, and kept composed in his writing with the primary goal of informing his audience. This formal tone comes especially in handy when the author is describing legal scenes, as the author is able to stay serious about his topic, and not show any partiality.
The conflict of this story is a very interesting concept. For many stories similar to this, the conflict is often the main character’s murder, with a lot of rising action building to that point. However, this book starts right away with announcing that the main characters ended up dead. This led to the new conflict being completely focused on who the killer was, and bringing him to justice. There are both pros and cons to this writing. By writing like this the author does lose the potential to build up some drama leading up to the murder of the men. However, by starting his book like this, Mitchell is able to focus on the conflict he wants to zero in on, which is the investigation of the murders. This story's conflict also is rather intriguing as it stretches the resolution to the plot over a period of forty years, which is rather uncommon for many books.
In summary, the Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell, is a very fast-paced, intriguing book. The novel has an excellent plot, which not only thoroughly develops the characterization of the protagonists but also the antagonists. There is also a solemn theme: defend what you think is right, in this case to the point of death. This theme is reiterated throughout the novel and is very clear to the reader. The tone the author chooses allows the author to be serious and impartial, and quickly get out the information needed. Perhaps, the best part of the book however, is its unique approach to the conflict. Instead of building up to the murders of the main characters, the author jumps straight into it focusing on the investigation aspect of the story. This is an excellent novel for those who want a historical thriller with a unique setup.

[Adriana Osorio · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is quite an eye opener to America’s segregated history. The Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell focuses around James Chaney, Andy Goodman, and Mickey Schwerner. The three good men all bonded and knew each other by working towards a progressing society and attaining civil rights for Blacks in Mississippi. Three good men who wanted what was best for people in the USA. Three good men who were compassionate and considerate people and well known for being caring. Three good men who died early deaths that were in vain thanks to the KKK and racist America. Freedom Summer Murders brings insight to some real terrors Blacks faced in the South and the degree of corruption there was in the country at the time.
This book and its characters seemed so surreal due to the shock factor and how cruel the people in Neshoba County could be. Officers committed horrifying crimes and national politicians supported racism. So many racists just let Black mothers cry night and day because of their lost loved ones, but everything just slid by for the most part. One of the best people in this book truly was James’s mother, Fannie Lee Chaney. She refused to let her son’s death not mean anything and demanded justice be brought to her son. My favorite part of the book is the beginning where the story starts off at a good pace and keeps the reader engaged. The author tried his best to describe all the good qualities of James, Andy, and Mickey and the reader acknowledges these men as heroines who were innocent. The way this book was written helps the reader understand how characters felt during this time; from the slow, peaceful, and happy childhood of the three men to waiting such a long and frustrating time to even receive some justice after the terrible crime committed upon the three men.
Freedom Summer was okay to read. I did not have amazingly high hopes for it when I started out and my view on it being average didn’t change once I finished reading it. The book did not have as many layers I would have liked or as much emotion embedded into it as it should have. The death of James, Andy, and Mickey should have been devastating, but it seemed more like a private matter within a country that did not care about its people.The US did not care enough about bringing justice to the 3 men and thousands of other blacks being abused in the country or enough to face the fact that awful things were happening to minorities in the country and this book could have greatly emphasized on it instead of seeming to be straight facts.
The main reason this book has a 2 star rating is because of the lack of emotion that should have been present through the entire book. Facts are important, but so is bringing out why these 3 mattered so much. I would not recommend this book to others because there is most certainly a book that better describes the story of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Such an important part of the civil rights movement deserves a better tribute.

