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Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged!
In 1946, Viola Desmond bought a movie ticket at the Roseland Theatre in Nova Scotia. After settling into a main floor seat, an usher came by and told her to move, because her ticket was only good for the balcony. She offered to pay the difference in price but was refused: “You people have to sit in the upstairs section.” Viola refused to move. She was hauled off to jail, but her actions gave strength and inspiration to Canada’s black community. Vibrant illustrations and oral-style prose tell Viola’s story with sympathy and historical accuracy.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
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October 27, 2024
In 1946, hair salon owner and successful businesswoman Viola Desmond’s car broke down in the town of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Canada. To pass the time while it was being fixed, she decided to go the the movies, only to be told that she had to move from her main floor seat to the balcony (to the cheaper seats), since the theatre was racially segregated and as an African Canadian woman, Viola Desmond was sadly and majorly infuriatingly not permitted to sit with the WASP, with the White Anglo Saxon Protestant movie theatre patrons. Desmond refused to move, was arrested, dragged out of the theatre, ended up spending the night in jail, was tried and convicted the next morning without proper legal representation and forced to pay a for the 1940s very large and offensively punishing twenty dollar fine. Her story and ensuing (albeit unsuccessful) legal battle to get the charges reversed angered and inspired Nova Scotia's African Canadian community and became the catalyst for many large-scale protests that eventually resulted in racial segregation becoming illegal in Nova Scotia in the late 1950s (but it should be noted and pointed out that although there was a posthumous apology and pardon issued to Viola Desmond by the Nova Scotia government in 2010, she herself died unpardoned in 1965 and basically with a criminal record for doing nothing more than insisting on her basic human rights).
Now with their 2010 picture book about Viola Desmond's ordeal and bravery, with Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! Jody Nyasha Warner textually and Richard Rudnicki visually render a truly marvellous marriage of text and image, presenting to the so-called picture book crowd much to consider, to read about, to listen to and also most definitely and importantly to discuss with the adults in their lives, with parents, librarians, teachers etc. (and indeed, also showing both verbally and illustratively that racial segregation was not just a USA based issue, that pretty much the same types of issues and atrocities were happening in much of Canada as well). And even though I personally speaking do find Rudnicki's artwork for Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! a bit too garishly hued for my personal aesthetics, his pictures are indeed nicely and successfully both mirroring and sometimes also expanding on Warner's words (such as not only vividly showing Viola Desmond's facial emotions, her anger and her justifiable outrage at being arrested for basically NOTHING but also presenting details of 1940 Canadian fashion and architectural styles), so that Richard Rudnicki's pictures and Jody Nyasha Warner's delightful oral storytelling like voice invites us to come in and to listen, to see what happens and how Viola Desmond becomes an inspiration to and for multitudes (and with my only pretty much insignificantly minor complaint being that in particular my inner child kind of wishes that Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! would feature Viola Desmond telling her own story in a first person narrative instead of having an anonymous even if delightfully personable narrator tell us all about Viola Desmond and her run in with ridiculous and sillily nasty racial tension and segregation in the third person).
Five pretty much solid stars for the main textual and pictorial body of Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! (and as such also most highly recommended, and that I do hope Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! will never be on banned book lists, although I would also and sadly not be at all surprised if this were to be the case), but lowered to four stars because while I personally have found Jody Nyasha Warner's supplemental information on African Canadian history both interesting and very much eye-opening, the minuscule font size gives me eye strain and a headache (and not to mention that the extra details are in my humble opinion also much too advanced and textually dense for the intended audience, for young readers and listeners between the ages to six to nine or ten and that there also should be a bibliography with suggestions for further reading provided in and for Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged!).
