Pictures at the Protest
A mystery tied to the Civil Rights story that should be forgotten
In 1959, the Prince Edward County, Virginia public schools closed. For five years. Back then, it wasn’t over a health pandemic, but because county leaders refused to desegregate white and Black schools. Sam, Derek, and Caitlin trace long-hidden photographs to identify brave teenage protesters from the past.
Inside Pictures at the Protest.
In 1959, the Prince Edward County, Virginia public schools closed. For five years. Back then, it wasn’t over a health pandemic, but because county leaders refused to desegregate white and Black schools. When long-hidden photographs surface from the 1963 student protests along Main Street in Farmville, Sam, Derek, and Caitlin join a mission to identify the faces of determined teenagers who stood for justice nearly sixty years ago.
Their search winds through Virginia’s checkered racial past of Jim Crow and Massive Resistance, sending them to key sites like the Moton Museum, Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson Ward, and the Virginia State Capitol, and courageous voices like Barbara Johns, Oliver Hill, and Maggie Walker. But when protests over Confederate monuments and cries for social justice ignite their city, will the kids use their lessons from history to take a stand in the present? How far will they go to support new friends while confronting faces from the past?
Pictures at the Protest is the series’ most powerful book — a Civil Rights story rooted in the real history of Prince Edward County. Pairs with U.S. History and Virginia Studies units on Civil Rights and Massive Resistance.
Inside these pages
Stand inside the Moton Museum.
The Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville is housed in the very high school where, in 1951, a sixteen-year-old named Barbara Johns led a student walkout that helped launch the Civil Rights movement. The museum tells that story directly and unflinchingly.
Farmville is about an hour west of Richmond and makes for a deeply meaningful family day trip — especially paired with reading the book first.
Moton Museum
The real history behind the book
After Brown v. Board, Virginia leaders chose to close public schools rather than desegregate. Prince Edward County’s schools stayed closed for five full years, denying generations of Black students an education.
Housed in the original Moton High School in Farmville — where Barbara Johns led the 1951 student walkout. A nationally important Civil Rights site, free to visit.
Known as the ‘Black Wall Street of America,’ Jackson Ward was once the wealthiest African-American community in the South. The neighborhood still stands and is well worth visiting alongside the Moton Museum.
Free downloadable comprehension quiz, Civil Rights teaching guide, and Virginia Studies / U.S. History materials for Pictures at the Protest.
What readers are saying
“As a teacher and librarian, I can not rave enough about this series… this book is a perfect read for students to take a glimpse into the past… A must read!”
— Teacher-librarian
“As an elementary librarian I love this series for my 3rd–5th grade students and the tie-in to many Virginia History SOLs is an added bonus!”
— School librarian
“A super helpful kid-level way to discuss everything that’s happened in our city over the last few years… a great starting place for parents to talk to their kids about this topic.”
— Parent
“Smith has done a fantastic job at weaving history with current events… a great entry point to discuss these hard issues with their children.”
— Reader review
All 12 Virginia Mysteries
Using Pictures at the Protest in your classroom?
Free comprehension quiz, discussion guide, and One Book, One School program materials available. Plus bulk pricing for classroom sets and signed copies.
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Available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook everywhere books are sold — or order a signed copy direct from Steven.