[Rachel Pool · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book The Freedom Summer Murders, the reader learns about the murders of three civil rights workers by the Klu Klux Klan that took place in the summer of 1964. Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner, all in their twenties, were the victims. The background leading up to the murders is described in the beginning. Then, the crime is depicted, which attests to the brutality of the Klu Klux Klan. Following this, the lives of the victims are recounted. One reads of the events that occured after the murders, how the country reacted, and the outcomes of the trials that were held. It is a book that rings with truth, justice, and the determination of the civil rights worker to create freedom for all American citizens in the mid-1900’s.
This book had many aspects that I like about it. The book was to the point, never veering off track to another topic. It helped me realize how terrible conditions were for black people throughout the history of the United States; many times today general statements are said with little explanation of the trials black people endured. The book informs readers of a specific murder case that can give people perspective of the society back then. The book shows the strength and endurance of civil rights workers throughout this time. It conveys the vile, ugly hate that the Klu Klux Klan had towards black people and those who tried to help them. It’s an amazing eye-opener to the courage that many Americans had to create equality in the sixties and the hatred that many other Americans had for their fellow citizens.
One of the aspects I disliked was that the book was monotone for many parts. This is due to it being a nonfiction book. I usually know how characters feel on the inside when I read a fiction novel, but in this book only the events that occurred and what people said over the issues are described. It’s a different style of writing, and I don’t find it entertaining. I also dislike the author’s choice on how to organize the information. It surprised me when the events of the murder were over in the first few chapters, and then the lives of the victims were described; I felt that the book was out of order. I believe that it would have been better to write of the victims’ lives, then the crime, and then the events that followed.
I give this book four stars because it is interesting to read about the murders of these three young men and it is written well. The author presented strong arguments discussing the evil of racists and the strength of those willing to fight for justice. It keeps the memory of the three civil rights workers alive, reminding people today how terrible society was in the sixties. This book is missing a star because I didn’t enjoy reading this book. It was okay, but it didn’t have a plot that had me dying to turn each page like in a fiction novel. I would recommend this to someone who wants to learn more about United States history, but not to someone who’s looking for a book to read for fun.

[Anaya Abtidon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Freedom Summer Murders, by Don Mitchell, is about the murders of three young men in Neshoba County Mississippi. This novel is told during the civil rights and segregation times. Mitchell talks about three young men; James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Andrew Schwerner, during the summer of 1964. These men were civil rights workers, two of were white and one was black. These three men went to Neshoba County as civil rights workers to work at Freedom Summer. One night these men got pulled over by the police and were shot.The novel then talks about the investigation of the three missing men who were later found dead in the summer of 1964. Throughout the novel the investigation of the three deceased men were discussed over the course of forty years.
In the novel it felt as if you were experiencing what these people had felt emotionally and mentally. The characters felt real, you could feel the emotions they were feeling, you could experience the tragic and mournful events the characters were dealing with. This novel was a very emotional story, it was so sad to hear the speeches of their loved ones, to hear the lies, and to feel the discrimination against the black community. This was a gripping novel, it makes you want to keep turning the page, and hear more of the story. When you read it, you physically want to be apart of it, witnessing it, and having your voice heard as well.
Even though this was a good book there was aspects of the story that I did not like. I felt that the book did not focus on the racial profiling. If someone were to read this novel and they did not know anything about the civil rights times they would be confused on what is going on. Also some of the main characters like the sheriff and deputy should have had chapters or sections talking about their life. Also I did not like the fact that Edgar Ray Killen was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder, but that is not up to the author to depict.
Overall this was a very good book, it is something you want to keep reading. I give this book a five star rating. It gave good background information, and character background. The book was an easy book to read and was very comprehendible. I enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about the civil rights movements and also to anyone who just wants to read a good novel.

