This is not a 5 because it is the best book ever. It is very good, but it is not my favorite book. However, it is a 5 because it is talking about history in a time, place and about a gender we do
not hear a lot about. We learn about a woman of color who sat down for her rights and the rights of every black Canadian. And in a way, she stood up (by sitting) for people of color everywhere. To see a woman, I have never heard about written about, was a pleasant surprise. I like history but like what I have not heard about a hundred times even better. This is another story in a sea of stories that needed to be told.
Viola Desmond Won’t Be Budged! tells the story about a black woman in Canada who help lead the Civil Rights movement there. We tend to think only of Rosa Parks as a brave woman who sat for her rights. Perhaps, in Canada Ms. Desmond is more known then she is here. Maybe she is the Rosa Parks of Canada. Therefore, Jody Nyasha Warner’s book should be taught in American schools and read to kids and talked about. The afterwards gives more details about Ms. Desmond.
The illustrations of Richard Rudnicki are bold and muted at the same time. They mix colors so where there is dark is just as important as where there is light. They are the perfect companion to the text and are a story within themselves.
This book brings to light many parallels of current events. Sadly, it is too easy to make them. It will make the adult think about their own feelings on the subject and help kids see our history.