She Persisted: Claudette Colvin

She Persisted

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, Chelsea Clinton, Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds!

In this chapter book biography by award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome, readers learn about the amazing life of Claudette Colvin--and how she persisted. 

Before Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin made the same choice. She insisted on standing up--or in her case, sitting down--for what was right, and in doing so, fought for equality, fairness, and justice.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Claudette Colvin's footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum.

And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Harriet Tubman, Ruby Bridges, Oprah Winfrey, and more!

Praise for She Claudette Colvin:

"Cline-Ransome brings the teen activist to life with great compassion and impressive brevity . . . A noteworthy start for chapter-book readers wishing to read more about young leaders of the movement." -- Kirkus Reviews
 
"Cline-Ransome’s narrative provides a knowledgeable, interesting introduction to an ­important player in the civil rights movement." -- School Library Journal

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Middle Grade, Biography Memoir, African American, Childrens

72 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 2, 2021

Reviews

[Jenn Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

So. This is an interesting one. Claudette Colvin is *not* someone I learned about back in school, and in fact that name probably meant nothing to me until about a year ago. She refused to give up her seat on a bus several months before Rosa Parks did, but did not get the same attention because she was not considered to be the right person to be the face of the activist movement for a variety of reasons. Obviously this is a little bit complicated to get across in a children's book - she didn't "have the right look", she was a teen who got pregnant not long after the incident - but not mentioning that at all isn't the right answer either. I will acknowledge it's possible that I missed something, but if I were a kid, my first question upon finishing this would have been "why is Rosa Parks famous and Claudette isn't?" Could have at least thrown in something like "the activists decided Rosa Parks was a better representative".

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to hear about the creation of this series. High interest biographies are very popular in my school, but some kids don't always want to read a picture book biography because it appears to be too easy and the Who Was/Who Is series is a step above a good fit for them. I think this series will fit a niche that has been missing and I am excited to share with students. This biography is a wonderful reminder that before Rosa Parks was Claudette Colvin and this will help bridge the information gap some students may have about this historical time period. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers for the opportunity to read an early copy.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raise your hand if you know about Rosa Parks. Now, raise your hand if you know about Claudette Colvin. Likely many of you are like me: before I read this book, I'd heard her name and knew she was a young participant in the American Civil Rights movement but didn't know anything else. This chapter book for middle grade readers introduced me to an amazing young woman. The book reads like a story but avoids fictionalized dialogue. I do wish it included a bit more about what happened to Claudette after the events in the book. A timeline would also help young readers put various events in perspective. Small quibbles though about what is overall an excellent book.
Review based on an ARC received through NetGalley.

[Barb Mittelstadt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple read. Great for 3rd-4th graders. Love that this is finally a "story" for everyone to read. As a teacher, it is great that we have resources to share about different African Americans who have made impacts in our country.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Claudette knew that with God and her family by her side, she couldn’t go wrong with standing up for what was right.”

We’ve all heard of Rosa Parks and her courageous refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, but have you heard of Claudette Colvin, the brave young lady who did it first? I’m sad to say that I never had until reading She Persisted: Claudette Colvin by Lesa Cline-Ransome. I feel like I received a great education in many areas, but in recent years I’ve discovered that my history education has some significant gaps in it. I’m not talking about rewriting history to make one group of people look worse or better, but actual people and events in history that I’ve either never heard of or only learned about in passing… until I picked up a book as an adult. Even a book written for children, like this She Persisted series of biographies, can help fill in those gaps.

Like the book before it in this line, She Persisted: Harriet Tubman, this look at Claudette Colvin’s bravery and the difference she made is written for elementary children (grades 1-4, ages 6-9). However, the information is presented in such an engaging way that I couldn’t put it down either. The illustrations add so much to the text, too, bringing Claudette and her surroundings to life with poignancy and affection. I appreciated again that Claudette Colvin’s faith was definitely a focus of her biography, even more so than in Harriet Tubman’s. The quote I shared at the beginning of the review is a good example, as well as this line I loved from the first chapter – “Two things folks in Pine Level knew about little Claudette Colvin: she loved learning and God in equal measure.”

There’s a lot of great opportunities for discussion in these 72 pages. Children will get a gentle but frank discussion of segregation, of a time in our country’s not-so-distant history where Black people could not use fitting rooms or try on shoes in stores, were not allowed to be seen by doctors until all the white patients had been seen, could not picnic or even sit on benches in the nicest parks, and had to re-exit a bus after paying their fare & re-enter through the back door so they wouldn’t walk past the people sitting in the ‘white only’ section. But young readers will also see portraits of great courage like 15-year-old Claudette Colvin who bravely refused to give up her seat to a white person even though it led to her being hauled off the bus and into jail. And like 24-year-old lawyer Fred Gray who fought the system on Claudette’s behalf, the new pastor in town – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – who met with the police commissioner about the case, and the local NAACP youth leader who invited Claudette to speak to her students… a woman named Rosa Parks ♥ I appreciated how the author wove each of these encounters, people, and facts together to create a story-like feel to the biography in a way that will definitely appeal to elementary students.