[Claire Almaraz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book begins with the setting. The Freedom Summer Murders takes place in “Mississippi, like other southern states, operated under a policy of segregation, which meant keeping the white and black races separate” (Mitchell 3). The main characters in the piece, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael “Mickey” Schwerner, all want to be civil rights activists for the blacks. They formed a close bond and will soon come together for the first time.
In this book, there are three main characters. What I liked about it was that there was a different chapter about each individual. For instance, Chapter 2 was about Andrew Goodman. Including facts about Andrew Goodman made the book more interesting too. This chapter says that “Andrew Goodman was born in New York City on November 23, 1943” (Mitchell 36). The facts stated in this book are very helpful to aid in the process of knowing what is happening. Something else that caught my attention was all of the photographs of the men and posters that were usually seen in those times. My favorite parts of the book were when most of the action and tension took place. Rita Schwerner is Mickey Schwerner’s wife. After Mickey and his friends went missing, several investigations were taking place to find the lost men. At one point “as they drove away from Philadelphia, Rita’s car was pelted with rocks and bottles and they were almost driven off the road by other vehicles” (Mitchell 109”). Those very intense moments really
caught my eye in this selection. It just shows how racially segregated people were in those times.
This book was an overall good book and demonstrated a well thought out idea of racial discrimination and wrong-doing. The mini biographies of each person talked about in the book can spark some confusion here and there. The facts were very helpful but too much information about several people at once wouldn’t be a good way to get a point across. The malicious acts in this book did not catch my attention as I originally thought it would.
The Freedom Summer Murders is a good read. I recommend it to people who are interested in reading about the Ku Klux Klan and segregation. I did enjoy reading this book, and all in all I give it a 3 star rating. The book had a good message but it also had some flaws to the themes. It needs more work in explaining stories in an understandable matter.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book “The Freedom Summer Murders” by Don Mitchell, the author writes about the famous “disappearance” of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. He explains how they were risking their lives in attempt to introduce change to the racist state of Mississippi even after being harassed on a daily basis and receiving several threats, that they constantly had to go through during their time living there in 1964. He also writes about the tension the case had brought to the whole nation when their story had first appeared to the public.
As someone who enjoys learning about history, reading this book is a great option if you want to dig deeper towards the case. It is very informative and helps grasp a better understanding of the characters and the political climate during that time period. As I continued reading the book, I gained a deep emotional connection with several of the very detailed moments included in the book. Some moments like when they found the dead bodies of the three men and the funerals held for them made me develop a huge flow of tears, but still made me want to continue reading the book.
Although I absolutely think this book is great, I have some complaints on it. I personally think that the characters shouldn’t have had an individual chapter about their life included in the book. Yes, it is a great idea to give people some more background knowledge of the characters early life, but that shouldn’t have been dove into too much in the book. Instead, he could have written a separate book on the characters lives where he could have been more informative about their lives and focused on that more.
Although I had a disagreements on how the book was organized, i would have to rate it a 4 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy reading about historical moments, this book is for you. It contains several facts that I did not know until I read the book and would think others would enjoy learning about too. I think anyone can develop an emotional connection with this book and can develop a love for how the author decided to explain the important historical event.

[Gaby Pfleger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book, Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell, shares the story of the three young men who were murdered on June 21, 1964 because they all had one common goal; to gain freedom for African American people. The book starts off explaining the early lives of the individuals and how the way they were raised affected how they lived their adult lives. The book then goes on the tell readers about the search for Goodman, Chaney, and Schwerner. As well as trying to figure out who killed these men. The author also goes into detail about how family, friends, and most of America mourned the death of these men.
There are many things that I enjoy about this book. For example, Mitchell went into strong detail about the early lives of the men, helping readers to feel as if we know them. Mitchell also highlighted the many positive things these men did for the African American community. Even though Goodman and Schwerner did not “fit into” the African American community because they were white, the people of the African American communities welcomed their help with open arms. I also enjoyed the pictures, that helped me to see a more in depth description of what happened. This story kept me turning pages wanting to reach the end as quickly as possible.
Overall, there were not many things I disliked about this book. I do feel as though, that the author could have focused more on a specific main topic rather than giving readers many smaller topics to focus on. Some parts of this story were a bit too scary for my liking, but it was the reality for many people and Mitchell explained it well.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars . Don Mitchell did a wonderful job of explaining a cruel piece of American history. I enjoyed almost every bit of this book. I would definitely recommend this book to history buff looking for a mysterious page-turner.

[Hannah Fattig]

The Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell is a nonfiction book that informs the reader about the murder of three civil rights activists in the summer of 1964. The story takes place in Neshoba County, Philadelphia. Three activists, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, left to work on a freedom school during the summer along with a few more activists. One night the three men drive to Meridian to talk to a few victims about an earlier attack from the Ku Klux Klan. At the end of the day, driving back to join the other activists, they experience a series of events that set them up for their abduction and murder. The book continues to talk about the lives of these three men and the murder as well.
I like how this nonfiction novel informed me about each main character as well as providing their backstories. It doesn’t just talk about the murder, but it also includes life during the civil rights movement and how hard it was. I was surprised about the scene with the cop at the beginning of the book. The Freedom Summer Murders was definitely a sadder book just because knowing that life used to be that way and there was so much inequality, that just makes me sad.
One thing i did not necessarily like about the book was how short the murder scene was at first and how it didn’t get that deep at first. The book kind of just jumped right into what happened and took a big rewind back to the boys’ life stories. I did not like how life was back then, and how unfair it was. This wasn’t the authors fault, but just something i don’t like in general.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The author did a good job going into depth with the characters, but at times I got a little lost. I would recommend this book to somebody trying to gain knowledge on this event in history.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a powerfully told story about the Civil Rights era. During the Freedom Summer of 1964 when several groups were working to obtain voting rights for blacks throughout the south, three young men disappeared. Mitchell explains the circumstances surrounding their disappearance before giving a brief biography of each of the three young men, two white and one black. Even in death there was great bigotry. The two white young men were shot, the black young man was severely beaten and probably dead before he was shot. The author then shares the events leading to the discovery of their bodies and the trials and memorials connected to their deaths.

