Ella Mae’s excitement about shopping for a new pair of back-to-school shoes disappears when she discovers that because she is black, she’s not welcome to try on the shoes she wants to buy. With the help of her cousin, Ella Mae counters this discrimination by opening a used shoe store where anyone is welcome to try on all the shoes they want.
Use this reading guide to start a discussion with students and explore the historical context of the story and how the Civil Rights Movement worked to abolish unfair laws like the ones Ella Mae encounters.
This resource is great for your summer reading lists. Learn more about summer reading here.
