Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature (CSMCL) Best Book of 2022
Bank Street Best Book of the Year
International Literacy Association’s Literacy and Social Responsibility Special Interest Group Social Justice Literature Award
“Using a combination of lyrical prose and free verse, Duncan documents the Tent City movement of Fayette County, Tennessee, in the early 1960s. Palmer’s vibrantly hued acrylic paintings make effective use of patterns and textures. Appended with an epilogue (noting the 2013 weakening of the Voting Rights Act), time line, resources, and bibliography, this is an important contribution to civil rights collections.” —Booklist
“In this absorbing collection of profiles…Duncan illuminates the grassroots Fayette County Tent City Movement in late-1950s Tennessee, which opposed racial terror aimed at Black voters and eventually helped lead to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Duncan follows the Black activists in quietly compelling prose…[and] Palmer’s abstract spreads, rendered in surreal-colored acrylic, offer mesmerizing visual accompaniment. An empathic tribute that will resonate amid present-day conversations about voter suppression.” —Publishers Weekly
“A series of interconnected stories about real-life people illuminates the history of Tennessee’s Fayette County Tent City Movement…The historical account is told from the perspective of young James Junior (now a 72-year-old grandfather) and is made personal through the testimonies of individuals who were crucial to the movement, those who are remembered by the community, and those who do the remembering…Palmer’s painterly, evocative paintings effectively capture the era, are suffused with emotional honesty, and bring reverence to the heavy subject matter.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[A] historical look back to Fayette County, Tennessee, and the struggles of Black citizens who fought to gain the right to vote…Their stories are told through their voices, and their passion is clearly conveyed through the ardent narrative…The language is straightforward, and the voices are strong and vibrant. Full-color illustrations fill the pages with vibrant paintings that seem to come alive. While the illustrations add another layer of depth to the text, they are also moving in their own right. A timeline of the development of Fayette County, along with historical photographs, is also included, adding another layer of information for readers. The Fayette movement is presented in a compelling way, and readers will enjoy hearing and learning about this tumultuous period of history… a vivid picture book.” —School Library Connection
“Evicted! is an important addition to all collections, a must read for middle and high school readers.” —The Nonfiction Detectives
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