Deborah Wiles

ARC provided by NetGalley
Its the summer of 1964 and Greenwood, Mississippi is being invaded! Them northerners are coming down south to help people register to vote and they’re calling it “Freedom Summer.” The adults of the town ain’t happy about it either. Sunny though is just bothered that she has a new stepmother, a new brother, and a new sister all crowding her life! Where can she breathe? And things become even trickier when Sunny is caught sneaking into the local swimming pool! show more What’s a girl to do with new family, mystery boys, and the invasion all happening in the same year?

Author Deborah Wiles has crafted an absolutely beautiful, moving, and eye opening book about what happens when a young white girl and a young black boy’s life collide together in the summer of 1964. While there have been countless stories and books written about this time period, Wiles crafts a story that is part fiction, part history, and part something else altogether to highlight what its like to be in this one place at this one powerful moment in history. Wiles weaves together real life events, some of them quite brutal, to help the reader understand what happened during our past. Even more powerfully though she has created characters that we want to fall in love with and believe that everything will be ok for them, because they seem so real and like people that we know.

Wiles also weaves in nonfictional aspects into the book, photos, quotes, excerpts from news articles, song lyrics, and more to create a deep and real story. One that you can reach out and touch and hold in your hands. She also provides an extensive bibliography for readers to refer to.

In a time filled with chaos and where similar events are occurring in our world once more, Revolution provides younger audiences with an understanding of what has come before them, what they can do now, and what the future might hold. It is a powerfully written and moving book that should be required reading for all ages. I give it five out of five stars. show less

I listened to the audiobook and was stunned into silence. I was 2 years old when this happened and heard about it over the years as I grew up but never truly LEARNED what it was about. A protest, the National Guard and the senseless killing of 4 Kent State Students. This story is told in multiple voices - students, townies, guardsmen, protestors - The author provides a focused view of the events that led to the horrific shootings on Kent State campus. This is a book that should be LISTENED show more to in history classes. The author was 16 years old at the time of this tragedy and the experience stayed with her over the years. She chose to write this novel in verse to remind readers never to forget & encourages a call to action by today’s youth to keep fighting for what they believe in. This is a MUST listen. It’s going to take me a few days to truly process what I listened to. show less

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it was fantastic. Wile's story is strong and I enjoyed how she wove quotes/news reel clips/etc with the story. The terror that Franny, her friends and family, feel because of the Cuban missile crisis is both realistic and palpable. Emma Galvin gives Franny a voice that sticks with you and keeps you interested. I didn't feel like I was listening to Franny so much as living alongside her. The end of the book involves an incident with Franny and show more her former best friend and it's a terrifying accident, but it's written so wonderfully that you just can't stop listening. I don't know what the print version looks like, but I absolutely loved the audio book. It was a such a full experience that I can't wait for the next of this sixties series to be available. show less

Revolution by Deborah Wiles paints a vivid picture of the early Civil Rights Movement, and, in particular the Freedom Summer of 1964. Set in the small town of Greenwood, Mississippi the author delivers an impressive coming-of-age story centered around two children, one white, one black, who are discovering the confusing and frightening facts of racism and segregation. Young civil rights activists arrive in town and set to work on voter registration and setting up “Freedom Schools” to show more help educate the local black population on their rights. This does not sit well with most white Mississippians and tensions mount as quickly as the summer heat.

I thought the author captured the essence of the summer of 1964. From the movies that were playing at the local theatres, to sports and political references, 1964 was brought back clearly to me. The author includes pages of photographs and articles that document the events of that summer which I thought really added to the story. But even more than the facts and figures this is a story that touches both the heart and soul.

Personally I thought Revolution was absolutely brilliant and I had trouble putting it down. History brought to life through excellent storytelling. This is the second in a planned trilogy, the first book dealt with the Cuban Missile Crisis, this book the Freedom Summer of 1964. Both were excellent reads and I can tell that Revolution will linger in my mind in the same way that her first book does. I look forward to the final volume in her Sixties trilogy. show less