Reviewed by Deborah Menkart
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Book Author: Brandy Colbert
This novel for ages 12+ lives up to its dedication to Fannie Lou Hamer. Two storylines sweep readers along — one about contemporary challenges of voting on election day and the other a budding love story. High school student protagonist Marva Sheridan has been a voting rights activist all her life. She is well versed in the history of the Civil Rights Movement, even naming her cat Selma. The story begins on the morning of the first election when Marva is old enough to vote herself.
At the polling place, she intervenes when another student, Duke, is being turned away. The two end up skipping school to pursue not only Duke’s right to vote, but in the process to also organize to get other people to the polls. This is a wonderful introduction to a myriad of voter suppression tactics and the importance of everyone (including high school students) playing a role in defending voting rights. Author Brandy Colbert is committed to people’s history, having also collaborated with Jeanne Theoharis on the The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks: Young Readers Edition.
The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert
Published by Disney-Hyperion on July 7, 2020
Genres: Activism, African American, Voting
Pages: 304
Reading Level: High School
ISBN: 9781368053297
Review Source: Teaching for Change
Also by this author: The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks
Publisher's Synopsis: From Stonewall Award-winning author Brandy Colbert comes an all-in-one-day love story perfect for fans of The Sun is Also A Star. Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election? Duke Crenshaw is do done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first paying gig tonight. Only problem? Duke can't vote. When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right.
And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva's missing cat), it's clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy. Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can't sit around waiting for the world to change, but some things are just meant to be.
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