47 pages • 1 hour read
Through My Eyes
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Book Brief
63
Biography • Nonfiction
New Orleans, Louisiana • 1960s
1999
Middle grade
8-12 years
860L
Super Short Summary
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges is her autobiography detailing her experience as the first African American child to integrate an elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. The book, published in 1999, blends Bridges's childhood perspective with adult reflections, supplemented by photographs, newspaper excerpts, and historical context about the desegregation efforts under the Civil Rights Movement. The narrative includes explicit language reflecting the period's racism.
Inspirational
Heartwarming
Challenging
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ruby Bridges' Through My Eyes is praised for its powerful, firsthand account of desegregation in American schools. Readers find it deeply moving and historically significant. However, some note that it may be too simplistic for older readers seeking detailed analysis. Overall, it’s regarded as an important, educational read that effectively conveys significant social history.
Who Should Read Through My Eyes?
Readers interested in Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges are often drawn to personal narratives set against historical backdrops of the civil rights movement. Similar to I Am Malala or Brown Girl Dreaming, this book appeals to those seeking inspiring stories of courage and resilience from a child’s perspective.
Mrs. Barbara Henry
Mrs. Barbara Henry
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, she was the teacher who willingly taught Ruby Bridges at William Frantz Public School during the school's integration.
Dr. Robert Coles
Dr. Robert Coles
A child psychologist in New Orleans who worked with children experiencing racial tensions during integrations, including Ruby Bridges, and published a children’s book about her story.
Lucille Bridges
Lucille Bridges
Ruby's mother, who supported and accompanied her daughter during her early days of attending the integrated school, despite her husband's hesitations.
63
Biography • Nonfiction
New Orleans, Louisiana • 1960s
1999
Middle grade
8-12 years
860L
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