Bottom Line: She Persisted: Claudette Colvin by Lesa Cline-Ransome is engaging and entertaining, yes, but it also is a great resource for learning about the Civil Rights Movement and the people who made a difference. Children will read about a wonderful role model in Colvin, a woman of faith and courage who stood up for what was right no matter what it cost her. Adult readers may certainly learn something new, too, and the reminder of even one person’s ability to change the world (or at least their corner of it) applies to all of us, no matter our age. Another great book in this series – and an excellent choice for homeschool mamas or elementary teachers to add to their classrooms.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so I hadn't actually known about Claudette Colvin and how she came before Rosa Parks until I went to a equity training in 2019 and it was brought up. I think it's interesting though that one of the reasons I was told that Colvin wasn't the face of the bus boycott instead of Parks was that she was 15 and had gotten pregnant out of wedlock. I have since read some other articles about that. I just think it's interesting that her pregnancy and the fact that the NAACP purposely didn't rally behind her wasn't really mentioned in this book. I kind of get it because I guess the author felt like those details wouldn't be appropriate for younger kids but it just felt a little weird to me that they weren't included.

Also, this is nitpicky but, in the beginning it mentions Claudette and Delphine going to live with their aunt and uncle and then refers to them being with their parents. I reread several times but Ransome never mentioned them going back with their parents and it felt a bit awkward.

Okay, but despite these negatives, I think overall this was a pretty good biography of Colvin. I wasn't a fan of all the religious talk because of who I am as a person but if it is something that is/was important to Colvin, I understand why it was included in the book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good, short biography of Claudette Colvin. Most people know about Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on that Alabama bus during the civil rights movement. However, Claudette Colvin did it 8 months before Rosa Parks.

Claudette was a 15-year high school student when she refused to give up her seat. She was taken to jail and later found guilty of violation of the city's segregation laws among other things. It's terrible the reasons why she was not recognized until years later, but I won't get into that. There are many other books/articles to read and enjoy that go into further detail.

I really enjoy the She Persisted series of books and I look forward to reading more.

[karebear · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to the 5th grade classroom for this banger

[Melissa the Librarian]

A good read-alike for kids who enjoy the Who HQ books.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

While I'm not the intended audience for these She Persisted short stories, I couldn't resist them when I was given the opportunity to read and review. I'm all about finding a way to supplement an educational system that is lacking in so many ways and I believe these chapter books could do just that for kids. At a little under half an hour, the audio was a quick listen for me. The narrator, Janina Edwards, did a great job bringing Claudette's story to life.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning about your rights is one thing. To observe them being restricted and to question it, is another. Claudette Colvin did just that. A stellar example for young readers on how to use your voice when your freedoms are threatened.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this new series!
I do wish they’d talked about the rest of Claudette’s life and how she is still alive.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really great series of books that I found the at the library. These books focus on women that persisted for a change throughout history. These would be really great books to read in women's history month. This book is a great reminder that before Rosa parks there was Claudette Colvin. She was 15 years old and she refused to give up her seat on the bus. Everyone knows about Rosa Parks. What do you think of refusing to give up your seat on the bus, everyone thinks of Rosa Parks. Very few people know who Claudette Colvin was and that she refused to give up her seat nine months before Rosa Parks. I think Claudette Colvin story would be really great to talk about with students. You could ask the question why wasn't her story told even though she did it first. There are a few illustrations throughout the story in black-and-white. They add a deeper meaning to words nearby it.

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good way for young readers to learn about Claudette Colvin and so it's age appropriate.

[Stefennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lesser know story of Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on the bus before Rosa Parks & helped to start the stand against seregation

[Danica is Booked · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with other reviewers. It was very well done and a great introduction. But I do wish it had included more about what happened after the pivotal events and that it also discussed why she wasn’t chosen as the face of the movement. As others have said, it could have done so simply. But so glad she was covered in this series.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad this is a series! I liked the original picture book, but I felt like elaboration was needed on historical figures. This series is great for kids who like the “who was” or “who is” books.

