Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom

My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March

By: Lynda Blackmon Lowery, Elspeth Leacock, Susan Buckley

Narrated by: Damaras Obi

Length: 1 hr

Publisher's summary

A memoir of the civil rights movement from one of its youngest heroes

A Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor Book

Kirkus Best Books of 2015

Booklist Editors' Choice 2015

BCCB Blue Ribbon 2015

As the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Albama, Lynda Blackmon Lowery proved that young adults can be heroes. Jailed nine times before her 15th birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther King, Jr., for the rights of African Americans. In this memoir, she shows today's young listeners what it means to fight nonviolently (even when the police are using violence, as in the Bloody Sunday protest) and how it felt to be part of changing American history.

Straightforward and inspiring, this memoir brings listeners into the middle of the civil rights movement, complementing Common Core classroom learning and bringing history alive for young listeners.

©2015 Lynda Blackmon Lowery (P)2017 Listening Library

Critic reviews

A Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor Book

Kirkus Best Books of 2015

Booklist Editors' Choice 2015

BCCB Blue Ribbon 2015

"Vivid details and the immediacy of Lowery's voice make this a valuable primary document as well as a pleasure to read." (Kirkus, starred review)

"One of those rare books that is genuinely accessible to a broad audience." (BCCB, starred review)

"This inspiring personal story illuminates pivotal events in America's history." (Booklist, starred review)

Inspiring Story if Faith and Determination

I had to purchase this book as I was blessed to have the opportunity to see a live production of the play. The play was. So wonderfully presented and is a must see. I highly recommend this book as a part of the reading requirement for students. This part of history should be shared with our youth so that they may understand how the civil rights legislation and right to vote was pushed through with the sacrifices of children.

Amazing!

What an amazing book! I cannot find a single negative thing to say about this very well written and succinct book. It is powerfully told by Lynda as she looks back on her life, particularly her experience during the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March that changed the course of history, leading to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The story of Lynda’s role in this crucial moment in our history is incredible. She was a black person living in Alabama and explains in a straightforward and easily readable way, the account of her involvement in the fight for equal voting rights for all. She tells about the cohesive, carefully planned and “consistent non violent confrontations” that are inspired and led by great influencers such as Martin Luther King Jr. The story through Lynda’s eyes highlights an aspect that is not as well known: how the children played an enormous role in the movement. They marched and were put in jail and continued to march. They were a huge part of the reason why Black Americans won the right to vote in 1965. I appreciated this book's point of view. Seeing it all through Lynda’s eyes was powerful and emotional. .

Captured History

Awesome Capture. The reader does an excellent job in presenting the story. Great novel that captures the past for us in the present.

Very inspiring

Inspiring account of the voting rights movement from a child's perspective. This book should be required reading in schools.

A fantastic short story on the importance of voting

One woman’s story of her part in the civil rights movement. As she said, and I paraphrase, Selma was a kid’s movement; if they could effect change by working together, so can you.