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Mississippi Trial, 1955

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ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS • Based on the true story of a tragic murder that helped spark the Civil Rights movement.

“Gripping.”—BCCB

“Will get readers thinking.”—Publishers Weekly

A brutal murder rocks a sleepy southern community.

At first, Hiram is excited to be visiting his favorite grandfather in Greenwood, Mississippi. But before long Hiram begins to feel that the small town is not the place he remembers from his childhood. Then he crosses paths with Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who is also visiting for the summer, and Hiram sees firsthand how the local whites mistreat blacks who refuse to “know their place.”

When Emmett’s body is found floating in a river, Hiram is determined to find out who could do such a thing. But what will it cost him to know?
  • WINNER
    ALA Notable Book
  • WINNER
    International Reading Association Children's Book Award
  • WINNER
    Notable Books for a Global Society Award
Will get readers thinking. (Publishers Weekly)
Chris Crowe was born in Danville, Illinois, and attended schools in Illinois, New Mexico, and California before his parents settled down in Tempe, Arizona, where he graduated from McKemy Junior High and McClintock High School. He attended Brigham Young University on a football scholarship (and played in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl) and earned a BA in English. He taught English at McClintock High for 10 years while attending Arizona State University part-time, earning his masters and doctorate degrees.He is the author of several books, most notably Mississippi, 1955, which won several awards, including the 2003 International Reading Association's Young Adult Novel Award. His nonfiction book, Getting Away With Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case, was a Jane Addams Honor book. His first children's book, Just As Good: How Larry Dobb Changed America's game, was published in 2012. Chris married his high school sweetheart, and they live in Provo, Utah, where he works in the English department at BYU. They are the parents of four children and grandparents of two lovely girls and three handsome boys. View titles by Chris Crowe

About

ALA BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS • Based on the true story of a tragic murder that helped spark the Civil Rights movement.

“Gripping.”—BCCB

“Will get readers thinking.”—Publishers Weekly

A brutal murder rocks a sleepy southern community.

At first, Hiram is excited to be visiting his favorite grandfather in Greenwood, Mississippi. But before long Hiram begins to feel that the small town is not the place he remembers from his childhood. Then he crosses paths with Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who is also visiting for the summer, and Hiram sees firsthand how the local whites mistreat blacks who refuse to “know their place.”

When Emmett’s body is found floating in a river, Hiram is determined to find out who could do such a thing. But what will it cost him to know?

Awards

  • WINNER
    ALA Notable Book
  • WINNER
    International Reading Association Children's Book Award
  • WINNER
    Notable Books for a Global Society Award

Reviews

Will get readers thinking. (Publishers Weekly)

Author

Chris Crowe was born in Danville, Illinois, and attended schools in Illinois, New Mexico, and California before his parents settled down in Tempe, Arizona, where he graduated from McKemy Junior High and McClintock High School. He attended Brigham Young University on a football scholarship (and played in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl) and earned a BA in English. He taught English at McClintock High for 10 years while attending Arizona State University part-time, earning his masters and doctorate degrees.He is the author of several books, most notably Mississippi, 1955, which won several awards, including the 2003 International Reading Association's Young Adult Novel Award. His nonfiction book, Getting Away With Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case, was a Jane Addams Honor book. His first children's book, Just As Good: How Larry Dobb Changed America's game, was published in 2012. Chris married his high school sweetheart, and they live in Provo, Utah, where he works in the English department at BYU. They are the parents of four children and grandparents of two lovely girls and three handsome boys. View titles by Chris Crowe
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