Freedom Train

By Evelyn Coleman, David Riley (Illustrator)

A boy must choose between silence and standing up for justice in 1947 America.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 76 ratings

160 pages· 26,488 words· Est. 3.5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

In 1947, young Clyde faces a dilemma in the American South. His brother guards the Freedom Train, but Clyde's own fears and a secret friendship with a boy of color challenge him. When the town threatens his friend's family, Clyde must decide: stay silent or fight for true freedom? As tensions rise, Clyde's courage and convictions are put to the test. Will he find his voice and stand up for what is right, or will fear keep him silent? Discover the power of choice and the cost of freedom in this gripping tale.

From the publisher

An enthralling account of a young boy’s struggle to help freedom triumph over fear in the 1940s American South. It’s 1947, and twelve-year-old Clyde Thomason is proud to have an older brother who guards the Freedom Train–a train that is traveling to all forty-eight states carrying the country’s most important documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. Clyde hasn’t told his parents he won’t perform the Freedom Pledge because of stage fright, nor has he mentioned his confusing friendship with a boy of color. So when the townspeople threaten William’s family, Clyde has a choice to make: Will he keep quiet, or stand up for real freedom? Ideal for classrooms, Freedom Train contains historical photos of the Freedom Train and its guards, as well as an author’s note that provides additional information about the history of the Freedom Train.

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