“I think a friend is someone who helps you change for the better. And whether you see them once a day or once a year, if it's a true friend, it doesn't matter.”
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The Lions of Little Rock | 
“I think a friend is someone who helps you change for the better. And whether you see them once a day or once a year, if it's a true friend, it doesn't matter.”
The Lions of Little Rock is a strong classroom text for exploring civil rights, friendship, and moral courage. It supports lessons on segregation, activism, and character development, while encouraging meaningful discussion. Teachers can use it to build empathy, deepen historical understanding, and connect literacy skills with social-emotional learning.
pickThe Lions of Little Rock offers a powerful, heartfelt look at friendship and courage during school integration in 1958. Levine‘s writing is clear, engaging, and emotionally rich. The story presents complex social issues in an accessible way for young readers, using vivid language that brings Marlee‘s journey and the era‘s tensions to life.
Genre: Historical Fiction
I saw the prompt yesterday but completely forgot to post any friendship story recommendations.
The Lions of Little Rock is both a wonderful story of friendship and an important historical fiction set in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1958.
The Unteachables is a fun book about a class of students that are considered unteachable, but come together as friends over the course of the story. It‘s also got plenty of humor.
#MiddleGrade #MiddleGradeMonday
pickThis was a fantastic story of friendship set at specific point in history. Marlee makes amazing growth and finds her voice through her friendship with Liz. Public schools being closed rather than allowing integration is not talked about enough, and based on my supplemental reading, this story does a good job of summarizing and explaining the situation.
#MiddleGrade #HistoricalFiction
#audiobook #MsDsLibrary
#MiddleGradeMarchThroughTime 1958-1959
This book has been on my class library shelves for years, but I‘ve never read it. It‘s one of those great historical fiction books that has me researching things I thought I knew a bit about because I actually know almost nothing. After the dramatic public scenes of integration of the Little Rock Nine, the public high schools of Little Rock were closed the following year because enough people with power did not want integration. More info ⬇️
pickI don‘t love middle grade, but one of the things I was really passionate about this year when I joined our PTO‘s exec board was starting a parent/student book club. Tonight was our second meeting, and we discussed the tagged book. I was nervous as hell, but I adopted Marlee‘s can-do attitude and led what ended up being another amazing discussion. All the girls engaged with and discussed the book so thoughtfully. I was blown away!
I‘m subbing for our school‘s literacy interventionist today, and I‘ll be reading Ruby Bridges alllllll day today. It is eerily similar to the book I brought to read for myself when I have some downtime! (I‘ll be leading a book club discussion on Lions on behalf of our PTO Thursday night so I‘ve got to get cracking!)
pickThis fictional novel written by Kristin Levine is set in Little Rock, Arkansas during the segregation of 1957. Levine takes her reader on what may have happened if you (were young and naive) during that time period. The main character is a thirteen-year-old Caucasian female named Marlee. She doesn‘t talk much until she makes friends with Liz, which is a new student at West Side Junior High. They soon become best friends.
I'm really enjoying this on audio from the library. My niece read it for school, and fortunately loves it too so now I'm getting her to avoid spoilers. 👍 My dad's folks are Little Rock area people, so the history is immediately interesting as well as epochal.
It's been one Lulu of a sleep deprived day so that might show heheh #hashtagsaredangerouss
pickSuch an engaging story that hooks you from the very beginning and doesn‘t let go. Set in 1957 in Little Rock, AR one year after the “Crisis at Central High”. The city is in turmoil as the High Schools are closed to prevent integration from moving forward. The true friendship of two special girls teaches us all to be brave and courageous as we stand up to injustice. Separate is definitely not equal!
Standard yearly challenge complete. What a glorious reading year so far 🎉🙂💯
pickA sweet middle grade novel set in Little Rock Arkansas in the late 1950s. This novel tackles the integration campaign that occurred here accurately but also age appropriately. This is much more than a novel about race- it's about finding your voice, being true to yourself, growing apart and coming back together. All round lovely.
pick4⭐️ Middle grade historical fiction about the closing down of the schools in Little Rock, one year after the famed Little Rock Nine. Told from a white family's perspective, it gives you a really great feel for the time. Caveats- Magical Negro trope, and zero mention that the black families mentioned likely were not able to vote. That said, it's a fantastic selection to *add* to adult or children's knowledge of the late 50s.
Still relevant today's world of race relations. This book demostrates so far that kids do learn discrimination from the adults in their lives.
pickI thought it was good for my grade 7 students. well written.
This was such a sweet book! It really got me into the history of the 1950s while also being a really interesting and ultimately heartwarming read. Highly recommend.
pickGreat book! I will have my 12 year old read this! It gives details and emotional situations that would give kids today an idea of what was going on in our country not so long ago! You know a book is good when it makes you uncomfortable at times!
