On November 14, 1960, at the age of six, Ruby Bridges became the first black child to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans.
60 years later, 'This is Your Time' is an inspirational call to action from Ruby herself, as sadly, events in her own life (the loss of her son in a shooting) and around the world show that things still aren't as they should be when it comes to issues of race, acceptance and justice for all.
I was moved to tears by this book. The fact that a book like this is still so powerful and sadly needed in today's society, as well as the impact of Ruby's story itself, make this a seriously emotional read.
Written in the form of a letter to today's young people, imploring them to fight for racial equality, it is not an easy read...the juxtaposition of pictures from Ruby's schooldays alongside sadly similar sights from modern day events pack a powerful punch, as does the cover (main pic), a reproduction of Norman Rockwell's famous painting of Ruby's walk to school ('The Problem We All Live With').
It is ultimately hopeful though, as Ruby leaves us with the message that change is possible, people can influence and inspire it, and that together, we can (and we must) make it happen.
This book should be a must-read for today's young people, and deserves to be widely shared and discussed in homes and classrooms.
Beautiful, powerful, inspirational writing, and a story sadly as poignant today as it was 60 years ago.
Out May 6th from Pushkin Press, you can find out more and pre-order on their website: pushkinpress.com/books/this-is-your-time/ or by following @PushkinPress on Twitter.
Author website: rubybridges.com
Review by Rich Simpson (@richreadalot) April 2021
Thank you to Poppy at Pushkin for the advance copy of this book to review. All opinions my own.