The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine
Historical Fiction; 298 pages
In 1958 Little Rock, Arkansas, painfully shy twelve-year-old Marlee sees her city and family divided over school integration, but her friendship with Liz, a new student, helps her find her voice and fight against racism.
Sam’s review:
In 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas, nine African-American students faced extreme daily abuse as they integrated Central High School. The following year, the governor of Arkansas reacted to this integration by closing all of Little Rock’s public high schools. This decision forms the backdrop for the story of 12-year-old Marlee Nisbett in The Lions of Little Rock.
Marlee, at the beginning of her story, suffers from a shyness so extreme that she doesn’t speak in public. Her fear of heights causes her to freeze on the high board of the community swimming pool. Her reliable older sister, Judy, rescues her as the rest of the kids jeer at her. Marlee, an easy target for bullies, is terrified about attending West Side Junior High. As she gets ready to face her first day, she promises Judy that she will say at least one complete sentence.
A new girl at school, Liz, turns out to be just what Marlee needs. Liz’s good humor and confidence sets Marlee at ease, and they quickly slide into a fast friendship and have a great time working on a class project together.
Marlee, as narrator, tells the story of her days at school with entertaining details that bring 1957 to life; she also relates the serious issues that are tearing her family apart. Her father, a proponent of integration, and her mother disagree but try to shield her from their arguments. Her sister Judy complains continually about her high school being closed and begins to draw away from Marlee.
Marlee’s life takes a huge turn when Liz disappears from school on the day of their presentation. As Marlee is trying to figure out what happened to Liz, facing very difficult consequences in the process, Marlee’s parents decide to send Judy to live with their grandmother in Pine Bluff so that she can attend high school there. Marlee, never more alone in her life, risks great danger and searches desperately for Liz. Through her friendship with Liz, she taps into courage that allows her to move forward in all areas of her life.
The historical context of The Lions of Little Rock makes this book an important one to read, but it is the captivating narration of Marlee as she finds her voice that makes this book devastating, thrilling, and supremely satisfying. It is one of the American Library Association’s Best Books for Young Adults for 2013.