97 pages 3 hours read

Phillip Hoose

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Nonfiction | Biography | YA | Published in 2009

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose recounts the story of Claudette Colvin, a courageous teenager who resisted Jim Crow laws in 1955 Montgomery, Alabama, by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person. Despite her arrest and the challenges she faced, including prejudice due to her age and economic status, Claudette played a pivotal role in the court case that ended bus segregation, though she struggled with a lack of support from the activist community afterward. The book addresses anti-Black racism, racial violence, and contains references to sexual assault and exploitation.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Phillip Hoose’s Claudette Colvin garners praise for its gripping narrative and detailed research, illuminating a lesser-known civil rights hero. Reviewers appreciate its engaging prose and historical significance. However, some critique the book's pace and desire more depth in certain areas. Overall, it is heralded as an inspiring and informative read for all ages.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Claudette Colvin?

Readers who enjoy Claudette Colvin by Phillip Hoose are typically interested in civil rights history and young protagonists who make significant impacts. Fans of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis and March by John Lewis will find this book compelling and educational.

RecommendedReading Age

12-18years

Lexile Level

1000L

Book Details

Topics

History: U.S.

Race / Racism

Social Justice

Themes

Identity: Race

Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Genre

Children's Literature

Biography