We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March in Mock Newbery 2026

Apr 06, 2012 Monica Edinger rated it it was amazing

For years, one of my favorite teaching materials for the Movement has been the documentary Eyes on the Prize, in particular the section focusing on the 1963 Birmingham Children's Campaign. And so I was delighted to enter Levinson's focused examination of this particular historical episode. She begins with a prologue:

On Thursday morning, May 2, 1963, nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks woke up with freedom on her mind. But, before she could be free, she knew she had to go to jail.

“I want to go t

For years, one of my favorite teaching materials for the Movement has been the documentary Eyes on the Prize, in particular the section focusing on the 1963 Birmingham Children's Campaign. And so I was delighted to enter Levinson's focused examination of this particular historical episode. She begins with a prologue:

On Thursday morning, May 2, 1963, nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks woke up with freedom on her mind. But, before she could be free, she knew she had to go to jail.

“I want to go to jail,” Audrey told her mother.

How could you not want to read on after that? Through Audrey and three other young people who were involved Levinson vividly makes this historical time up close and personal. And honest --- there is no sugar coating here --- at the very beginning she provides "A Note on Name-Calling" in which she clearly lays out the varied terms by which African-Americans have been referred to and referred to themselves over time. After that she presents those terms as they were used during this time period without further comment. This is a real life story that takes place over a brief period of time and Levinson does a superb job bringing out the suspense, drama, harshness, and celebration of all. Again --- you can't make this stuff up! I especially appreciated the elegant way she brought in the complications --- what was working and what wasn't, the different behaviors and personalities of the leaders, and most of all the varied voices of her young people. Audrey, Washington Booker III, James W. Stewart, and Arnetta Streeter all were part of the marches, but in very different ways. By highlighting their different backgrounds, Levinson makes myth reality. Complementing her text are photos and perfectly-placed sidebars highlighting dates, quotes, and excerpts from relevant documents; an author note articulating the research and writing process; notes indicating sources for each chapter (though, I admit, I wanted even more of them); and an index. (I love books with indices!) ...more

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May 31, 2012 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2012-award-possibilities

While I thought this was a bit long, and I sometimes had trouble keeping the timeline straight, this is an impressive achievement. Every time I think "okay, I've got it" about children's involvement in the civil rights movement--I've read quite a few books on the subject over the last three years or so--I learn something new or discover a new way of looking at the situation, and that was true here several times over. I think this meets every Newbery criterion, especially excelling in style and s ...more

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Jun 23, 2013 Kristine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: childrens-chapter, civil-rights-slavery, firstreads-netgalley, non-fic

This book was provided by www.netgalley.com in exchange for a review. The kindle copy I received was an uncorrected proof, which affected the flow of the story. The author used years of research and interviews with individuals who marched, and weaves their stories together. At the beginning it does effect the cohesiveness to be jumping around so much, but I'm hoping it improved with editing for final copy.

I consider myself pretty well educated about the civil rights movement. The marches, the l This book was provided by www.netgalley.com in exchange for a review. The kindle copy I received was an uncorrected proof, which affected the flow of the story. The author used years of research and interviews with individuals who marched, and weaves their stories together. At the beginning it does effect the cohesiveness to be jumping around so much, but I'm hoping it improved with editing for final copy.

I consider myself pretty well educated about the civil rights movement. The marches, the leaders, the progress - I read Roots at age 8 and was reading about Malcolm X at age 10. How in the world did I not know about the marches in Birmingham and know nothing about the role children played? How gross of an oversight is it that in the US school system as we learn about Civil Rights and MLK Jr., we aren't taught that it was children our age who made a difference and changed the course of history?

The accompanying pictures were powerful. I never knew most of the marchers were children that filled the jails and walked out of school. I loved that a children's book written to be accessible teaches me so much. I never knew about the divisions within the black community and amongst the black churches that almost led to failure as the movement hung by a thread.

My favorite part really impacted me. When TNT was placed in the 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963 and killed four teenage girls, amidst the chaos, fear, and anger, Reverend Shuttlesworth admonished the furious crowd that "we should be forgiving as Christ was forgiving" and Revered Billups added "Go home and pray for the men who did this evil deed... We must have love in our hearts for these men."

