   | Stonewall Riots : coming out in the streets Author: Pitman, Gayle E. | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
How and why members of the gay community took part in a series of spontaneous, often violent demonstrations in reaction to a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Describes American gay history leading up to the Riots, the Riots themselves, and the aftermath, and includes interviews of people involved or witnesses.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/01/18)
School Library Journal (06/01/19)
Booklist (05/01/19)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/05/19)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/01/2019 Pitman serves as a thorough tour guide through the history of the Stonewall riots of June 1969. Beginning with a description of what it was like to be gay in America before the riots, she then covers the events during the riots and the aftermath that grew into the gay rights movement. The narrative is presented through a series of objects: photographs of places, people, or items, such as a police officer's nightstick, a parking meter, a matchbook, or a protest leaflet. Though each object only reveals a small part of the story, together they reveal a powerful picture and offer rich historical context. The story of the riots is retold in quite a few segments, but each narration provides a slightly different perspective. Pitman also describes how groups within the gay liberation movement, such as lesbians and transgender people, found that they were still marginalized. They were galvanized, however, to establish themselves as equals. A time line, notes, and a thorough bibliography round out this inviting, engaging, and well-researched approach to history. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/01/2019 Gr 6–9—A thorough if somewhat disjointed examination of the events before, during, and in the aftermath of the Stonewall Riots gives young readers an overview of the LGBTQ+ activism of the 1950s and 1960s. Pitman traces meeting places, social clubs, and the rise of organizations and activist groups as well as the many police raids of gay establishments, focusing on the June 28, 1969, raid on the mob-owned Stonewall Inn. Due to a lack of documented accounts, use of pseudonyms, and conflicting reports, controversies remain over the actuality of events at Stonewall. Post-Stonewall, readers learn about the increase in radical groups and visibility that challenged negative attitudes and discrimination. Pitman occasionally expands the narrative focus to examine what was happening in various places around the country and to consider other issues and movements of the time, including weaknesses and missteps in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights. The unique approach of using various objects (matchbooks, leaflets, buttons, arrest records, photographs, and more, with many reproductions too small or low resolution to read) to guide, inform, and reconstruct the story of the riots prevents a smooth narrative flow and makes the text feel repetitive as it moves back and forth in time. Back matter includes a time line, notes, bibliography, and an index. VERDICT An important look at a major moment in American history. Readers will come to understand why the iconic Stonewall Inn is now on the National Register of Historic Places, a National Historic Landmark, and a National Monument.—Amanda MacGregor, Parkview Elementary School, Rosemount, MN - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
