What was it like to be a child in Selma in the 1960, around the time Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led some 2,000 marchers across the Edmund Pettus bridge to Montgomery to protest the infringement of their voting rights? Author Willie Mae Brown shares her view of those historic years through the eyes of the preteen she was.
Of course we know that children were caught in the middle of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and we know that they played an important role (and sometimes, heartbreaking ones). But there is something quite heart wrenching reading about that time from a girl who lived through it, sharing what she saw, felt, and experienced, without much explanation other than what she had available to her.
There is something utterly captivating and heartbreaking hearing these stories about Selma in the voice of an innocent child. The contrast between the regular life of a child worrying about school and bullies and the terrible worries cast on her as a Black child, worrying constantly about the safety of loved ones and the violation of their humanity, was hard at times to bear, but so important to read and bear witness to. In a day and age when people still don’t understand why we remind them that Black Lives Matter, it seems important to remember that there are innocent children who are deeply affected and traumatised by the sometimes casual and always violent racism they have to move through daily.

My Selma by Willie Mae Brown is a remarkable memoir that chronicles the author's experiences during one of the most pivotal periods in American history—the civil rights movement. With raw honesty and vivid storytelling, Brown takes readers on a compelling journey through her personal struggles, triumphs, and the indomitable spirit that emerged from the heart of Selma, Alabama.

The book unfolds as a deeply personal account of Brown's life, starting with her childhood in the racially segregated South. From a young age, she witnesses the harsh realities of discrimination and inequality, which stoke her desire for justice and equality. As she grows older, she becomes actively involved in the civil rights movement, playing a vital role in the historic Selma to Montgomery marches of 1965.

One of the most captivating aspects of My Selma is Brown's ability to transport readers to the turbulent times she lived through. Her vivid descriptions and vivid recollections provide an intimate understanding of the challenges faced by African Americans during this era. Through her words, the reader can feel the fear, the determination, and the hope that permeated the streets of Selma as people fought for their basic rights.

Brown's storytelling is sincere and heartfelt, allowing readers to connect with her on a deeply emotional level. She shares her personal triumphs and heartbreaks, painting a multifaceted portrait of a woman driven by a profound sense of justice. The author's resilience in the face of adversity is truly inspiring and serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

In addition to her personal narrative, Brown provides valuable insights into the larger historical context of the civil rights movement. She delves into the strategies, leaders, and significant events that shaped the movement, offering a comprehensive perspective on the fight for racial equality.

While My Selma is a compelling memoir, there are moments when the pacing feels slightly uneven, and some transitions could have been smoother. Additionally, a deeper exploration of the aftermath of the civil rights movement and its impact on Brown's life would have added an extra layer of depth to the memoir.

Nevertheless, My Selma is a powerful memoir that sheds light on an important chapter in American history through the eyes of a courageous woman. Willie Mae Brown's storytelling prowess, combined with her unwavering spirit, make this book a captivating and enlightening read. It serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work that still needs to be done in the ongoing pursuit of equality and justice.

Overall, My Selma is an engrossing memoir that will leave readers both educated and inspired. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a tribute to those who fought for civil rights in Selma and beyond. Anyone interested in history, social justice, and personal triumph will find this book to be a valuable and thought-provoking addition to their reading list.

genre: memoir (black history)
rating: 8.5/10
pages: 240

My first read of Feb was this little memoir by Willie Mae Brown, a black girl who grew up in Selma, AL in the 1960s. Selma was an incredibly important place during the Civil Rights Movement most known for the big march for African American voting rights. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X both knew her family. Most of the Civil Rights Movement is happening in the background as Willie Mae is growing up and not completely understanding everything, but still experiencing racism as a young teen. It's a very quick and important read. It's also very suitable for a middle grade audience and up!

Thank you to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an important read, which many can tell from just the cover. While it didn’t always keep my attention, it painted a picture for me that I never knew I needed to see. This book was vivid and lively. I truly felt that I was hearing these stories straight from a young black girl growing up in Selma, Alabama, and I guess, in a way I was. I also loved the Dr. King this story writes about, one most of us don’t think about. We don’t see him marching in the streets, but working behind the scenes to ensure the safety of his people. I liked seeing him from such an intimate perspective. Not to mention the ending of the novel is an absolute gut punch and worth a few tears. I appreciate this short book for all this and so much more. I think it is an important read and it has definitely earned its spot in my classroom library.

This is a DNF, which is really disappointing because I typically love middle-grade memoirs. But the way this book was written is incredibly difficult to follow. The author jumps around in time quite a bit and I found the story very confusing to follow.

The book isn't quite a story but memories of a 12 year old Willie Mae during the civil rights movement in 1969. It is scattered memories and hard to follow a timeline. It is very insightful to the feelings of the time but not a book I think young people would read.

My Selma tells the story of a 12-year-old growing up during the civil rights movement. Willie Mae comes across as a bright, inquisitive kid, and it’s interesting to see how events unfolded through her eyes.

Unfortunately, because of formatting, some readers won’t even pick it up, and others may find themselves struggling throughout.

My Selma is told through a sort of stream of consciousness writing style that gives a disorganized feel to the book. The events are not presented in a linear fashion, and there are a lot of characters. Reading it as an adult, I can appreciate how memories come in this scattered way, by younger readers may find themselves lost or discouraged. The vernacular of Brown’s Southern upbringing may also be a challenge, but should be easier to overcome.

For these reasons, I recommend My Selma as a classroom book that is read together and with lots of discussion.

My Selma is a memoir of a childhood in the thick of the Civil Rights Movement in Selma, Alabama. The story is often difficult to read, not only because of the extreme injustices faced by the Brown family and other families at the time.

The writing style was very hard to follow, every character (of which there were many) had at least two nicknames, which made it extremely hard to follow what was happening and to whom.

I have such mixed feelings about Willie Mae Brown's book, which I read thanks to an e-ARC from NetGalley. Most of the mixed feelings have less to do with her writing and more with the poor choices in formatting. Outside of the cover, I suspect most of my students would have picked it up, looked it over, and put it back down unless I was right there to encourage them to keep reading. The font is small and the paragraphs are long with little white space to make them easy on the eyes of a 10- or 11-year-old.

Willie Mae Brown grew up in Selma during the beginning of the Civil Rights movement and in her easy style, she tells how her family had to make daily decisions that would keep them safe from racism that was evident all around her. She tells about babysitting for the children of a white woman, taking the job to earn some money, but not wanting her father to know. He wouldn't have let her take the job. When someone came to the trailer where she lived, looking for her, Willie Mae had to make some quick decisions to keep herself and the children safe.

She also tells of being forced to go with her mother to a nearby church one evening, much against her wishes. But when she saw the man in the pulpit and listened to him speak, she was changed by Dr. King Jr.'s words and had a greater appreciation for what was happening in her community.

Part of the challenge is that Willie Mae Brown was only twelve in the summer she writes about, but she had enough of a sense of what was happening around her to know if it was good or bad. While the story focuses on that summer, ultimately it's less about Selma and more about how Willie Mae and her family reacted to those events.

A good choice for point of view, perhaps in combination with another book.

While there are interesting stories within this book, the language is sometimes a barrier to understanding, and the story is disorganized. The events are not linear, the characters move in and out, and some events are not clear enough for a ten year old reader.. I read it all, and enjoyed and appreciated some of the telling, but I think it could be laid out and told better. Less of a series of hints at how things were, and more of what is really being described. The narrator is too young to understand everything she tells about. Maybe it should have been told by Maine, or an older narrator.

My Selma
True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement
by Willie Mae Brown
Pub Date 03 Jan 2023
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Biographies & Memoirs | Children's Nonfiction | History


I am reviewing a copy of My Selma through Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley:


In My Selma Willie Mae Brown combines family stories of the everyday and the extraordinary as seen through the eyes of her twelve-year-old self. This book is an unforgettable portrayal of her coming of age in a town at the crossroads of history.



In Selma Alabama un 1965 many things are happening in the Brown's house as well as outside of it, that does not have anything to do with the Landmark 1965 march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Yet the famous outrages which unfold on that span form an inescapable backdrop in this collection of stories. In one, Willie Mae takes it upon herself to offer summer babysitting services to a glamorous single white mother a secret she keeps from her parents that unravels with shocking results. In another, Willie Mae reluctantly joins her mother at a church rally, and is forever changed after hearing Martin Luther King Jr. deliver a defiant speech in spite of a court injunction.


My Selma captures the voice and vision of a fascinating young person perspicacious, impetuous, resourceful, and even mystical in her ways of seeing the world around her who gifts us with a loving portrayal of her hometown while also delivering a no-holds-barred indictment of the time and place.


I give My Selma five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I had to push myself to finish this one.
The writing style was hard to follow. The many different characters were hard to keep track of, also.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

A memoir of a childhood during the 1960s in Selma, Alabama, is often difficult to read as Willie Mae and her family experience racism. Against the backdrop of the important summer of 1963, the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King's leadership, the emphasis of the memoir remains Willie Mae's and her family's personal experiences.

This was a beautifully done children's novel, I was invested in the stories and thought it was a great way to introduce this topic to children. Willie Mae Brown has a great way of writing this story and I was impressed at how well this children's book was done.

“It’s been nice talking with you, my queen,” he said, stepping away from the door. His bald head reflected the sun on its crown. “And I want to thank you for your support. I’m going to leave my nation’s newspaper with you. Just promise me you will read it, and have your children read it as well."