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By Phoebe Vreeland, The Children’s Book Review
Published: January 10, 2010

Busing Brewster

by Richard Michelson (Author), R. G. Roth (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 6-10

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (May 11, 2010)

Source: Publisher

Busing Brewster is a book about believing in one’s self, making friends across the barriers of race and the power of strong women in the lives of children—all themes that author Richard Michelson has written about before.  The subject of this recent book is desegregation busing in Boston during the 1970’s.  Michelson says he doesn’t aim at a particular reader, but relies upon the publisher to tell him what age his books are geared to.  Knopf has targeted this book at ages 6-10, proving that, even after children have learned to read, picture books are still relevant.  Michelson is a great believer in the value of visual literacy and a true spokesperson for picture books.  He considers book illustrations fine art and his art gallery in Northampton, Massachusetts recently hosted the 21^st Annual Children’s Illustration Show.

As a child growing up in a fairly poor Brooklyn neighborhood, racial issues were important to Michelson and have stayed near to his heart.  His 2006, book Across the Alley tells of a friendship between a Jewish boy and his African-American neighbor.  In 2008, his book, As Good as Anybody, about the friendship between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Joshua Heschel—a Polish rabbi who joined the Selma march—received starred reviews and won the Sydney Taylor Award Gold Medal.

Busing Brewster is told from the perspective of a six year-old boy who, along with his older brother Bryan, will be bused to an all white school an hour away.  From the first page, Brewster’s challenges and support are neatly presented.  The chain link fence he must scale to enter the playground is juxtaposed against the arms of his brother Bryan who reaches to catch him.  The elements of family, community and familiarity are crucial.  Thankfully, Brewster flies beneath the radar of racism somewhat, protected by his age, his brother, and the fact that he can’t read yet. His mother views busing as an opportunity to support the potential she sees in her sons and is encouraged by Central’s facilities: a proper library, art and music classes and a swimming pool. Brewster is buoyed up by his mother’s optimism and goes to bed with anticipation.  His brother Bryan goes to bed beating his pillow, dreading rising early for the long bus ride and confronting the discrimination.

The next day, their bus is greeted by picketing adults and unwelcoming school children.  Brewster takes a drink from the fountain, a boy shoves him and a fight ensues when Bryan intervenes.  All three boys are sent to the library for a day of detention.  They soon befriend a white boy whom they call Freckle-face.  We see young Brewster’s ability to find similitude.  Freckle-face’s laugh reminds him of neighborhood friend Big Earl.  He imagines the librarian Miss O’Grady lo