FREEDOM RIDERS

Bausum's well-regarded book follows the lives of two young men, one black and one white, whose courage and bravery helped shape the Freedom Rides and inspired a nation during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1961, in Montgomery, Alabama, John Lewis and Jim Zwerg were beaten in a violent attack on a bus of Freedom Riders. Cecelia Riddett narrates this gripping account with emotion. Her pacing allows the listener to take in the events and their impact. Her inflection and cadence keep the listener engaged and give the reading a hopeful tone. Spoken song stanzas at beginning of each chapter might have been even more effective had they been sung. The story is a powerful call to action on behalf of the disenfranchised, and forewords by Lewis and Zwerg further elevate the listening experience. J.K.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]