White Water

by Michael S Bandy (Author) Shadra Stickland (Illustrator)

White Water
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Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
cms Common Sense Media Review

"Inspirational in tone, this is a strong introduction for young listeners and readers to the American Civil Rights movement."--Kirkus Reviews

After a long bus ride into town with his grandmother on a scorching hot day, Michael runs to the water fountain to quench his thirst. But instead of refreshing him, the water tastes gritty and dirty. Dismayed, Michael begins to imagine that the water from the nearby "white" fountain is exactly the kind of water he would like to taste. . . . Set in 1962 in the segregation-era South at the dawn of the civil rights movement, this moving and inspirational story, based on a real-life childhood experience of author Michael S. Bandy, shows how one epiphany opens up a whole world of possibilities.

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Kirkus

Inspirational in tone, this is a strong introduction for young listeners and readers to the American Civil Rights movement.

Review quotes

From the seating on the bus to the two water fountains, this book is a good look at the segregated South. Strickland's illustrations compliment the text beautifully with a commitment to detail. This is an excellent title to be used for African-American history month, Civil Rights curriculum, and as a read-aloud for younger students.
—Library Media Connection (highly recommended)

Michael's determination and imaginativeness are evident in Strickland'spale mixed-media paintings, which make excellent use of outlines to portray the boy's imaginings.
—Publishers Weekly 

Strickland's illustrations compliment the text beautifully with a commitment to detail. Textually and visually, this title simply comes together very well.
—Library Media Connection (starred review)
Michael S Bandy
Michael S. Bandy is the co-author, with Eric Stein, of White Water, which was adapted into a screenplay that awarded the authors a Bill Cosby Screenwriting Fellowship. He lives in Los Angeles.

Eric Stein, co-author with Michael S. Bandy of White Water, has written for the children's TV series Star Street. He lives in Santa Monica, California.

James E. Ransome, the 2023 winner of the Children's Literature Legacy Award, is the illustrator of Granddaddy's Turn by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein, as well as the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner The Creation and many other books for children. James E. Ransome lives in Rhinebeck, New York.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780763679453
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
N
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
July 14, 2015
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JUV016150 - Juvenile Fiction | Historical | United States - 20th Century
JUV039120 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Prejudice & Racism
Library of Congress categories
-

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