We Shall Overcome: The Story of a Song

The power of song to bolster courage, combat bigotry, and effect change courses through this dramatization of the civil rights movement. The lyrics to several variations of "We Shall Overcome" serve as a backdrop to Levy's fluid free verse, which opens "Back in slavery times" as slaves sang "to soothe the hurt, to fight the cruelty." Levy (The Year of Goodbyes) moves quickly through the Civil War to the mid-20th century, when African-Americans began protesting "unfairness, hate, and violence," and "brought a church song, 'I Will Overcome, ' to the streets." ("We" soon replaced "I.") The Freedom Singers' national tour, the 1963 March on Washington, and President Johnson's televised 1965 speech evoking the song's message and words are among the pivotal events mentioned. Brantley-Newton (Let Freedom Sing) counterbalances the stark inequalities Levy highlights with brightly colored collagelike images that portray Americans of all colors standing and singing together. A timeline follows the evolution of "We Shall Overcome," citing its role in specific protests, to close out this enlightening and inspiring book. Ages 5-up. Author's agent: Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (Dec.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 1-4--Beginning in slavery times, this "story of a song" moves through the Civil Rights Movement up to present day. As protests mounted in the mid-1940s, the song "I Will Overcome" was changed to "We Will Overcome" to reflect the protesters' working together. Folk singer Pete Seeger changed the "will" to "shall" and sang the song for Martin Luther King, Jr. In the early 1960s, the Freedom Singers traveled 50,000 miles across the country, singing "We Shall Overcome" and bringing a message of hope to all who listened. Laws were passed and things began to slowly change. President Lyndon Johnson quoted the lyrics in a televised speech. The song was heard in South Africa and then many other countries. Those struggling and working toward a better life embraced it and the message it brought. "We will live in peace, We will live in peace some day." The time line at the end of the book chronicles the life of the song, explaining it and some of the illustrations in greater detail. Extensive source notes include Internet sites where the song can be heard and suggestions for further reading. The colorful, mixed-media, collage illustrations are detailed and beautiful, giving more life to the words of this historic and inspiring anthem. The art appears on full spreads with phrases from the song in large print above or below the text. This handsome book will be highly useful for classroom and family discussions.--Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

The power of song to bolster courage, combat bigotry, and effect change courses through this dramatization of the civil rights movement. The lyrics to several variations of "We Shall Overcome" serve as a backdrop to Levy's fluid free verse, which opens "Back in slavery times" as slaves sang "to soothe the hurt, to fight the cruelty." Levy (The Year of Goodbyes) moves quickly through the Civil War to the mid-20th century, when African-Americans began protesting "unfairness, hate, and violence," and "brought a church song, I Will Overcome, ' to the streets." ("We" soon replaced "I.") The Freedom Singers' national tour, the 1963 March on Washington, and President Johnson's televised 1965 speech evoking the song's message and words are among the pivotal events mentioned. Brantley-Newton (Let Freedom Sing) counterbalances the stark inequalities Levy highlights with brightly colored collagelike images that portray Americans of all colors standing and singing together. A timeline follows the evolution of "We Shall Overcome," citing its role in specific protests, to close out this enlightening and inspiring book. Ages 5 up. PW"