This story illustrates in a sickening way the circumstances existing in the South during the 1960s and long before. The sad thing is, that it's apparent from the get go that if two of the three hadn't been white, the case would not have drawn the attention that it did. The KKK did so much harm to so many and yet was so rarely brought to justice. Once again that is illustrated here. The main instigator was let go until 2005 when he was finally convicted yet even then he was only convicted of manslaughter rather than murder which it so clearly was.. And many of the others got off with just a few years in prison.

One of the things that stuck with me the most is a statement made by the author, "Many people feel that this country is not yet at the place where the killing of a black mother's son is as important as the killing of a white mother's son. But the United States is closer to that goal than it was in 1964." (pg. 183)

I hope that we keep moving forward toward the day when as the author says the killing of a black mother's son is a tragedy equal to the killing of a white mother's son.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1964, two young white men (civil rights workers), headed down to Mississippi from New York to help register black people to vote. Andy Goodwin and Mickey Schwerner, along with a 21-year old black man, James Chaney, were murdered by local KKK (including local law enforcement). It made headlines throughout the U.S.

It's scary to read about the kinds of things that were happening in the South at the time; apparently Mississippi was the worst place to be. At the same time, it's heartwarming to read about the civil rights workers who went there, knowing what it might be like and that they were putting their lives at risk, to do the right thing. If they were all black men, it would never have made headlines like it did. It took years to bring some of the men who committed the murders to justice. This book also looked at little bit at the lives of the three men, in general, and what brought them to where they were. As this book is apparently marketed toward young adults, it was a quick read and it was populated with many photos of the people involved, their families, and the events.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I am doing this book review on is “The Freedom Summer Murders”. The author of this book is Don Mitchell. I think that you should read it because it talks a lot about slavery and what happened with slavery back in the 1960’s and up to the 1980’s. It talks about what most whites said to the blacks if they passed them on the street or the sidewalk and stuff. Whites yelled bad words, they were racist towards the blacks and more. At most times whites called the blacks the N word. And if a white saw a white guy or white girl next to a black, people would yell the N word and lover. There were cars back then as well, not many, but some. There would be fights between whites and blacks that would sometimes lead to death or arrests. Even white cops would take things into their own hands and arrest the blacks for no reason and sometimes even kill them for no reason.

[BriannaEA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Freedom Summer Murders by Don Mitchell, published in 2014, is a non-fiction, historical book. I, personally didn't like the book very much. There were three main characters, the three who were murdered, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Micheal Schwerner. It doesn't go into much detail on their personality. The entire book goes on about them being murdered. How it happened, the case, the theories, etc. It was all from the Civil Rights Movement time period. It was all very dry to me, though I would recommend it to anyone who is doing research on, or is extremely curious about, freedom summer. The text is structured to talk about the victims lives, freedom summer, how the men were found, theories, the court case/trial, and finally witness and investigator tellings.

[Lori Hoegler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Freedom Summer Murders briefly outlines the turbulent 1960's U.S. civil rights movement in the Deep South. s. This book highlights the horrific murder of 3 civil rights workers by the local Ku Klux Klan. The story of the three young men murdered in this story inspired the movie "Mississippi Burning" as well as other documentary films and book. Sadly, it was somewhat disjointed and the author failed to capture my complete attention and empathy for the victims. The first couple of chapters read like a poor sixth-grade history report(sorry sixth graders), and slowly built interest in a tragic story too important not to be told well.

[Maya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful and perfect for middle school children. The details helped to refresh my memory of individuals on both sides. Often time I find it challenging to keep up with the Civil Rights Movement because there are so many prominent people involved as well as the lesser known individuals whose stories are not often told. The book also puts in perspective what the civil rights story was in Mississippi because it is often clumped together with other southern states.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent account of the brutal murders of Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner in Mississippi. I particularly like how Mitchell emphasizes the selfless devotion of these young men to the cause they passionately believed in and their incredible courage to work for it under extremely dangerous conditions.

