Book Review 3

Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case
By: Chris Crowe

Biography of Author: Chris Crowe had a love for reading at a very young age; in sixth grade he began to try writing and found it great, but hard experience. Crowe found interest in sports and stuck with that for some time. Later, he married, Elizabeth, and found that writing was what he always wanted to do. At the age of 24 he got serious about his writing, and slowed down with the sports. Since then he has published hundreds of articles, a handful of short stories, a few poems, and ten books.

Summary of Book: Author Chris Crowe gives a compelling, historical account of young Emmett Till’s short life, through text and real-life photos. Till, an African American boy, was raised in Chicago; a place with more freedom than the South, during a time of racism and segregation which seemed to be a shield to his knowledge of the South. On a trip to visit family in Mississippi in 1955, Till’s life is cut short by two racist men that murdered him in 1955. This story digs deep into the teen’s life and trial of the men who took his life. What is a horrible tragedy brings power and strength to many people, who begin to stand up for their rights. Little did Till know his sad story would trigger events from people like Rosa Parks, leading to The Civil Rights Movement in America

Awards: Best Books for Young Readers 2004

Analysis of Book: Crowe definitely brings the story of Emmett Till back to life reminding his readers of the history and struggle of the African American people. His use of historical events and actual pictures gives any age reader the insight to a life, which might have been missed without this great book being written. The story is told with accurate detail, from articles, interviews, and court records. Being well written, this story will bring heaviness to your heart and strength to want to help make a difference. This is an important part of history, which all ages should learn about and develop an understanding about. This touching and revealing biography gives readers a chance to learn about the time leading up to the Civil Rights Movement. Overall, this book is a great tool for reading and studying an important piece of our history.

This review can be found on borders.