Description

This detailed fascinating Booklist starred review nonfiction middle grade book explores a deeply troubling chapter in American history that is still playing out today the strange case of Prince Edward County Virginia the only place in the United States to ever formally deny its citizens a public education and the students who pushed back

In 1954 after the passing of Brown v the Board of Education the allWhite school board of one county in south central Virginia made the decision to close its public schools rather than integrate Those schools stayed closed for five years

While the affluent White population of Prince Edward County built a private schoolfor White children onlyBlack children and their families had to find other ways to learn Some Black children were home schooled by unemployed Black teachers Some traveled thousands of miles away to live with relatives friends or even strangers Some didnt go to school at all

But many stood up and became young activists fighting for one of the rights America claims belongs to all the right to learn