Prudence Crandall is perhaps not as well-known as she should be. Suzanne Jurmain does her part to correct this, giving readers an honest retelling of Crandall's fight against racism and prejudice in the antebellum North. Crandall is more than just an abolitionist or a feminist; she is a bulldog and a beacon against injustice. Despite her vulnerable position as a single woman in the 1800s, Crandall rejects societal pressures and decides to follow her conscience, opening and running a school for African American girls. Crandall and her students withstand physical threats, legal battles, and a multitude of enforced hardships before eventually closing the school in the face of imminent violence. Their legacy survives as a shining example of sacrifice and resistance.

Jurmain dutifully approaches the little-known subject of Crandall and her schoolhouse in a standard narrative structure, which seems natural and logical considering it is a piece of American history. Presented in chronological order, The Forbidden Schoolhouse follows Crandall's initial desire and mission to create a school for free women of color and continues through it's inception, tumultuous existence, and eventually its closure and beyond. Primary sources, such as newspaper articles, letters, illustrations, and photographs richly supplement the text, accompanied by modern photographs of Crandall's school house. Supplemental access features, such as a note to the reader, epilogue, appendices, notes on the sources, bibliography, and index also make the text more user-friendly, giving insight into the author's process and also context for the story, its characters, and repercussions. Jurmain does not leave the reader wondering, "So what?" about Prudence Crandall and her stalwart young women, but reinforces the relevancy and importance of Crandall's legal and moral battles against racism and their effects today. ( )

Interesting read about a woman in Connecticut in the early 1830s who initially ran an elite school for girls, then decided to turn it into a school for black girls. Many in the town vehemently objected and tried to create laws to make the school illegal. The school's plight became a statewide, national, and even international lightning rod. The school was able to survive for a few years before she had to abandon it because it became too dangerous. ( )

First of all, I think it was a wise choice of the author to begin with an explanation of her decision to include racist terms in this book for historical accuracy. This is a great true story of a young woman's decision to teach African American girls during the time of slavery. The author does a great job of speaking in easy to understand language and introducing important historical context and facts. The tone is appropriately dry and fact-oriented. It's a thrilling, important story from our history. The story teaches an important lesson about bravery and sacrifice. I also love how the author includes an epilogue that connects Prudence's fight with the later fight for civil rights and the struggle for equal education today. I think this book doesn't have all the answers, but it will inspire readers to learn more. ( )

At least 3-1/2 stars anyway. It does what it sets out to do. It holds interest at least past the resolution of the main conflict. It paints the picture pretty well. Maybe I'm giving it the benefit of a little indecision by rounding up but it's close and it's an important subject that's not typically taught, unless things have change a lot and I don't expect that's the case. ( )

Suzanne Jurmain has written a well research account of Prudence Crandall's struggle to teach African American girls. Jurmain's writing is so easy to read and yet manages to grab the reader quickly. I found it hard to put this book down while reading.

I had heard of Crandall before in Education courses, but hers was a story I feel was skipped over in middle and high school social studies. This story, though, clearly shows the way people in the United States felt about slavery before the Civil War. It is more complicated than North vs. South. Many people who lived in the same Northern town as Crandall were racist. This narrative would enrich any unit that details the United States up until the Civil War. It would also obviously fit nicely in any unit on women's history. ( )