Bridges, Ruby. 1999. THROUGH MY EYES. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0590189239
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book is the true story of Ruby Bridges, one of the first black children to be integrated into an all white school. The story takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1960.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Accuracy
This story is told as the memoirs of Ruby Bridges, the actual child whom was integrated into an all white school in 1060. She describes what she remembers and how she felt. Each page includes information from Ruby Bridges herself as well as additional information from other reliable sources. These sources give further insight as to what is happening at the time. For instance, on the day which Ruby first travels to her new school she discusses traveling five blocks away under the protection of U.S. Federal Marshals whom she later learned were carrying guns. As she arrived at the school she remembers the barricades, policemen, and people shouting everywhere. There is additional information on these pages from THE NEW YORK TIMES and GOOD HOUSKEEPING. These sources include news articles of the times. These types of articles add to the reliability and validity of what is being remembered by Ruby Bridges.
Organization
The organization of this book is mainly the chronological story of a year in the life of Ruby Bridges. It begins with a preface to set the story, and then the first year in which she is integrated into the school as a first grader is told, the book ends with information which brings the reader up to the present with the life of Ruby Bridges. The book is organized in a very logical way. The beginning lets the reader know the history, the reasoning behind the story. The main part of the story is very interesting and moving. The year of integration is told by the remembrances of Ruby Bridges, a 6 year old girl. She not only tells what she remembers but how she felt at the time. "My teacher and I settled into a routine. It was odd to be the only child in class, but I finally decided thais was the way it was going to belhere at the Frantz school." Additional information, from sources such as U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, JOHN STEINBECK, and THE NEW ORLEANS TIMES PICATYNE, is referenced on each page. Excerpts from Barbara Henry, Ruby Bridge’s first grade teacher, are also present.
These excerpts give additional information and incite to the story. Barbara Henry writes, “There was a certain shyness about Ruby. She would appear at the door of our room in the morning and walk in slowly, taking little steps. I would always greet her with a compliment about how nicely she was dressed to help make her feel special, as she was, and to make her feel more welcome and comfortable.” Text credits are present at the back. The illustrations go with the text and are captioned so that the reader knows exactly what they represent.
Design
The book is large and attractive. The illustrations are in black and white, which was the medium of the time, the early 1960’s. The black and white photographs also help to set the tone of the seriousness of the subject matter. The illustrations certainly add to the understanding of the story and what was the feeling of the time. They are not watered down; many portray the true ugliness of the protesters. Other pictures show young Ruby Bridges entering the school in her stark white dress with the U.S. Marshall Guards. These pictures show how young, vulnerable, and incredibly brave she was.
Style
The writing is clear and interesting. Ruby Bridges allows the reader to see what was happening and how she was feeling. Her experiences are truly brave and remarkable. On her first day of school she states: “As we walked through the crowd I didn’t see any faces. I guess that’s because I wasn’t very tall and I was surrounded by the marshals. People yelled and threw things. I could see the school building, and it looked bigger and nicer that my old school. When we climbed the high steps to the front door, there were policemen in uniforms at the top. The police men at the door and the crowd behind us made me think this was an important place.” She is writing as a naïve and trusting six year old girl. This will certainly appeal to children. They will be able to think of their own lives and be amazed at what this young girl went through at the same age. This book is sure to arouse interest into the history of the 1960’s and to push children to look for additional information of the times.
4. AWARDS AND REVIEW EXCERPTS
Publishers Weekly Best Books of the Year ( WON AWARD ) 1999 School Library Journal Best Books of the Year ( WON AWARD ) 1999 American Library Association Notable Books for Children ( WON AWARD ) 2000 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2001 Emphasis on Reading Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2001 Maine Student Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2001 Jane Addams Children's Book Award ( WON AWARD ) 2000 Carter G. Woodson Book Awards ( WON AWARD ) 2000 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award ( WON AWARD ) 2000 Bluebonnet Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 Rhode Island Children's Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 Golden Sower Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 Mark Twain Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 William Allen White Children's Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 Young Hoosier Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2003 Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 Great Lakes' Great Books Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2002 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2003 Sasquatch Reading Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2003 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2003 Judy Lopez Memorial Award (Women's National Book Association, Los Angeles Chapter) ( NOMINATED FOR AN AWARD ) 2000 ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Awards ( WON AWARD ) 2000
Amazon.com - A personal, deeply moving historical documentary about a staggeringly courageous little girl at the center of events that already seem unbelievablePublishers Weekly – “ Bridges's words, recalling a child's innocence and trust, are more vivid than even the best of the photos. Like poetry or prayer, they melt the heart.” Library Journal - “A powerful personal narrative that every collection will want to own.” Parents Choice - “Powerful and powerfully moving. A 1999 Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner.”
Horn Book Guide – “Bridges relates her story far more powerfully than has anyone else to date.”
Booklist – “This is a great book for classroom discussion and has a good deal of interest to adults: the individual child's experience, the roles of Bridges' mother and teacher, the civil rights history. Bridges speaks without heroics about what happened to her then and what it means.”
5. CONNECTIONS
* This novel can be used in a history lesson in connection with school integration of the 1960’s.
* This novel can be used in a unit during January, black history month, to help portray a famous black American.
* This novel can be used in writer’s workshop to model personal narratives and memoirs.
*This novel can be used in a lesson on moral character. There are examples of both good and bad character.
* This novel can be used in a unit on stereotypes, tolerance, and multicultural awareness.
* This novel can illustrate character traits such as goodness, innocence, bravery, and courage.
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