Now with their 2010 picture book about Viola Desmond's ordeal and bravery, with Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! Jody Nyasha Warner textually and Richard Rudnicki visually render a truly marvellous marriage of text and image, presenting to the so-called picture book crowd much to consider, to read about, to listen to and also most definitely and importantly to discuss with the adults in their lives, with parents, librarians, teachers etc. (and indeed, also showing both verbally and illustratively that racial segregation was not just a USA based issue, that pretty much the same types of issues and atrocities were happening in much of Canada as well). And even though I personally speaking do find Rudnicki's artwork for Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! a bit too garishly hued for my personal aesthetics, his pictures are indeed nicely and successfully both mirroring and sometimes also expanding on Warner's words (such as not only vividly showing Viola Desmond's facial emotions, her anger and her justifiable outrage at being arrested for basically NOTHING but also presenting details of 1940 Canadian fashion and architectural styles), so that Richard Rudnicki's pictures and Jody Nyasha Warner's delightful oral storytelling like voice invites us to come in and to listen, to see what happens and how Viola Desmond becomes an inspiration to and for multitudes (and with my only pretty much insignificantly minor complaint being that in particular my inner child kind of wishes that Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! would feature Viola Desmond telling her own story in a first person narrative instead of having an anonymous even if delightfully personable narrator tell us all about Viola Desmond and her run in with ridiculous and sillily nasty racial tension and segregation in the third person).
Five pretty much solid stars for the main textual and pictorial body of Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! (and as such also most highly recommended, and that I do hope Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! will never be on banned book lists, although I would also and sadly not be at all surprised if this were to be the case), but lowered to four stars because while I personally have found Jody Nyasha Warner's supplemental information on African Canadian history both interesting and very much eye-opening, the minuscule font size gives me eye strain and a headache (and not to mention that the extra details are in my humble opinion also much too advanced and textually dense for the intended audience, for young readers and listeners between the ages to six to nine or ten and that there also should be a bibliography with suggestions for further reading provided in and for Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged!).
March 4, 2017
As Viola Desmond will be gracing Canadian currency, I wanted to know more about her. This was the only book my library had on her. This book centres on the incident in 1946 that made Viola Desmond take a stand: being forced to move from the main floor in a movie theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, to the upper floor, where blacks had to sit. She refused, and ended up in jail, though she had repeatedly said she was willing to pay the difference in price between the two types of movie tickets. She and the Nova Scotia NAACP fought this case all the way to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, which, in its racist wisdom, threw out the case. Though she lost the case, this motivated a number of people to fight against discrimination (which is still alive and well, sadly.)
As this is a kids' book, it is full of vibrant illustrations and simply written language describing the incident. The last page provides a summary of the experiences of African Canadians in Canada, which is similar to those in the US.
As this is a kids' book, it is full of vibrant illustrations and simply written language describing the incident. The last page provides a summary of the experiences of African Canadians in Canada, which is similar to those in the US.
April 1, 2016
This is an illustrated children's book . The pictures are vibrantly colored. Most Canadians have heard of Rosa Parks in the United States and her refusal to move to the back of the bus. Viola Desmond had a similar struggle 9 years earlier and it was in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She owned a beauty parlor business in Halifax and was a well respected member of her community.
On her way to some business meetings in Cape Breton the car she was driving broke down in New Glasgow and she was told it would take a day for repairs. To pass time she decided to attend a movie at the Roseland theatre. At that time black people had to sit in the balcony and Viola sat in the downstairs auditorium. She was dragged out and thrown in jail. She was charged with tax evasion as there was one cent tax on auditorium seats, but they refused to allow her to pay it. There was an appeal but the theatre was judged to be correct, but the case drew attention to segregation. This was in 1946. Her actions marked the beginning of the Civil Rights movement in Nova Scotia.
I attended Roseland theatre frequently as a preschooler up to the end of High School and later on visits home. I remember how the black movie goers had to sit in the balcony so the segregation continued. In my memory it was close to the mid 1950's when I was in Grade 11. Some of the Grade 12 football players came in and a black member of the team was with them. They sat downstairs near the front. I nervously waited for something bad to happen but nothing did. This horrible practice was ending. Viola later moved to Montreal and later settled in NYC. The Government of Nova Scotia granted her a posthumous pardon and an apology in 2010.
On her way to some business meetings in Cape Breton the car she was driving broke down in New Glasgow and she was told it would take a day for repairs. To pass time she decided to attend a movie at the Roseland theatre. At that time black people had to sit in the balcony and Viola sat in the downstairs auditorium. She was dragged out and thrown in jail. She was charged with tax evasion as there was one cent tax on auditorium seats, but they refused to allow her to pay it. There was an appeal but the theatre was judged to be correct, but the case drew attention to segregation. This was in 1946. Her actions marked the beginning of the Civil Rights movement in Nova Scotia.
