The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

Summary

There is nothing in this book that would offend younger readers. Ruby Bridges is a little African American girl living in New Orleans back when civil rights were not so civil. The judge in the New Orleans area had ruled the schools to desegregate, but the people were not so happy about this decision. Little Ruby Bridges then had to move into a new school system where she was placed at a (previously) all white school. Day after day she walked to the school defended by marshals with guns. And day after day protesters sat outside the school proclaiming that it was their territory. All of the white children simply stopped going to school, but Ruby continued to walk there everyday. One day, Ruby's teacher noticed that Ruby would stop outside of the school and would say something--Lord only knows what. And that is exactly was she was doing. She was praying for the people that made it very clear that they hated her only because of her skin color. She asked the Lord to forgive them, for they knew not what they did. Ruby is an example of a Christ-like love which all children should strive to emulate.