In 1965, Selma, Alabama, became the focal point of the struggle to gain voting rights for African Americans. Elizabeth Partridge examines what took place there during the first few months of that landmark year in this enthralling volume that focuses on the experience of children and teens. Under the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders, citizens of Selma young and old walked out of churches, homes, and schools and took to the streets, the roads, and the highways. Partridge captures the injustice of the times and the inspiration and dedication of these fighters for human rights, integrating the stories of five young people into an account of history that culminates with the five-day march from Selma to Montgomery in March of that year. Less than five months later, the Voting Rights Act became law. Extensive research and interviews inform a narrative that has an irresistible sense of immediacy, while well-integrated black-and-white photographs further enhance the sense of being there. (Age 11 and older)