The chapters are short and the sentences are simple. It’s written in a narrative format that will appeal to young readers. My biggest thing is that is stopped too soon. I realize that Claudette didn’t become the face of a civil rights movement for a reason (she became pregnant soon afterwards, and an unmarried woman in the south with a potentially white lover would have been disastrously scandalous). BUT I feel like a follow up chapter on how the fight for civil rights continued after the story ended would have been nice, as I often feel many civil-rights era children’s books give the misinterpretation that everything was fixed.

But overall, a great book to add to any collection!

[Kathy (Bermudaonion) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before Rosa Parks, fifteen year old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat (in the black section) on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white woman, saying she’d paid her fare and had the constitutional right to sit there. The bus driver stopped the bus and the Montgomery police dragged the teenager off the bus and arrested her.

Colvin loved school and was inspired by a teacher. Her activism is not well known but helped spark the civil rights movement in Montgomery. I enjoyed her story and appreciated the fact that Cline-Ransome includes ways readers of this chapter book can “persist” as well.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
Part of the She Persisted biography series for elementary level readers.
Cline-Ransome introduces young readers to Claudette Colvin - one of the brave young people who stood up for their rights in the 1950s. Readers see her life from birth through mid-teen years. The simple to follow text pulls readers into this world where people were judged on their skin tone and did not receive equal or fair opportunities. The main theme of this series is perseverance and standing up for yourself and others. This book clearly shows how Colvin did this and paid the price for it along the way.
A definite purchase for elementary libraries.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through Edelweiss and NetGalley.

[Sunday · Rating 4 out of 5]

A kid-friendly introduction to Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery nine months before Rosa Parks. She was arrested and thrown in jail. Her act sparked conversation, action and played a part in Parks' refusal and the bus boycott that led to the integration of public buses there.

While this series is geared towards "1st-4th grade," I think this particular title would be better for 3rd-5th grade because of some of the technical discussions related the court cases that occurred.

Not addressed in the book - not long after the bus incident, Colvin got pregnant; the fact that she was from a poor family and an unmarried pregnant teenager led to the local civil rights leaders choosing Parks as the face of their movement instead. Cline-Ransome does allude to some of the black students making fun of Claudette, their parents being weary of her, and, in one sentence, how the community "wondered if a teenager, a poor girl from King Hill, should be the face of the boycott movement" (p. 42). She doesn't discuss the repercussions of the court case for Colvin and or, in detail, how she was ostracized by the civil rights community. It was hard for her to find work and she moved to NY with a toddler and disappeared from the public eye for decades. It wasn't until the last decade or so (see Phillip Hoose's amazing book about her - Twice Toward Justice) that she's become a public speaker and taken her rightful place as a civil rights activist to whom we owe a great debt). I'm sure Cline-Ransome had to make hard decisions about what to include given her young audience.

#PAIR THIS WITH other books from the series. Chelsea Clinton made a smart move asking award-winning authors to write each of the bios in this series!

[Jen Halupnik]

A note from Chelsea Clinton (author of the picture-book series off which this new chapter-book series was spun) opens each title. Clinton describes partnering with a “sisterhood of writers” to bring readers “inspiring and empowering” chapter-book biographies: “I wanted young girls — and young boys, too — to see women who worked hard to live their dreams.” Cline-Ransome and Pinkney present the stories of their subjects, Claudette Colvin and Harriet Tubman, respectively, through engaging and informative narratives that include detail beyond the actions for which they are most famous. Colvin, the teenage activist who defied bus segregation laws nine months before Rosa Parks, is shown grieving her sister’s untimely death. Tubman, abolitionist and renowned conductor on the Underground Railroad, had an unhappy marriage. The inclusion of these challenges paints deeper portraits of the women and showcases how they persisted through multiple hardships (though Colvin’s pregnancy as a teenager is not mentioned). In both books, the text succeeds in being simultaneously utilitarian and lyrical, with abundant figurative language and some direct quotations bringing scenes to life. The books build up context by addressing topics such as enslavement and Jim Crow laws so that readers have background knowledge to clearly comprehend Tubman’s and Colvin’s actions. Short chapters, wide margins, and emotive illustrations (seen as sketches) function to support middle-grade nonfiction chapter-book readers. Back matter includes references as well as a list of suggested actions labeled “How You Can Persist.”
Lexile Level: 190L-940L
Grade Level: 1-4

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since I learned about Claudette Colvin from Phillip Hoose's 2009 book Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice, I've been intrigued about this little-known part of civil rights history. In the sure hands of author Lesa Cline-Ransome, younger readers learn about her social activism and role in integrating public buses in Montgomery, Alabama. This biography tells readers about Claudette's early years, including the origin of her name, and what led to her decision to refuse to give up her bus seat to a white woman. There were severe consequences for her actions, and sadly, Claudette didn't get the kind of support and recognition afterward that she deserved. Still, she remained steadfast in her determination to have her rights recognized. Since the book's intended audience is fairly young, Claudette's whole story has been softened here. The author's text, including Southern dialect and insight into Claudette's growing awareness of the inequities she saw around her, will touch readers' hearts, leaving them impressed with the persistence of this fifteen-year-old social activist. As is the case with the other books in this series, the black, white, and gray images capture the essence of Claudette and her actions, and the suggestions in the back matter for how to follow Claudette's lead in questioning matters related to social justice are helpful in extending the text.

