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    The Lions of Little Rock
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    The Lions of Little Rock
    Unavailable
    The Lions of Little Rock
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Lions of Little Rock

    Written by Kristin Levine

    Narrated by Julia Whelan

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Everything's changing for twelve-year-old Marlee. Her brother's gone off to college and her sister's moved out of the room they've shared since Marlee was born. To Marlee, it feels like her whole world's falling apart.

    On top of all that, she's starting middle school and has to break in new teachers-teachers who don't yet know Marlee doesn't talk. At least not until she meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz is brave, brash and always knows the right things to say, especially to the resident mean girl, Sally. Liz even helps Marlee overcome her fear of speaking. But when Liz leaves school without even a good-bye, the rumor is that Liz was really a colored girl caught passing for white. Marlee decides that doesn't matter. She just wants her friend back. And to stay friends, Marlee and Liz are even willing to take on segregation and the dangers their friendship could bring to both their families.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJan 10, 2012
    ISBN9780307968791
    Unavailable
    The Lions of Little Rock
    Author

    Kristin Levine

    Kristin Levine lives in Alexandria, VA with her two daughters. The Paper Cowboy is her third novel.

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    Reviews for The Lions of Little Rock

    4.5/5

    172 ratings22 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This is a near-perfect book. It deals with issues of race honestly and believably without didacticism, and provides just enough context for readers unfamiliar with 1958 Little Rock to understand what's going on. These are issues kids will care about: Who gets to tell you who your friends are? What makes a friend? How can you stand up for yourself when you need to? When you learn a secret about someone, does that change who they are? It even brings in a thread about disability, as Marlee develops strategies to push beyond her "muteness" with anyone but her immediate family. These are universal themes, but the historical context is more than just a backdrop; kids will care about the events of school integration because they care about Marlee and Liz. I would love to teach this book!
    • 4/5
      An excellent choice for students in grades 5-8. It has humor, suspense, and a whole lot of history. It moves quickly and would be a good choice for kids who like action.
    • 5/5
      It's only a year after Little Rock became an integrated school, and now the folks in Marlee’s town are putting up a fight to stay segregated. Marlee’s a bundle of nerves before school starts and she has to begin at the junior high. Although she has always been a wiz at math, she suffers from an extreme fear of public speaking and doesn’t talk in public, so no talking in class. Surprisingly, she hits it off with a new girl, Liz, and even starts chatting with her. Marlee can’t believe her luck to have a friend who is just like her in so many ways, but different in ways she admires. In her dreams she's as brave as Liz, and their friendship helps Marlee to shed some of her fears. Marlee’s world is turned upside down when Liz stops coming to school and the rumors swirl that she was light skinned and passing for white to attend their school. At first Marlee can’t believe it, but then she realizes she doesn’t care if Liz is black or white. All she really wants is her friend back, and she's willing to take whatever risks she needs to in order for that to happen. They meet at the zoo near the lions since it's public and they could easily be there at the same time. This allows them to continue their friendship without anyone knowing. What Marlee doesn’t realize is how dangerous their friendship could be, not just for themselves, but for their families. Is it worth the risk for the girls to continue their friendship? What will happen if they're found out by those in the town who support the KKK and segregation? What will Marlee learn about friendship and treating people fairly? You must read this book to find out how everything turns out and if their friendship lasts!



