With the Might of Angels

Gr 5—8—In 1954, Dawnie Rae Johnson receives a diary for her 12 birthday. In it, she chronicles the year of her mundane-no-more life. As one of the brightest African-American students at Mary McLeod Bethune School, she is chosen to integrate the previously all-white Prettyman Coburn public school. She is the lone black student, and she is cursed, spit upon, reviled, ignored, and harassed. Dawnie learns to "lock her lips" through all the racism she experiences, leaning on her family, her church, and her community for support. She also plays baseball and writes imaginary letters to Jackie Robinson, asking him what it was and is like to be the first African American in the major leagues. Dawnie finally makes a friend when a Jewish student, equally reviled, moves from New York City to Hadley. The two support each other, becoming two of the best students at Prettyman. Dawnie's journal is realistic, encompassing thoughts and emotions one would expect of someone so stressed. She is protective of her autistic brother and encouraging when her father is dismissed from his dairy job for racial reasons and her mother becomes the sole breadwinner. The author seamlessly incorporates historical events into the child's journal. The end matter contains age-appropriate photographs, a time line, and brief biographical sketches of the people mentioned. A first purchase.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI