SLIS 5420, Module #6: Ron's Big Mission

Okay, another confession!! This week, I visited my sister in Seattle. We shared a bed and one night, I climbed in with all of the historical fiction picture books I'd checked out from the library that day. I guess the books sparked her interest- we spent the next hour laughing, giggling, and reading the books aloud to each other! Honestly, it was one of the funnest moments I've shared with my sister in a long time! Ron's Big Mission was one of our favorites- it is proof that good things really do come in small packages and it is totally worth reading!

Summary

It's 1959 and Ron, a nine year-old boy living in South Carolina loves to read... especially about planes and flying; he is going to be a pilot some day. But, today, Ron has a big mission to accomplish (much like the one he'll accomplish as an astronaut on the space shuttle Challenger some 25 years later). Ron wants to check out books from the local public library.

The problem is, however, that only white people can check out books from the Lake City Public Library. Ron comes to the library prepared with a plan- sort of a peaceful protest that will hopefully lead to the rules being changed for him. After jumping up on the desk clerk's desk, Ron explains that he doesn't think the rules that state he can't check out books aren't fair. Even after the police and Ron's mom are called to the library, Ron doesn't budge and stands his ground. Ron is the library's best customer, after all, and for that reason alone he should be allowed to check out books.

In a triumphant ending, Mrs. Scott, the head librarian, decides to bend the rules for Ron- and presents him with his very own library card! The author's note in the end of the book further explains the history of Ron McNair's "big mission" on that fateful day in 1959 and how that dedicated little boy grew up to become a famous astronaut, proving that dedication and commitment can start at a very young age.

My thoughts

The first time I read Ron's Big Mission, I fell in love. I purchased the book immediately. The second time I read the book, I got excited. There is so much opportunity for conversation within this little book! I've just finished reading the book for a 3rd time, and it just keeps getting better!

It is important that young people have role models there own age- and that is exactly what this book provides. In addition, the illustrations play a huge role in the text's power...at one point during his protest, Ron says, "The rules aren't fair. Why can't I check out books like everyone else?" The illustrations on this page show the police officers and a patron dumbfounded. Almost as if they are all thinking, "Ron's right... Why can't he check out books?" The pictures suggest that sometimes, it takes just a few words to push others to think about why the way things are the way they are!

What have others said?

From School Library Journal (2009):

Stylized cartoon illustrations convey the town's benign facade while revealing  tension through Ron's expressions of determination mixed with fear. The impact of his actions shows in the confusion and anger of onlookers. Readers do not learn if the library will change the rules for everyone, or just for Ron, but the final scene resonates as the child eagerly opens his book to page one. An author's note explains that this is a fictionalized account of a real incident from the childhood of astronaut Ron McNair, who died in the 1986 Challenger explosion. This context lends power and poignancy to the event and adds the book's value as an introduction and discussion starter for concepts of racism and individual courage.

And, from  Booklist (2009):

Based on interviews with Ron’s mother and a South Carolinian librarian, the story emphasizes McNair’s focus and determination to succeed, even if it means pointing out injustices along the way. Vibrant illustrations portray a cozy small town where rules are obeyed, mostly without thinking. Tate’s figures feature oversized heads with very expressive faces that vividly convey well-meant kindness and the frustrations of injustice. Appended with a note on McNair’s adult life, this will make a good choice for reading aloud and discussing.

Some ideas for the library or classroom

I'd like to read Ron's Big Mission to my third grade students during one of thier first visits to the library. We always talk about how checking out books is a priviledge (especially because they are using the middle school's library), but I think reading this book would show the students just how lucky they are to check out books. Of course, the theme of the text runs much deeper than "checking out books," which would make for a great lesson on character and equality, too.

Ron's Big Mission is a must-read in the classroom during Black History Month and when the students study Civil Rights. The fact that Ron is so young and yet, so powerful, proves that people of all ages can make a difference. In addition, the opportunities for discussion after reading the text are endless- from discussing Ron's behavior (is it okay that he jumped on the desk?) to talking about how to handle something when you think it's unfair, I can see students of all ages thinking critically after reading Ron's Big Mission. Finally, the book will work great as a paired text to non-fiction texts and research on astronauts and the Challenger. It would be interesting to have students research the young lives of historical figures- answering the question: What makes a hero a hero? How does the childhood of a person shape who they become in the future?

References

Blue, R. & Naden, C. (2009). Ron’s Big Mission. New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books.

Engelftied, S. (2009). [Review of the book, Ron's big mission by Rose Blue and Corrine Naden]. School Library Journal, 55(2), 72.

Weisman, K. (2009). [Review of the book, Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corrine Naden]. Booklist, 105(11), 58.