Preview
  • Warriors Don't Cry

  • A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High
  • By: Melba Pattillo Beals
  • Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts
  • Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (623 ratings)

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Warriors Don't Cry

By: Melba Pattillo Beals
Narrated by: Lisa Reneé Pitts
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Publisher's summary

The landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, brought the promise of integration to Little Rock, Arkansas, but it was hard-won for the nine Black teenagers chosen to integrate Central High School in 1957. They ran a gauntlet flanked by a rampaging mob and a heavily armed Arkansas National Guard-opposition so intense that soldiers from the elite 101st Airborne Division were called in to restore order. For Melba Beals and her eight friends those steps marked their transformation into reluctant warriors - on a battlefield that helped shape the civil rights movement.

Warriors Don't Cry, drawn from Melba Beals's personal diaries, is a riveting true account of her junior year at Central High-one filled with telephone threats, brigades of attacking mothers, rogue police, fireball and acid-throwing attacks, economic blackmail, and, finally, a price upon Melba's head. With the help of her English-teacher mother; her eight fellow warriors; and her gun-toting, Bible-and-Shakespeare-loving grandmother, Melba survived. And, incredibly, from a year that would hold no sweet-sixteen parties or school plays, Melba Beals emerged with indestructible faith, courage, strength, and hope.

©1994 Melba Patillo Beals (P)2011 Tantor
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Critic reviews

"Beals, one of the nine black students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, AR, in 1957, tells an incredible story of faith, family love, friendships, and strong personal commitment." (School Library Journal)

What listeners say about Warriors Don't Cry

Average customer ratings
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Outstanding

Amazing story of how this young woman pushed through despite overwhelming odds!! Very highly recommend!

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Outstanding and critical to read

This book has been the most important book I have ever read. Thank you Ms. Beals for your courage, your integrity and your willingness to live graciously through such harrowing and heart searing years; and for sharing your experiences with the world. I am humbled and hope to imbue your courage and compassion. thank you for letting me understand, as best I am able, what you lived through. Thank you for the many lessons in courage and faith; and for the window into the shoes of people and groups that face terrible racism, intolerance and more.

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Important story that needs to be heard

Everyone should take the time to read or listen to this book. This is an important story and the author does an incredible job telling her story.

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Inspiring Courage

Such a powerful story with engaging narration. Highly recommend this book. I was so impressed by the teenagers and their families as well. They all exhibited such deep faith and determination. The vileness of the racist hatred made me sick.

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This Warrior made me cry!

What did you love best about Warriors Don't Cry?

I've heard the story of the Little Rock Nine, but this tells of the real story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Melba, of course!

What does Lisa Reneé Pitts bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She reads story very well, but when reading the part of her Grandmother dhe brings her alive.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes , I was anxious to return to it everyday.

Any additional comments?

Great story!

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Great Book!

I'm definitely not a warrior since I cried a couple of times; and I'm not the type to cry easily. That should tell you how good is this book.

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OMG ITS THE BEST THING EVER

omg idk they gave me this book for a project and guess what i love it its the best and i like it but they just told me to get the kid version so i think they should put the version name cuz i didnt kn ow until a next day i found in the interner

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Wow!!! incredible and powerful story!

One of the best narrated books I've heard...by far! Do yourself a favor and get this book! Such an incredible book! I am thankful to have been blessed by the characters and their bravery!

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Gripping and thought provoking

This is the second time I've read this and still the images are searing and desperately gruesome story of 9 brave heros.

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voices

there was a good difference between characters. you could tell who was who by the voices. overall very good book i highly recommend it.

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2 people found this helpful