The Lions Of Little Rock
By Kristin Levine POster by Chloe Simonte
Book Summary
I read The Lions Of Little Rock for my historical fiction book project. The author is Kristin Levine. It takes place in Little Rock, Arkansas 1958. The characters in this book are, Marlee, who starts off very quiet but eventually finds her voice. Liz, Marlee’s best friend who is colored. Judy, Marlee’s older sister who helps her more than her parents, Marlee really feels like she can talk to Judy. Sally, the mean girl at school. J.T. A boy in Marlee’s class who isn't nice to her and makes her do his homework. Red, J.T.’s older brother who doesn’t like colored people. Marlee’s Mother and father. David, Marlee’s older brother who just left for college. Betty-Jean Marlee’s families housekeeper who is colored and Curtis, Betty-Jean’s son.
The conflict that Marlee’s new friends Liz turns out to be colored. Liz’s skin is very light (for a colored person) so Liz decides to pass as a white person and go to the white school for a better education. There she meets Marlee and they instantly become friends. But one day when Liz was going to the black church someone from her white school saw her there and knew that she was colored. Liz was kicked out of the school. The conflict was character vs. society because Marlee wanted Liz to be allowed to go to school with her but she is colored and is not allowed to. Marlee doesn’t care that Liz is colored she just wanted a new friend. So she is vs. the whole society.
The climax of the story is when Red (J.T.’s older brother) finds dynamite and decides to keep it in the back of his car. Marlee knew what he was planning on doing with it so she decides to sneak in the back of Red’s car and get it out. the problem is that Red comes in the car and drives away without knowing Marlee was i it. She still manages to get the dynamite out but accidently leaves 2 sticks. The resolution is when Red gets sent to military school.It's Better to be Brave than Shy
Turning point 1
Turning point 2
Turning point 3
Quote #1
Page number: 7
Quote #2
“A colored girl and a white girl can’t be friends.” says JT. “Says who?” I asked. “Says everyone!” These quotes show the time period in which the story takes place because now lots of black people and white people are friends some can even get married! Now a days it doesn’t matter if your “white”or “black” you can still be friends with anyone.
Quote #3
“I’d invite you to come with us but we are going to the Gem, the Negro movie theater.” This quote shows the time period because now, we don't even have “Negro movie theaters” we have movie theaters for everybody. Back then they had special movie theaters, restaurants, water fountains and bathrooms.