When I read that I melted. Never before had I realized to such an extent the courage, strength, and forgiveness were the keys to the success of the passage of the civil rights bill. I knew they used nonviolence to accomplish their means - but the sacrifices they made were more than I had considered before. This was certainly an excellent narrative of an integral time in our nation's history. It increases in importance the more we share it with children the same age of those who changed the world.

5 stars ...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Jenna rated it liked it

Shelves: middle-grade, non-fiction

First, what I liked about the book: Super interesting subject matter. Have you ever heard of the children's march? Because I hadn't. And I'm definitely glad I know about it now. Highly recommend this book just because of the story it tells. I liked that it focused on 4 specific children/teens throughout. That helped me feel more attached and invested in the story. Also, nice layout, lots of photos, helpful timeline and bibliography.

My main issue with the book is the pacing. Even though I liked t ...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Dest rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen, non-fiction, middle-grade, bipoc

Like a lot of people my age and younger, I have trouble trying to imagine what it would've been like to grow up in the South in the 1960s. The injustice, the suffering, the hatred--it's overwhelming to imagine it happening around me. But here comes a book that really puts you right there in the middle and shows you the nitty gritty.

Because Cynthia Levinson's We've Got a Job is told from the perspectives of four real children who lived in Birmingham at the time, it is immediately more visceral a Like a lot of people my age and younger, I have trouble trying to imagine what it would've been like to grow up in the South in the 1960s. The injustice, the suffering, the hatred--it's overwhelming to imagine it happening around me. But here comes a book that really puts you right there in the middle and shows you the nitty gritty.

Because Cynthia Levinson's We've Got a Job is told from the perspectives of four real children who lived in Birmingham at the time, it is immediately more visceral and moving than most accounts I've read. If you can put yourself in the shoes of Audrey, Arnetta, James, and Wash, you can have some idea of what you might've thought, said, and done if you'd been there. I think that's the power of this book and it's especially apparent in the book's awesome opening:

"On Thursday morning, May 2, 1963, nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks woke up with freedom on her mind. But, before she could be free, there was something important she had to do. 'I want to go to jail,' Audrey had told her mother. Since Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks thought that was a good idea, they helped her get ready."

Would you go to jail to be free? What if you were just nine years old? Could you be peaceful and passive as your enemies called you names and threatened you? Would you pick yourself up and try again after multiple defeats?

This book just slays me because it's so inspirational and heartbreaking at the same time. For every win, there's a terrible loss. For every step forward, there's also a push back. We have this in teen non-fiction, but I think kids as young as 5th, maybe 4th, grade would be absorbed by the stories of the people in this book, especially the children.

Children are the heroes in this story. When Martin Luther King Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth were trying to fill the jails of Birmingham in peaceful protest, they couldn't get enough adults to volunteer for the cause. The grown-ups were afraid of losing their jobs and weren't sure protesting was the smartest way to go. The kids, however, valiantly risked life and limb to demand equal treatment. They marched and went to jail in the thousands. They endured racist taunts, fire hoses, attack dogs, and other violence. They made a difference.

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because there were a few times I found the narrative confusing. The author would refer back to a character I didn't remember or jump around in time in a way that didn't make sense to me. Ultimately, it's a well-written, powerful book that I'll be happy to recommend this coming school year.
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Mar 18, 2013 Robynn marked it as to-read · review of another edition

2013 YALSA Honor Award for the print version

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Mar 06, 2012 Mary rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction-teen, civil-rights, nonfiction-elementary, feelings, biography, bullies

A good book that profiles four young people in the struggle for civil rights in Birmingham and their roles in the Children's March. A book that makes you want to keep reading even if it is late at night to find out what happens to the main characters. Narrative nonfiction at its best for middle grade-teen students. ...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Megan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: listened-to, ya, non-fiction, award-winner, slapanawardonthispuppy

Fantastic narrative on the Birmingham Children's March. It's amazing to think that children as young as 9 years old had the gumption to stand up in the ways that they did. It blew my mind. ...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Robynn marked it as to-read

2013 YALSA Honor Award

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