Northbound: A Train Ride Out of Segregation by Eric Stein, James E. Ransome, Michael S. Bandy
Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2020
ISBN: 0763696501
Pages: 40
Genres: Historical Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Michael lives in Alabama, and he loves trains. When he and his grandmother board a train to Ohio, he’s excited for the adventure ahead. What he doesn’t expect is that as they move from one state to another, the rules on the train change. When they start on their journey, he and his grandmother are in the “colored only” train car, but when they move into Atlanta, the conductor removes the segregation sign between the two cars. When they make their way into Chattanooga, the segregation sign goes back up. Along the journey, Michael befriends a white boy named Bobby Ray. When they’re allowed, the two boys play together, and when the segregation sign goes back up, they are forced to sit separately. This is a really well done book about a part of Black history many people may not know. It highlights the inequities felt throughout parts of the country and the varied pace of desegregation. The illustrations are life-like watercolor and do a wonderful job bringing the story to life. The story is easy to follow and will appeal to readers young and old. It will definitely spark some questions from younger readers. Recommended for readers 4 and up.

Reviewed by Jessie Trafton, Skidompha Library, Damariscotta, ME