I attended Roseland theatre frequently as a preschooler up to the end of High School and later on visits home. I remember how the black movie goers had to sit in the balcony so the segregation continued. In my memory it was close to the mid 1950's when I was in Grade 11. Some of the Grade 12 football players came in and a black member of the team was with them. They sat downstairs near the front. I nervously waited for something bad to happen but nothing did. This horrible practice was ending. Viola later moved to Montreal and later settled in NYC. The Government of Nova Scotia granted her a posthumous pardon and an apology in 2010.
November 10, 2010
This is an excellent new picture book biography about Canadian Civil Rights pioneer Viola Desmond. Like her better-known counterpart Rosa Parks, Viola refused to give up her seat--but in this case in a segregated movie theatre in 1946 Nova Scotia, rather than a city bus in 1955 Montgomery.
The story is told in a folksy, oral-history tradition, with the narrator speaking directly to the audience, drawing us into this compelling story of racism and courage. Viola, owner of a beauty salon, is forced to stop in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia when her car breaks down. To pass the time, she decides to stop at the local movie theatre. She finds the perfect seat, down in front, and before she can settle in to enjoy the movie, an usher tells her she has to go to the balcony. When she refuses, "They took Viola to jail. Can you believe it?" After being fined $20 (a lot of money back then) for "refusing to pay the proper ticket price," she was released. The judge wouldn't listen when she said she was happy to pay for a downstairs ticket.
Viola and black community groups decided not to put up with this segregationist treatment, and appealed her case. Although the appeal was unsuccessful, the author points out that Viola's fight galvanized the fight against segregation in Canada, which was outlawed in the late 1950's.
Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! is the first book of Jody Nyasha Warner, a writer, editor, and former librarian who is particularly interested in African Canadian history. The strikingly colorful acrylic illustrations by Canadian illustrator Richard Rudnicki add significantly to the story; on the publisher's webpage, you can click inside to see a number of two-page spreads from the book. I particularly liked the artist's use of hot colors such as orange, red, and yellow, which lend an almost expressionistic color palette, enhancing the emotion of the story.
The book includes an afterword which provides a brief, but fascinating, glimpse of African Canadian history, placing Viola's story in some context and also providing some biographical material on this Canadian civil rights leader. The author also provides a few suggestions for additional reading on African Canadian history.
This book would be a terrific addition to school library collections, and would be an excellent choice to read during African-American history month, giving students some insights into similar struggles that went on among our neighbors to the North.
The story is told in a folksy, oral-history tradition, with the narrator speaking directly to the audience, drawing us into this compelling story of racism and courage. Viola, owner of a beauty salon, is forced to stop in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia when her car breaks down. To pass the time, she decides to stop at the local movie theatre. She finds the perfect seat, down in front, and before she can settle in to enjoy the movie, an usher tells her she has to go to the balcony. When she refuses, "They took Viola to jail. Can you believe it?" After being fined $20 (a lot of money back then) for "refusing to pay the proper ticket price," she was released. The judge wouldn't listen when she said she was happy to pay for a downstairs ticket.
Viola and black community groups decided not to put up with this segregationist treatment, and appealed her case. Although the appeal was unsuccessful, the author points out that Viola's fight galvanized the fight against segregation in Canada, which was outlawed in the late 1950's.
Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! is the first book of Jody Nyasha Warner, a writer, editor, and former librarian who is particularly interested in African Canadian history. The strikingly colorful acrylic illustrations by Canadian illustrator Richard Rudnicki add significantly to the story; on the publisher's webpage, you can click inside to see a number of two-page spreads from the book. I particularly liked the artist's use of hot colors such as orange, red, and yellow, which lend an almost expressionistic color palette, enhancing the emotion of the story.
The book includes an afterword which provides a brief, but fascinating, glimpse of African Canadian history, placing Viola's story in some context and also providing some biographical material on this Canadian civil rights leader. The author also provides a few suggestions for additional reading on African Canadian history.