[Timons Esaias · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, let me say I admire this whole She Persisted enterprise. Unfortunately, I don't have relatives of the right age, or we'd be dishing these out as presents to otherwise innocent young ladies.

Claudette Colvin was one of several African-Americans who refused to follow the rules on Montgomery, Alabama's buses, which required black people to give up their seats to white people if told to do so. At fifteen years of age she refused, one day in 1955, to do so, and she was arrested and jailed for her trouble. Rosa Parks was one of the adults who came to her aid. She was found guilty by the local courts, and guilty again (with two counts dropped) in her appeal. There were lots of threats against her, as a result of the publicity.

When it was later decided to have a bus strike, the adults in the Civil Rights Movement felt a teenager shouldn't be subjected to the treatment that would come from being the person launching the legal challenge to the system, and that's when Rosa Parks was picked for the role.

It's good to see Claudette getting her due, and it's also good to have examples for young people showing that they can be citizens before they are even old enough to vote.

[Eva Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to your kids! It is an easy read and the story flows and keeps you gripped from beginning to end.
I picked this up at the library and started it with my 10 year old son tonight. We thought we might break it up into a couple of sittings but couldn’t stop reading! Eventually my 12 year old and my husband wandered in to listen. At two points I started crying and at the end they all clapped. I had never heard of this brave sweet girl who was in the right place at the right time. To her, I’m sure it didn’t feel that way, but her life made her ready for this and added heat to a budding revolution at just the right time. She had good teachers and a family that loved her and she loved God and trusted that his word is more true than man’s laws. She was unfairly yet providentially brought right into the center of a movement that would learn from her experience and be ready to take on Jim Crow again when, nine months later, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.

[K L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this 5 stars because it was good. But I think there’s a real issue in trying to present Claudette as this angel who loved God and liked to learn. When she was a human being who loved God, liked to learn and happened to be an unmarried ,young, expecting mother during the court proceedings.

Not including that info is the reason why the civil rights campaigners dropped her case and went with Rosa parks case 9 months later . There should be no shame for her story and shows kids/young teens who this is directed to that you can mess up/make decisions people may look down on and STILL decide to do something brave .

It’s a real tragedy they didn’t tell Claudette story truthfully and felt the need to hide this info .

I just think we need to find a way to tell the whole truth without shame because Idt including the info makes Claudette any less of a hero!

This was a great short easy read for the girl who refused to give up her seat before Rosa Parks!

[Michelle Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This telling of a Claudette Colvin's refusal to give up her bus seat at the tender age of 15 is not a lengthy book, but it is powerful.

I loved how it showcased Claudette's faith and I also liked that it showed that not everyone supported her, not even some of the people who should have been happy that she took a stand. I think that's an important side of things to highlight because we need to know that even when we are doing what's right we might be standing with fewer people on our side than we expected.

I really enjoyed this look at Claudette's early years and learning more about where she came from. I look forward to reading more about her in the future.

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Learn about Claudette Colvin's refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama -- months before Rosa Parks became famous for doing the same thing.

I'm not sure how I feel about this series--it is a similar age range as "The Story Of..." books, and I like the structure of those better (and I think those have more appeal--being full color just for starters). I appreciate the extensive back matter (how you can persist questions, acknowledgements, references, author and illustrator bios.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biographies of strong women who have influenced our world, at an emergent reader level. This one was a great selection for younger kids, because Claudette Colvin was a kid herself when she made a difference in the world. While these books are a little more text-heavy than I think they need to be, this one was a great read to open lots of dialogue about the world we live in. We all know who Rosa Parks is, but why not Claudette Colvin? Enjoyed her brave story.

Checked out at the library & reviewed in consideration for Cybils Award Early Chapter book shortlist for 2021.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked learning a little more about Claudette than that she refused to give up her seat on the bus, though that is important, especially knowing that she did it months before the official Montgomery bus boycott and had to deal with going to court, being badmouthed by lying cops, and found guilty. These biographies are, by necessity of length and reading level, painted with broad strokes, and it was a little more obvious in this one, because racism and the Civil Rights Movement is complex and not always peace and sunshine.