[Alexandro Sanchez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, not the greatest but it was good. The great big mistake that was made is that it was pretty much the same story just from different perspectives. This made every story predictable and I knew what would happen throughout the chapter. How ever it was still good and very descriptive on what was happening.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read; not because of the author's style of writing but because of the content. It is hard to read about such hatred and corruption. This is a good summary of what happened with the murders of Civil Rights workers in Mississippi and is an excellent choice if you're looking to read something this month in honor of Black History Month.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant, clearly-written, and important - hard to believe this was only fifty years ago.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This put a very human face on the three young men who were killed that summer of 1964. Very powerful.

[Kim Bahr · Rating 5 out of 5]

The movie Mississippi Burning had a huge impact on me. This book provided some background on what happened during a significant event in our nation's history.

[Sondra LaPointe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully writing book providing both primary images and first-hand accounts, made it a very hard book to put down.

[Owen Norcross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its not you book its me.

[sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was very eye opening and a strong message but it was written in the most boring way possible and i had to read it for school

[Easlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly important piece of American history, this book presented the information in a way that was easy to digest and understand while still feeling the impact that the events had on the United States.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richie’s Picks: THE FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS by Don Mitchell, Scholastic Press, April 2014, 256p., ISBN: 978-0-545-47725-3

“Here’s to the state of Mississippi,
For underneath her borders, the devil draws no lines.
If you drag her muddy river, nameless bodies you will find.
Oh, the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes.
The calendar is lying when it reads the present time.
Oh, here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of,
Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of”
-- Phil Ochs (1965)

“The government of Mississippi felt so strongly about the need to protect segregation, it created its own spy agency to deal with the threat of integration. By an act of the Mississippi legislature, the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission was created on March 29, 1956. The new organization was granted extensive investigatory powers. Anyone, black or white, who expressed support for integration, was involved in civil rights, or even has suspect political affiliations was a fitting target for commission investigators. The Sovereignty Commission exercised far-reaching authority on the people of Mississippi. It banned books, censored films, and closely examined school curriculums. It even censored national radio broadcasts and television programs.”

You think that’s bad? Wait until you read the filthy slogan on which Sheriff Lawrence Rainey--a central figure in this story--ran for office in 1963.

Given this level of institutionalized racism, it is no wonder that more lynchings of black Americans took place under the fat trees of Mississippi than anywhere else in the country.

“I think of Andy in the cold wet clay
Those three are on my mind
With his comrades down beside him
On that brutal day
Those three are on my mind”
-- Pete Seeger

That brutal day, of which Pete Seeger sang, was fifty years ago today: June 21, 1964. It was on that day that Andrew “Andy” Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael “Mickey” Schwerner were set up for execution by a Mississippi deputy sheriff and murdered by Klansmen. Why? Because they sought to help black Mississippi residents register to vote.

THE FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS explores the lives and families of these three martyred activists. Until now, I knew what happened to them but I didn’t know them as individuals. Through reading about their upbringings and families, I now understand why the two young men from New York and the local kid from Mississippi were each inspired to risk his life in order to help change things for the better.

We also learn what a horrible and backward place Mississippi was. There were murderous racists hiding behind badges, segregationists representing the state in the U.S. Congress and Senate, and black Americans who were still being treated as if it were the 1800s.

One thing was for certain: If you supported integration or believed in blacks registering to vote, you were in danger in Mississippi.

“The looming Freedom Summer influx of outside activists and Mickey’s growing success served as a huge recruiting tool for the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Unbeknownst to Mickey, in March 1964, plans to kill him had been hatched at state and local Klan meetings. In late March, the Lauderdale Klan had voted to concur with the vote of state KKK officials to eliminate Mickey. Klan members subsequently watched Mickey closely after that, looking for an opportunity to murder him. With every initiative Mickey launched, the Klan’s determination to stop him increased.”

THE FREEDOM SUMMER MURDERS tells three intertwining stories. One is about the institutionalized racism that often reminded me of Mildred Taylor’s CSK medal-winning novel, THE LAND. The second is about the murders, the subsequent search to find the missing young men, and then the long struggle to hold the murderers accountable. And the third, the one that thoroughly moved me, brings to life these three young American heroes.

Richie Partington, MLIS
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