This book would be a terrific addition to school library collections, and would be an excellent choice to read during African-American history month, giving students some insights into similar struggles that went on among our neighbors to the North.
December 18, 2010
A fascinating story from African-Canadian civil rights history about the defiant actions of one woman inspiring others to really against discrimination. Viola Desmond is someone who should included in discussions about Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin.
March 29, 2011
Interesting story of a woman in Canada who wanted to watch a movie in a close seat. She was willing to pay the higher ticket price and refused to leave her seat. She was arrested, fined and even the courts threw out her appeals. To me, its emotional appeal wasn't as strong as some of the other books I've read about Civil Rights but it did have an informative author's note and it was interesting to read a bit about Canada's history and civil rights movement.
January 21, 2018
Do you know who Viola Desmond was? Neither did I until I was searching for stories about female civil rights heroes. Desmond has a similar story to Rosa Parks, only her abuse happened 10 years earlier in Canada.
The writing is clever. As a read-aloud the words are fun to recite and you can imagine talking with Viola as if she were standing in front of you. A great read to my 2nd and 3rd grade students.
The writing is clever. As a read-aloud the words are fun to recite and you can imagine talking with Viola as if she were standing in front of you. A great read to my 2nd and 3rd grade students.
March 1, 2018
With it being Black History Month, I wanted to find something that would give the girls a sense of Black Canadian history as well, so I ordered this from a amazon and it arrived the last day of the month, just in time to read it to them. The story is simple but effective and a good jumping off point for discussion once they get older. And I loved the illustrations.
January 13, 2019
This book contains fewer details than Meet Viola Desmond, but the pictures have a lot of emotional impact. I especially liked the one on pages 15-16 with the extreme close-up of the usher, manager and police officer drawn from Viola’s perspective.
March 26, 2018
I just expected more from this book.
Viola Desmond is the first woman to appear on the Canadian $10.00 bill and how she obtained this right is poorly achieved, in my humble opinion, in reading this book.
Viola Desmond is the first woman to appear on the Canadian $10.00 bill and how she obtained this right is poorly achieved, in my humble opinion, in reading this book.
November 11, 2020
I was lo0king forward to reading this book. I read it for a challenge in one of my book clubs. However, the grammar is rather poor. Also, I don't know if it was my tablet or the formatting of the book but the words were run together and in some places overlapping making the book rather challenging to read. All efforts to adjust font size did not help the issue. Other than these issues this a woman who was brave in the face of adversity. A valuable story in the fight equality in Canada.
August 5, 2020
Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged is a biographical children's picture book written by Jody Nyasha Warner and illustrated by Richard Rudnicki. It depicts a moment in Viola Desmond’s life when she refuses to budge from sitting in a whites-only section of a movie theatre.
Viola Irene Desmond was a Canadian civil rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946 she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refusing to leave a whites-only area of the Roseland Theatre. For this, she was convicted of a minor tax violation for the one-cent tax difference between the seat she had paid for and the seat she used, which was more expensive.
Warner's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Debut author Warner's conversational prose is message-driven. Backmatter includes an appended section on African-Canadian history provides additional background. Rudnicki's illustrations, in bright shades of green, red, and orange, are dramatic, if sometimes garish.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Years before Rosa Parks's act of civil disobedience, Viola Desmond refused to give up her seat in a movie theater in Nova Scotia. Dragged out of the theater, sent to jail, and charged a fine, Viola returned home and shared her experience with her community, who fought unsuccessfully to appeal her case.
All in all, Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged is a wonderful informative biographical children's picture book about a brave woman who wouldn't be budged.
Viola Irene Desmond was a Canadian civil rights activist and businesswoman of Black Nova Scotian descent. In 1946 she challenged racial segregation at a cinema in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia by refusing to leave a whites-only area of the Roseland Theatre. For this, she was convicted of a minor tax violation for the one-cent tax difference between the seat she had paid for and the seat she used, which was more expensive.
