Abby Takes a Stand (Scraps of Time)

A mother going through the attic with her children, found an old menu to a restaurant and told her children the story behind saving it. As a child and witnessed the sit ins going on in Nashville to end segregation.

I thought it was a great story from a child's point of view. Abby and her best

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friend saw it from a more innocent angle, and Abby was so excited about the protests she felt like she was an activist just by helping to pass out the flyers. She held on to items that reminded her of what happened in that time period and being able to share those stories with her children was very special. The few sketches in the book were just enough to paint a scene to reflect on.

This would be a great book for black history month. Being a chapter book it can be a take home activity and a chance to write a reflection. For history, the students can then make a makeshift time capsule, selecting tems that mean something to them and sharing with the class what historical significance those items will have in the future.

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Summary: Abby takes a stand is about a little girl during the times of segregation. Abby is tens old and helps save a restaurant. Abby keeps a menu from the restaurant and her grandchild find it in the attic and Abby tells them the story about how it all happened.

Personal thoughts: I like that the

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story is told from the perspective of a ten year old girl. I also liked that this chapter book had pictures in it to help children visualize. This is a great book for the history of segregation.

Classroom ideas:
1. I would read this book while dicussing the history of the civil war and segregation.
2. I would have the children bring something from home that is important to them and have them tell the story behind it.

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Review: Realistic fiction
Age: Primary
Media: pencil
Review: This book portrayed realistic fiction because it could happen in real life. A grandmother could be going through her attic with her grandchildren and stumble upon memories. The characters in this book are not real.

RGG: A young Black girl humilated by wanting to eat at a department store café and her mother participate in the lunch counter sit-ins. Powerful and comprehensive presentation of the history including the fear some of the Black community had in participating and the long, hard fight required.

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Reading Level - 10-12.

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This is a wonderful story of a young girl who is experiencing segregation and the civil rights movement.

“Abby Takes A Stand” is a story that a grandmother is telling her grandchildren. In the story, the young girl, Abby, turns out to be her. The story is about segregation and the separation of blacks and whites in everything. In the beginning Abby and her friend Patsy are looking for this special

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notebook so she asks to go to town with her mother. While in one of the stores, someone hands her a flyer for the Monkey Bar. She realizes that she has enough money to buy the binder and the milkshake advertised on the flyer so she gleefully walks upstairs to the bar. She got in line for the carousel ride that was in the Monkey Bar and customers started complaining. She was soon kicked out, all because she was African American. After she tells her mother what happens, they decide to join Abby’s cousin John in his challenge to end segregation. There were many sit-ins and boycotts for a long time. Many people got egged and called ugly words, but, eventually, segregation was ended. They had won the war and Abby, her family, and friends were now allowed to eat at the Monkey Bar and shop in whatever store they wanted. This is the perfect book to show children. Learning about the history is good, but also, showing that determination can do most anything. If a child knows what is right, do not ever tell them wrong.
Extension:
1. Scrapbooking, pieces that students can collect from their parents about older times.
2. Make our own milkshakes to eat while reading the book, or watching a historical movie about segregation.

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Another in the Scraps of Time series written for young adults as an introduction to a history lesson. The time frame is 1928. Abby and her mother are free to visit the "colored stores", but they cannot sit at the luncheon counter of those stores. They must stand in the back, while the white people

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are given service.

The author tells a tale of Abby who frequently accompanied her mother to Harvey's store. When she tried to have service at the restaurant of the store that had a children-friendly theme, she was scorned and made to feel like dirt.

Soon, she and her mother joined her cousin in attending rallies advocating sit ins. The book depicts a time in history when blacks stood for their rights by sitting down at luncheon counters.

While the book seemed trite and not well written, hopefully it opens the door for young adults to learn more about civil rights.

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Great book to use as an example of standing up for what you believe is right- Abby stands up for African American civil rights.