We've Got a Job to Do

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Levinson, Cynthia. 2012. We've Got a Job to Do: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. Atlanta: Peachtree. ISBN 978-1-56145-627-6

2. PLOT SUMMARY

    

We've Got a Job to Do: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson is the true story of the 1963 childrens march on Birmingham.  Included within the text are stunning photographs which help to tell the story.  The book includes chapters on important players in the march, before and after effects of the march and the march itself.
 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

 

 We've Got a Job to Do: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March is incredibly well researched and written.  This is especially true considering the explosive nature of the content.  The civil rights era is still a hotbed topic for many Americans.  Cynthia Levinson manages to convey the events on the march and the feelings of the children and adults involved without being preachy or finger pointing.  The facts are clearly laid out and historical photographs are incorporated in a way that enhances the work and information. 

The selected participants give a human face to what is often overlooked or incorporated as one giant civil rights movement.  Often we forget that a movement has individuals with names and faces and stories. 

We've Got a Job to Do: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March  is not only the story of Birmingham, but also the story of many towns in the south.  However, the events of the first week of May 1963 are clearly detailed and the events of that week would help shape and change a nation.
 

4. AWARDS and INFORMATION

• -Starred review from Booklist
• YALSA award for excellent in nonfiction finalist 2013
• Starred review from Publishers Weekly
• Publishers Weekly best books of 2012
• Starred review from Kirkus

Accompanying website:  http://www.wevegotajob.com/index.html