Warner's text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Debut author Warner's conversational prose is message-driven. Backmatter includes an appended section on African-Canadian history provides additional background. Rudnicki's illustrations, in bright shades of green, red, and orange, are dramatic, if sometimes garish.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. Years before Rosa Parks's act of civil disobedience, Viola Desmond refused to give up her seat in a movie theater in Nova Scotia. Dragged out of the theater, sent to jail, and charged a fine, Viola returned home and shared her experience with her community, who fought unsuccessfully to appeal her case.
All in all, Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged is a wonderful informative biographical children's picture book about a brave woman who wouldn't be budged.
Read
June 23, 2018Viola Desmond was mentioned in
She Persisted Around the World
, and I had heard of her from the ~recent news that she would be on the Canadian ten-dollar bill, so I looked into whether there was a picturebook about her, and indeed there is.
The text has an energy I wouldn't have expected in a biography like this. It opens with the text "Viola Desmond was one brave woman! Now come on here, listen in close and I'll tell you why." on a two-page spread of a Black women's beauty parlor. We learn on the next spread that she runs a beauty parlor, but the effect of the opening spread is to make the reader feel like you're sitting in the beauty parlor yourself, amidst that community, and an older woman is about to tell you a story. The inside front jacket says, "Jody Nyasha Warner's moving account of this true story, told in the oral style of her African Canadian heritage, combined with Richard Rudnicki's vibrant illustrations, many based on archival photographs, will resonate with all young readers."
The text has an energy I wouldn't have expected in a biography like this. It opens with the text "Viola Desmond was one brave woman! Now come on here, listen in close and I'll tell you why." on a two-page spread of a Black women's beauty parlor. We learn on the next spread that she runs a beauty parlor, but the effect of the opening spread is to make the reader feel like you're sitting in the beauty parlor yourself, amidst that community, and an older woman is about to tell you a story. The inside front jacket says, "Jody Nyasha Warner's moving account of this true story, told in the oral style of her African Canadian heritage, combined with Richard Rudnicki's vibrant illustrations, many based on archival photographs, will resonate with all young readers."
September 29, 2021
Interesting story of an African Canadian woman who challenged segregation laws in Nova Scotia in 1946. She was unknown to me so I enjoyed reading her story. The book contains an extensive history of people of African descent in Canada. That was fascinating. The illustrations reflect the Art Decco period but don't wow me. The one small photo of Viola Desmond shows a much prettier woman than the illustrations.
E-book version has tiny print.
E-book version has tiny print.
January 16, 2011
Great story, poor writing.
October 4, 2020
Since 2018, Canadians have been carrying the likeness of Viola Desmond, one of their own Civil Rights leaders, in their pocket on the ten dollar bill.
Viola Desmond, owner of a popular beauty parlor for Black Canadian women in Nova Scotia, was on a road trip when her car broke down. To pass the time while it was being repaired, she bought a ticket and walked into the local movie theater to watch the movie. She was force-ably removed from the theater when informed that she needed to sit in the balcony because she was Black and refused to move. She was taken to jail and fined, then released. As a result, she became an inspiration for civil rights in Canada.
Desmond's story comes alive due to Warner's excellent storytelling style. Compassion is evident in the telling, without being maudlin. Also present is the bravery of this woman to stand up to the racism leftover from Canada's days of slavery, but never legislated. A full-page overview of slavery and civil rights in Canada is found in the backmatter.
Richard Rudnicki's acrylic paintings on watercolor paper are full of life and emotion. The determination of Desmond is evident on the book's cover. Bright colors are employed carefully to keep this story from sagging or dragging.
An outstanding choice to include in civil rights units to remind American students that racism and slavery is not limited to the United States. This would make an excellent comparison to Rosa Parks' and Claudette Colvin's stories.
Recommended for grades 4-8.
Viola Desmond, owner of a popular beauty parlor for Black Canadian women in Nova Scotia, was on a road trip when her car broke down. To pass the time while it was being repaired, she bought a ticket and walked into the local movie theater to watch the movie. She was force-ably removed from the theater when informed that she needed to sit in the balcony because she was Black and refused to move. She was taken to jail and fined, then released. As a result, she became an inspiration for civil rights in Canada.