      The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine is a remarkable book about a fantastic girl who is braver than she knows. I loved watching Marlee stand up for what she believes in, and she definitely tried to make the world a better place. It's an excellent book for people of all ages, and I think kids in fourth grade and up will especially relate to Marlee and Liz. The book makes history come alive, and it made me want to clap and cheer for all of the people who have broken and continue to break races barriers and help people see that we are all humans. I found myself nervous about some of the situations Marlee found herself in, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters when I finished the book. I was totally engrossed in this one because the characters are easy to relate to, and I felt like I knew them. I really like Marlee and think she has many qualities that make me want to be friends with her. Without a doubt, this is a story that will make you want to go out and change the world, and it will definitely make people want to be kinder! If you have not read it, I highly recommend it. This story will remind you how far we've come and how each step forward is a step in the right direction.
    • 4/5
      Integration began when I was in 7th grade. I still remember the 3 black students names who went to my school, China Grove Elementary. It was all very confusing for me as I grew up in a home where Black people were respected. Therefore this book was relevent to my life. Kristin Levine said she originally wanted to write an historic account of the Little Rock Nine which occurred in 1957, but when she went to Arkansas to interview folks about it, she found they wanted to talk about The Lost Year in 1958-1958. That was when schools were closed to prevent integration. She wrote a marvelous account of this based on Marlee a white 14 year old and Liz a black girl who looked to be white. These girls become friends but as the story evolves you realize that black and white can never be friends without the risk of life even for 2 innocent little girls.
      The book is unforgettable and disturbing to remember those days of cruelty and unrest.
    • 4/5
      This was a solid piece of historical fiction about Little Rock's lost year. The characters are well done, however I found there to be pacing issues.
    • 3/5
      The author does a brilliant job of portraying the segregated south of the 1950s but the plot seems sometimes overly calculated and contrived. The whole thing with Red and the dynamite is superfluous and Marlene getting trapped in the trunk of Red's car is totally over the top.
    • 5/5
      SO GOOD. I will be disappointed if it doesn't make the MSBA list next year.
    • 3/5
      While I superficially enjoyed the novel about Marlee and her innocent friendship with Liz, I felt the novel suffered from plotline ADHD -- it seemed to not dwell on difficult subjects long enough to flesh out the intended meanings thoroughly. For such a heavy-handed subject, that flaw is rather fatal, and therefore I would not recommend this novel. All of the Lone Stars thus far have been fantastic and this one is my first disappointment.
    • 4/5
      Set in Little Rock, the year after the Little Rock Nine "paved" the way for integration, the town shut down its high schools to fight the country's demand for integration. Marlee, whose older sister is sent away to another town for schooling during the year, and who doesn't talk to many people anyways, struggles as she tries to find her voice. She knows what she wants to say: integration is the right choice, but she is unsure how to say it and how to help until she meets Liz - who is different in more ways than one. This book was way more interesting than the cover looked. It is a good addition to the other books set around that time, as most don't talk about that year and the struggles after integration officially got underway. There was good symbolism throughout (easily picked up on so a good introduction to that idea if it is needed.)
    • 3/5
      I'm hoping that middle school students will like this book - it has an important story to tell. Having had the honor of listening to Carlotta Walls Lanier, one of the Little Rock Nine, speak to our middle school, it was interesting to hear the next stage of the story. The closing of the high schools in Little Rock for a whole year in an attempt to avoid integration. I thought the author did a good job of putting her characters into that situation. There was tension throughout the entire story wondering what would happen next. That being said, the historical parts were a little too preachy and long and some of the plot seemed contrived and too neatly resolved. But it is a good follow-up to Warriors Don't Cry.
    • 5/5
      The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine takes on one tempestuous moment in history and explores it with a great deal of heart and a few touches of humor.It's the fall of 1958, the year after the Little Rock Nine were the first black students to integrate into Little Rock's Central High School. In an attempt to stop the push to integrate, the school board has decided not to open the high schools. The still-segregated elementary and junior highs continue to function as usual, but nobody in Little Rock remains entirely untouched by the school closings.Painfully shy seventh-grader Marlee Nisbett would rather solve math problems than say even five words to anyone outside of her family. That begins to change for her when Liz, a new girl at school, befriends Marlee and helps her take the first steps toward speaking up a little bit more. Their friendship is cemented as the two girls work together on a class project. Then, one day, Liz disappears, and Marlee is left on her own again. Will Marlee ever find her voice? Will she discover that some things are important enough to speak out about?This well-written exploration of the events in 1958 Little Rock kept me up late reading -- always a mark of a good, gripping read. I found Marlee to be a very sympathetic narrator, and the secondary characters were generally nuanced and complex as well. I'd recommend this to those who enjoy works of historical fiction like The Watsons Go to Birmingham -- 1963 and Moon Over Manifest.
    • 5/5
      This is a great book for young readers. I bought it for my niece. Both her mother and I read it in one day.
    • 5/5
      Stayed up too late to finish this because I could not put it down. Excellent!
    • 5/5
