My Mother The Cheerleader

My Mother The Cheerleader is a historical fiction book taking place during segregation when civil rights movements begin to take off. The story follows Louise Collins, an elementary school girl living in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans with her mother in their boarding house.  Louise's life is drastically changed when she is pulled out of school by her mother when desegregation begins. Meanwhile, Louise's mother is at her school with a group of women whom gather to taunt and heckle little 6 year old Ruby Bridges, the school's first African- American student. All Louise's life, she felt alone and misunderstood, as her mother took no great interest in her and she had no clue who her father was. But one day, Morgan Miller stepped into her life, and she finally felt understood. As the story moves along, Louise begins to learn everything she thought she knew wasn't all that true. I really liked this book, especially towards the end, when it becomes very dramatic and lots of secrets are revealed and Louise becomes desperate for change and desperate for answers. I highly recommend this book.