This book was really engaging and I could see how much history that was included that can teach middle schoolers about what is going on without making it like a textbook. The author did a good job of making the characters thoughts appear to be a young kid and adding some innocence to the characters even when they were going through some horrible events. I also appreciate the author making the characters feel real emotions of having to quit school or dealing with racism through microagressions and pure in your face racism. The characters were relatable in that they were pure human and did not exactly have a happily ever after ending. I think this book is good for children because they get facts about what really happened but the added characters to keep them engaged.


All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the ARC given to me by the publishers.

Loretta Little Looks Back is a novel about racism told through the lens of three generations. Aggie B lives in a town in Missisipi with her father and Aunt. She is 12 years old and goes along with her Aunt to get voter's registration. She and her Aunt face many troubles to become registered voters. They have to take a test where the questions don't make sense. After a few attempts her Aunt finally is a registered voter. Aggie volunteers to educate other African-Americans about the voter registration process. At one point in time, she gets beaten up dreadfully by the police but that does not stop Aggie and her desire for equality. This is a poignant tale about civil rights movement, voter registration and racism.

There were a few places where the story seemed disconnected but the story becomes clear later on.

Loretta Little Looks Back was such a great story. It covered a lot of Black history from sharecropping to voter suppression through the eyes of 3 different members of the Little family. i absolutely loved the layout of the book. There were illustrations, poetry/prose, and long narratives. The way the author incorporated real historical figures throughout the book was absolutely seamless. I will definitely be recommending this book!!

This beautifully written, timeless book belongs in all classroom bookshelves and school libraries.

Get ready to peel back the layers in history and get to the truths about the hardships and challenges black children and adults faced as you travel back to the time of sharecropping, the civil rights movement, and fair voting rights.

This is one of those treasures that will resonate long after that final page is read. I can't wait to see the illustrations. Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the e-arc.

I loved the monologue novel format in which this book was written. I could visualize how this might look on a stage or on film, with 'Retta standing in the middle of a cotton field, Roly with his tired body waiting for Tess to return, and Aggie perhaps standing next to John Lewis at a rally. Even as a piece of historical fiction, the
story sets the foundation for understanding the current state of social unrest. Worthy of using in a middle school classroom as a study in civics, historical fiction, and English/Language Arts.

What an excellent book! It's beautifully written, timely, and so important. Andrea Davis Pinkney is an incredibly skilled writer, and this is probably her best work to date. Loretta Little Looks Back deserves a place on classroom library shelves both for its literary merits as well as for the way it makes this difficult aspect of our history accessible for young readers...but please don't pass up the opportunity to read this book merely because it's labeled for younger readers. The compelling characters and narrative monologues allow the message to resonate with teens and adults as well - this book is definitely for everyone.

This is compelling and gut wrenching, the language rings true, the story both heartbreaking and uplifting.
Truly a must-read.

In this book you will take a step back in time to meet Loretta and her family of sharecroppers as they experience voter suppression, the civil rights movement, community mistreatment, and racial intolerance over a few decades in small town Mississippi. Written in a monologue format, this book allows you to experience their journey in a new deeper way. It is powerful, honest, heartbreaking, and hopeful all at once. A good introduction for older children to the realities of one girl and her family's life during the mid 20th century. This book tells a much needed story for children's literature.

I received this ebook in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book is a chapter book that I would like to read in my classroom. Many people don’t realize the extent of challenge individuals had so many years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Share croppers were treated as less than and were paid such low wages that they couldn’t get out from under the owner’s control. The way this book was written was interesting and kept me in the story. I found myself having a lot of emotions during this book and will buy it when it is available so that I can read it again.