      It is 1958 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the year after the famous Little Rock Nine integrated into a local high school. Marlee, aged twelve, is about to start middle school. Her older sister, who is supposed to be starting high school, is unable to due to the closure of her high school to avoid integration. Marlee struggles with extreme shyness and very rarely speaks to anyone other than her immediate family. This changes when she meets Liz, a new girl at school who has no problem saying whatever is on her mind. Liz teaches Marlee how to talk to others and how to stand up for her beliefs, while Marlee teaches Liz how to remain calm and refrain from saying what is on her mind out of anger. One day Liz is absent and Marlee is told that Liz will not be returning to school. Later Marlee finds out that Liz is really a light-skinned African American and was attending school passing as a white student. As Marlee’s parents and siblings struggle with their different viewpoints about school integration, Marlee struggles with staying friends with Liz in a world where a cross racial friendship can lead to death.In this historical fiction novel, the author Kristin Levine deals with the difficulties of friendship and going against the grain in a segregated society fighting against integration.
    • 4/5
      Summary:Marlee is a little girl who has a great fear of speaking to anyone that is outside of her family. Because of this, Marlee does not have many friends at her school. This changes when Marlee meets Liz, the new girl at school. Liz helps Marlee to overcome her fear of speaking, but it looks like that is all going to change when Liz leaves the school due to rumors that she is an African American girl who is trying to pass as being white The two girls decide that their friendship is more important and take on integration while ignoring the dangers it could cause their families.Reviews:This chapter book tackles the historical topic of integration in the school systems. Though children reading this book now may not have to think about issues of integration, there may be other factors that are influencing their friendships. Reading historical books can help children to connect the school topics that they learn about history with their home life readings.
    • 4/5
      Integration in Little Rock in 1958 from the perspective of a middle school student . There is a lot to this book. Different takes on the main theme. A friend of the main character who tries to 'pass'. The effect of the school boycott on families. Intolerance, fear and hatred of changing by those who cling to their beliefs. Very well done, a great middle school read and upper elementary. Definitely a history lesson and discussion starter for an American history class. SSYRA 2014
    • 4/5
      Beautifully written book about a girl named Marlee. She meets a new girl at her school, and they become fast friends. Her new friend, Liz, though has been going to school and passing herself off as a white person. When the town finds out, Marless is shunned because she has a black friend. Lots of racial tension and historical accurateness regarding the integration of schools in the South in the early 60s.
    • 4/5
      Lions of Little Rock is set in 1958-1959 in Little Rock, AR. It is clear that Levine has done her research. Her descriptions of the characters and the events that unfold in Little Rock illustrate the tension and angst that was segregation in the South. The reader gets a clear picture of what it was like to live as both a White and African American. Levine does an exceptional job of drawing the reader in through the character development and plot. As a woman, I remember what it was like to be a middle school aged girl. I can relate to Liz and Marlee the two main characters. For young teens, they both have such strong feelings of what they believe. I can’t imagine growing up the South in such a time as they did. Levine uses the simple theme of companionship and friendship to help craft her plot. This novel would help children connect with what it may be like to live in this setting during this particular time in our country. The events that unfold would be easy for students to relate to, since most of the plot centers around integration in schools. Most children who attend public schools have a diverse group of peers, and I think they would be able to empathize with how it would feel to not have the choice of being friends with some of the children in their own classes. There is not a lot of background information on the events in America that led up to this particular year in history, so I would want to briefly educate young readers regarding segregation/integration first.
    • 4/5
      A quick, enjoyable read about friendship, family, and integration of schools in Little Rock in 1958-1959. Marlee is a reserved, shy girl who doesn't speak much. When she meets Liz, she takes a chance on friendship. Marlee's sister is sent off to stay with her grandma after the high schools are closed in Little Rock as a way to avoid school integration. When Liz stops going to school one day and it is found that she was "passing", Marlee is torn about keeping her friendship or following the rules. Her friendship with Liz makes her deeply question what is happening with integration, race relations, and her own beliefs. Marlee works to find her voice and take action in what she believes which sometimes gets her in hot water and puts her in dangerous situations. A glimpse into history, the individual story of Marlee and Liz gives the issue of integration a personal context in this middle grades story.
    • 4/5
      Great historical fiction and coming-of-age story about Marklee during the late 1950's in Arkansas. She is a quiet girl who learns to find her voice, due to a new friend who turns out to be African American. Will she be able to stand up for what's right, even though everyone around her says that integration is wrong?
    • 5/5
      The Lions of Little Rock is a great book to inspire inquiry of historical events and controversial themes. Kristin Levine's story of Marlee and her struggles in times of turmoil can be used to examine the author's craft or evaluate character traits for interactions, views, and struggles within herself, with others and the opposition of her world. The book is full of themes to help the young reader relate or make personal connections to the characters, the obstacles they face, and the changes they make. Some of the possible themes worthy of discussion or response include: friends, self awareness, differences, personal gifts, challenges, taking a stand, overcoming adversity, working together to make a difference, acceptance, choices and change.
    • 5/5
      Many themes, issues, and feelings are intertwined throughout this book. Marlee is a young girl forced to understand the way of life during the 1950's and learns the hard way that change takes time. She has to decide to follow the harsh realities of racism and segregation, or fight for what she believes is fair and right.