Desmond's story comes alive due to Warner's excellent storytelling style. Compassion is evident in the telling, without being maudlin. Also present is the bravery of this woman to stand up to the racism leftover from Canada's days of slavery, but never legislated. A full-page overview of slavery and civil rights in Canada is found in the backmatter.
Richard Rudnicki's acrylic paintings on watercolor paper are full of life and emotion. The determination of Desmond is evident on the book's cover. Bright colors are employed carefully to keep this story from sagging or dragging.
An outstanding choice to include in civil rights units to remind American students that racism and slavery is not limited to the United States. This would make an excellent comparison to Rosa Parks' and Claudette Colvin's stories.
Recommended for grades 4-8.
March 20, 2022
This was the third of four books I read during a volunteer virtual Story (Any)Time event with New York Cares. Volunteers were given a list of books to choose from - or were encouraged to read books from their own child-appropriate collection - for children in an elementary school in Queens. The theme for this event was, appropriately enough, "Women in History".
Though Viola's story was the shortest of the four I chose to read for this project, it was the one that took me the most time to get through. Some of that was due to operator error (me noticing that my enunciation was getting lazy, and my desire to not "sound" sloppy in a story that was being recorded for children), but a good portion of that was me having a moment with the subject matter.
There's a passage from the book: Viola felt scared. Viola felt sad. But most of all, Viola felt mad and I was feeling those same emotions right along with Viola. I definitely put a little too much - uhm, fire - in my voice when reading Viola's reply (me: ugh stop recording; take a deep breath; smile, woman!; start again).
Still, I did adore the message - of Viola's battle, of the shared belief she stoked in her community, of the will to fight a battle that meant so much to so many.
Though Viola's story was the shortest of the four I chose to read for this project, it was the one that took me the most time to get through. Some of that was due to operator error (me noticing that my enunciation was getting lazy, and my desire to not "sound" sloppy in a story that was being recorded for children), but a good portion of that was me having a moment with the subject matter.
There's a passage from the book: Viola felt scared. Viola felt sad. But most of all, Viola felt mad and I was feeling those same emotions right along with Viola. I definitely put a little too much - uhm, fire - in my voice when reading Viola's reply (me: ugh stop recording; take a deep breath; smile, woman!; start again).
Still, I did adore the message - of Viola's battle, of the shared belief she stoked in her community, of the will to fight a battle that meant so much to so many.
May 7, 2024
Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged! tells the story of Viola Desmond, who went to the movie theater in 1946. She was told by the usher to sit upstairs with the black patrons, and she refused to move. The police were called on her, and she was taken to jail and fined for not paying the proper ticket price. Viola and the black community in Nova Scotia tried to appeal for change, but in 1947, the Supreme Court canceled the appeal because they believed the case was fair. However, the Supreme Court’s decision did not stop the movement, and in the late 1950s, segregation was made against the law. The book ends with a glimpse of African Canadian history.
There are numerous children’s books that focus on black history in the US, but it is important to learn about black history in other countries as well, like Canada. Viola Desmond owned a popular beauty salon and founded the Desmond School of Beauty Culture because many beauty schools refused to train black students. Her refusal to move seats in the movie theater sparked change in Canada.
There are numerous children’s books that focus on black history in the US, but it is important to learn about black history in other countries as well, like Canada. Viola Desmond owned a popular beauty salon and founded the Desmond School of Beauty Culture because many beauty schools refused to train black students. Her refusal to move seats in the movie theater sparked change in Canada.
January 7, 2019
4.5 stars.
This is definitely the best children's biography of Viola Desmond I have read thus far. I wish that more information had been available about Desmond when I was a child, but I think I would have especially loved this book.
The writing style is accessible and enjoyable to read, like being told a story by a favourite relative. It includes all the basic facts of the case without being too long. There is a section in the back of African Canadian history that I thought was really informative, and a great start for anyone who doesn't have much familiarity in that area. The illustrations are gorgeous and vibrant.
This book is a great place for adults and children alike to get an introduction to Viola Desmond. Definitely recommended.
This is definitely the best children's biography of Viola Desmond I have read thus far. I wish that more information had been available about Desmond when I was a child, but I think I would have especially loved this book.
