Dear Mrs. Parks

Parks, best known for her act of civil disobedience that launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, here shares her responses to children's letters. As Reed, founder of the Parks Legacy, observes in a foreword, Parks ""answers from her heart these young people's questions."" Indeed, her comments and advice are highly personal and heartfelt, and filled with references to her own childhood and her trenchant experiences as an adult. Her words are inspirational: she stresses the importance of a good education, belief in God and the power of prayer, high moral standards, and of standing up for personal beliefs. Her words ring with sincerity, but although she repeats herself purposefully, tighter editing could have eliminated redundancies on the part of her correspondents. The repetitiousness notwithstanding, this worthy volume fortifies Parks's pivotal position as a role model for kids today. Hers is a stirring message, relayed with rare authority. Ages 8-up. (Oct.)