Side by Side: A Montgomery Bus Boycott Story is a picture book for ages eight and up told in 30 poems written in sonnet and various verse forms.
It’s October 1955 and Sadie’s daddy has died. She and her mama must now ride the bus together to school and to work. The only other girl Sadie’s age on the bus must sit in the back, for Negroes are not allowed to sit with whites. As the year progresses, both Sadie and Matty wonder about the other. Then the unexpected happens. A Negro woman refuses to give up her seat to a white man. The Montgomery Bus Boycott begins, and Sadie and Matty find themselves a part of history. Events unfold that finally allow them to sit side-by-side.
