Author: Russell Freedman
Title: The Voice that Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights
Illustrator: None
Genre: Chapter Book
Subgenre: Bibliography
Theme: The life of Marian Anderson.
Primary and Secondary Characters: Marian Anderson, Anna Anderson, Tenor Hayes, Giuseppe Boghetti, Eleanor Roosevelt, Orpheus Fisher, Franz Rupp
Awards: Newberry Honor Book, Robert F. Sibert Medal
Publishing Company: Clarion Books
Date of Publication: 2004
Brief Summary and How to Use With Students:
Even as a child Marian Anderson had a dream to make a career for herself as a singer. Even bigger than her dream was her talent that blessed her with the opportunity to change America with a single voice. The Voice that Challenged a Nation is a heartwarming story of the journey taken by Marian Anderson, a black woman, who pursued her dream during a time of segregation in America.
This book is directed more toward children in fifth grade. It can be used for a language arts class when going over what a bibliography is. Students can follow the reading by writing out their own story of a dream they are pursuing or a past accomplishment they have achieved. It can go along with a history discussion on segregation or be a part of a book reading for black history month. It can be used in a music class to help showcase the different styles of music and students can even listen to songs sung by Marian Anderson.