The writing style is accessible and enjoyable to read, like being told a story by a favourite relative. It includes all the basic facts of the case without being too long. There is a section in the back of African Canadian history that I thought was really informative, and a great start for anyone who doesn't have much familiarity in that area. The illustrations are gorgeous and vibrant.
This book is a great place for adults and children alike to get an introduction to Viola Desmond. Definitely recommended.
February 12, 2019
This is not a 5 because it is the best book ever. It is very good, but it is not my favorite. However, it is a 5 because it is talking about history in a time, place and about a gender we do not hear a lot about. We learn about a woman of color who sat down for her rights and the rights of every black Canadian. And in a way, she stood up (by sitting) for all people of color everywhere. To see a woman, I have never heard about written about was a pleasant surprise. I like history but like what I have not heard about a hundred times even better. This is another story in a sea of stories that needed to be told.
July 27, 2020
This is a children’s picture book biography. It’s the story of Viola Desmond, the owner of a popular beauty salon. In 1946, Viola bought a ticket to see a movie and sat in a white’s only section. When Viola was asked to move to the balcony level she refused and was arrested. This experience sparked a fire in her and she challenged racial segregation in Nova Scotia. Viola Desmond is the first African-Canadian to be commemorated on Canadian currency. Her portrait graces the $10.00 bill.
February 20, 2018
When children ask who that is on the new $10 bill, this is the book to pull off the shelf for them. Very much an oversimplification of Desmond’s life, condensed just to the snapshot in time when she truly made her mark. However, there is so much more to her story that should be looked up by older children.
June 4, 2020
Me for this entire book:
"Wait...there was racism in Canada? There were black people in Canada? ...oh, I guess the Underground Railroad did technically end in Canada. There was segregation in Canada?" And this is me, someone who actively tries to be anti-racist.
UGH WHY AREN'T AMERICANS TAUGHT ANYTHING ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN HISTORY OF RACISM?
"Wait...there was racism in Canada? There were black people in Canada? ...oh, I guess the Underground Railroad did technically end in Canada. There was segregation in Canada?" And this is me, someone who actively tries to be anti-racist.
UGH WHY AREN'T AMERICANS TAUGHT ANYTHING ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN HISTORY OF RACISM?
November 14, 2020
Star rating: 5
Copyright: 201o
Genre: Biography - autobiography
Theme(s): Racism; social injustice
I really liked how the book showed what Viola Desmond did when she got kicked out of the movie theater, as I feel that it was very powerful. I think this book would be great for talking about discrimination.
Copyright: 201o
Genre: Biography - autobiography
Theme(s): Racism; social injustice
I really liked how the book showed what Viola Desmond did when she got kicked out of the movie theater, as I feel that it was very powerful. I think this book would be great for talking about discrimination.
Read
December 4, 2020This. Story. Was. Great.
I do not think I have read very many nonfiction picture books that made me feel like I was reading a fictional story. I loved the pictures and the bravery that Viola demonstrated. There are so many people that stood up for their rights that we do not know about. Children should read more books like these in school.
I do not think I have read very many nonfiction picture books that made me feel like I was reading a fictional story. I loved the pictures and the bravery that Viola demonstrated. There are so many people that stood up for their rights that we do not know about. Children should read more books like these in school.
September 22, 2025
Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged! by Jody Nyasha Warner tells the true story of Viola Desmond, a Canadian woman who stood up against racial discrimination in the 1940s, in a way kids can understand. It’s a powerful classroom book for teaching courage, civil rights, and standing up for what’s right, and it can start meaningful discussions about history and social justice.
May 4, 2017
Canadian Viola Desmond's experience with segregation in a movie theater took place several years before Rosa Parks and her famous bus incident. I always love historical fiction picture books. An interesting read.
February 13, 2018
A good take on the anti-segregation movement from a Canadian perspective/event.
December 15, 2018
Beautiful artwork, but the writing doesn’t make an impact on the reader as much as it should. Viola Desmond is a must-know name.
January 2, 2019
A great story for young readers about a part of Canadian History that is often overlooked.
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