Sweet Justice

Written by Mara Rockliff · Illustrated by R Gregory Christie

A cook's secret recipes fuel a pivotal civil rights protest.

4.5/5 Goodreads · 378 ratings

40 pages· 1,194 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Georgia Gilmore's kitchen becomes a battleground for justice when she hears of Rosa Parks' arrest. As the Montgomery bus boycott unfolds, Georgia's culinary skills transform into a powerful tool for change. Her fried chicken and sweet potato pie not only nourish but also fund the fight for equality. Amidst church meetings led by a young Martin Luther King Jr., Georgia's hidden contributions become a vital force in the civil rights movement. Discover the flavorful story of a woman whose dishes helped sustain a revolution, told through vibrant illustrations and compelling narrative.

From the publisher

An inspiring picture-book biography about the woman whose cooking helped feed and fund the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956, from an award-winning illustrator. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY New York Public Library - Chicago Public Library Georgia Gilmore was cooking when she heard the news Mrs. Rosa Parks had been arrested–pulled off a city bus and thrown in jail all because she wouldn’t let a white man take her seat. To protest, the radio urged everyone to stay off city buses for one day: December 5, 1955. Throughout the boycott–at Holt Street Baptist Church meetings led by a young minister named Martin Luther King, Jr.–and throughout the struggle for justice, Georgia served up her mouth-watering fried chicken, her spicy collard greens, and her sweet potato pie, eventually selling them to raise money to help the cause. Here is the vibrant true story of a hidden figure of the civil rights movement, told in flavorful language by a picture-book master, and stunningly illustrated by a Caldecott Honor recipient and seven-time Coretta Scott King award-winning artist.