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“Ella knew that new shoes would make her feel special, especially in a world where she often felt invisible.”

This book would be useful in the classroom when discussing the Civil Rights Movement and racial segregation. It encourages critical thinking about social justice, economic inequality, and the importance of education.

Historical Fiction
Published 2014
This book tells the story of a young African American girl named Ella who wants a new pair of shoes to wear to school in the 1950s during the Civil Rights Movement. The details surrounding Ella's experiences, including her family's economic struggles and the significance of education ground the narrative in reality. The story shows how small moments can represent larger hopes for the future.

Fun colorful book. Would save for younger readers 2/3rd down.

“Sometimes you gotta make your own way in the world.“ This is a great quote from the book because that is exactly what they did to conquer the difficult things they were experiencing.

I would use this book in my classroom to teach about determination and standing up for yourself when things aren't right.

New Shoes by Susan Meyer was published in 2014 and is historical fiction. It is time for Ella to get new shoes but when she and her mother arrive at the shoe store, Ella Mae is unable to try on the shoes because of her skin color. Ella and her friend work hard to collect and restore old shoes. Then the girls have their own shoe sale giving the other African American members of their community a place to buy shoes where they can be treated fairly.