Mississippi Bridge

Mildred D. Taylor's "Mississippi Bridge" transports young readers to 1930s rural Mississippi, where a heavy rainstorm sets the scene for a stark encounter with racial injustice. A ten-year-old white boy observes a bus driver demand all Black passengers disembark a crowded bus to accommodate late-arriving white passengers. The narrative then follows the perilous journey of the bus across the raging Rosa Lee River, highlighting the dangers and indignities faced by the Black community. This chapter book is ideal for ages 6-9, offering a powerful, age-appropriate introduction to historical discrimination and the importance of empathy.

During a heavy rainstorm in 1930s rural Mississippi, a ten-year-old white boy sees a bus driver order all the black passengers off a crowded bus to make room for late-arriving white passengers and then set off across the raging Rosa Lee River.