Eleven-year-old Ellis Earl (Black) lives with his mother, six siblings, and several nieces and nephews in a three-room house in Mississippi in 1967. Food is a constant worry, but school is a bright spot—and not only because Ellis Earl’s beloved teacher, Mr. Foster, often brings food for his hungry students. Ellis Earl loves to learn and dreams about being a lawyer or a teacher someday. Mr. Foster recognizes Ellis Earl’s hard work and goes out of his way to create opportunities for Ellis Earl and the other students. He invites Ellis Earl to give a short speech at his church and helps his students stay informed about current events, especially ones that affect African Americans. He tells them about Marian Wright, a Black lawyer who is lobbying Congress for relief for people living in poverty in Mississippi. When Senator Robert Kennedy plans a trip to the South to witness these living conditions firsthand, Mr. Foster invites Ellis Earl and several others to join him on a trip to Jackson to see Senator Kennedy arrive. But Ellis Earl’s mother is uncertain; she knows racist white people will pose a risk both along the way and in the city. In a novel with outstanding characterizations, Ellis Earl is a delight—not perfectly behaved but genuine, curious, and loving. He and his family are navigating a time of hardship, but there is hope on the horizon, and there are good people working for change. (Ages 8-12)