As she did in Countdown, Deborah Wiles uses a documentary novel format, interspersing fragments from the period (newspaper clippings, photos, quotes, song lyrics and profiles of historic figures) throughout a fictional narrative that offers both white and black perspectives during Freedom Summer. The effect is powerful.
No one knew what to expect when SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) volunteers came to Greenwood, Miss., in June 1964. Many called the volunteers "invaders" and "agitators" as they entered segregated communities throughout the South with a mission of education, integration and, most importantly, voter registration for black citizens. For 12-year-old Sunny, summer was supposed to mean swimming, listening to Beatles records, going to the movies and avoiding her stepmother. However, when news of "invaders" arrives, a storm rolls over her carefree summer. Raymond Bullis, on the other hand, dreams of becoming the next Willie Mays and of swimming in the white folks' pool. Then he comes home to find a white girl "Freedom Righter" in his kitchen, ready to shake things up. He becomes determined to do more than just answer phones to help the cause and earn real freedom.
By emphasizing the wider context, the history, story and characters come to life in ways that would have been impossible otherwise. Wiles emphasizes the danger and upheaval of this civil rights campaign, as well as the incredible importance of standing up for change and the power of the vote. Compelling and complex, Revolution is a revelation in historical fiction. --Julia Smith, blogger and former children's bookseller