Title of Book: Ron’s Big Mission; Author: Rose Blue; ISBN: 9780525478492; Published by the Penguin Group
Summary:
Nine year old Ron McNair (African American astronaut who lost his life on the Challenger) had a plan to get his own library card at a time when library cards were reserved for whites only. When Ron arrived at the library, he chose several books on planes and walked to the check out desk, refusing an offer from a white patron to check out the books for him. When the desk clerk would not check out the books to him, he climbed on the counter top and refused to come down despite the presence of the police and his mother’s appeal. The head librarian filled out a library card in his name and he was allowed to check out the books.
My Impressions:
If you are going to add just 1 book to your library on African American history this year, it absolutely must be this one. Ron is not portrayed as a hero, just a regular kid very politely standing up against a rule he (and a lot of others in the book) believes is unfair. It showcases not only Ron’s strength of character, but also the head librarian’s. This book has an appeal that reaches out to every possible category of reader. Who hasn’t felt outraged by an unfair law, who among us hasn’t rooted for the underdog and who among us hasn’t rejoiced when an injustice has been righted? In addition, I think every reader can appreciate Ron’s feeling that someone else checking out the books for him just isn’t the same as him checking out the books for himself.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (from Bowker’s Books in Review)Gr 1-4-When nine-year-old Ron tries to take library books home instead of just looking at them, he knowingly challenges the rule that "only white people can check out books." The boy does not back down, even when his mother and the police arrive. The librarian finally relents and creates a library card for Ron, who proudly checks out the airplane books he loves to read. The purpose of Ron's "mission" is revealed with dramatic subtlety. There's no hint of racism as he walks through his 1950s South Carolina town on the way to the library where he is its "best customer." The truth emerges when a white patron offers to check out his books for him as the clerk blatantly ignores the boy. Stylized cartoon illustrations convey the town's benign facade while revealing tension through Ron's expressions of determination mixed with fear. The impact of his actions shows in the confusion and anger of onlookers. Readers do not learn if the library will change the rules for everyone, or just for Ron, but the final scene resonates as the child eagerly opens his book to page one. An author's note explains that this is a fictionalized account of a real incident from the childhood of astronaut Ron McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion. This context lends power and poignancy to the event and adds to the book's value as an introduction and discussion starter for concepts of racism and individual courage.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library February 01, 2009, OR Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Put up an aviation themed display. Make sure to include books, videos, magazines, audio books, drawing books and handouts with kid-friendly or educational web sites on aviation. The NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/ even has a Kid’s Club. Put out several inexpensive model airplanes and a themed jigsaw puzzle or two for your patrons to put together.
Summary:
Nine year old Ron McNair (African American astronaut who lost his life on the Challenger) had a plan to get his own library card at a time when library cards were reserved for whites only. When Ron arrived at the library, he chose several books on planes and walked to the check out desk, refusing an offer from a white patron to check out the books for him. When the desk clerk would not check out the books to him, he climbed on the counter top and refused to come down despite the presence of the police and his mother’s appeal. The head librarian filled out a library card in his name and he was allowed to check out the books.
My Impressions:
If you are going to add just 1 book to your library on African American history this year, it absolutely must be this one. Ron is not portrayed as a hero, just a regular kid very politely standing up against a rule he (and a lot of others in the book) believes is unfair. It showcases not only Ron’s strength of character, but also the head librarian’s. This book has an appeal that reaches out to every possible category of reader. Who hasn’t felt outraged by an unfair law, who among us hasn’t rooted for the underdog and who among us hasn’t rejoiced when an injustice has been righted? In addition, I think every reader can appreciate Ron’s feeling that someone else checking out the books for him just isn’t the same as him checking out the books for himself.
Flashlight Reading Under the Covers Rating: 5 out of 5
Reviews:
School Library Journal (from Bowker’s Books in Review)Gr 1-4-When nine-year-old Ron tries to take library books home instead of just looking at them, he knowingly challenges the rule that "only white people can check out books." The boy does not back down, even when his mother and the police arrive. The librarian finally relents and creates a library card for Ron, who proudly checks out the airplane books he loves to read. The purpose of Ron's "mission" is revealed with dramatic subtlety. There's no hint of racism as he walks through his 1950s South Carolina town on the way to the library where he is its "best customer." The truth emerges when a white patron offers to check out his books for him as the clerk blatantly ignores the boy. Stylized cartoon illustrations convey the town's benign facade while revealing tension through Ron's expressions of determination mixed with fear. The impact of his actions shows in the confusion and anger of onlookers. Readers do not learn if the library will change the rules for everyone, or just for Ron, but the final scene resonates as the child eagerly opens his book to page one. An author's note explains that this is a fictionalized account of a real incident from the childhood of astronaut Ron McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion. This context lends power and poignancy to the event and adds to the book's value as an introduction and discussion starter for concepts of racism and individual courage.-Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library February 01, 2009, OR Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Suggestions for Use in a Library:
Put up an aviation themed display. Make sure to include books, videos, magazines, audio books, drawing books and handouts with kid-friendly or educational web sites on aviation. The NASA website http://www.nasa.gov/ even has a Kid’s Club. Put out several inexpensive model airplanes and a themed jigsaw puzzle or two for your patrons to put together.
