We Were the Fire by Shelia P. Moses – Book Review

Title: We Were the Fire Author: Shelia P. Moses Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books Release Date: September 6, 2022

Rufus Jackson Jones, Jr. and his family live in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963. At the time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. named it the most segregated place in the country. Day-in and day-out racism shapes the experiences of Rufus, his family, his friends, and his community. After his mother remarries, Daddy Paul brings his determination to fight for equality and freedom with him to the family. As the adults meet, talk, and plan of change, the children are inspired to act and join the cause. Ultimately, it is these intrepid children that catalyze a critical turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. Despite going against his parents’ wishes, Rufus stands up for what is right and helps ignite a movement that continues to this day. When thousands of young people peacefully march for equality, they are faced with policemen, dogs, and firehoses. The images of the encounters lay bare the hateful and racist underbelly of segregation.

We Were the Fire by Shelia P. Moses is a transparent, detailed account of one family’s struggle to fight against segregation and racism in the 1960’s. The novel highlights the actual complexity required to stand up for what is right, the danger such action posed at the time, and the courage it took to face segregation and demand equality.  Rufus’ interest, determination, and passion for freedom is not only powerful because of his activism but also because he stands up to his family – an act that can be just as frightening. In the end, the young students’ organization and resolve shines as a beacon of hope, casting a message with resonance across the past, present, and into the future. The message remains powerful and relevant as ever, especially at a moment when such history is increasingly in danger of being pushed out of classrooms and the consciousness of today’s young people.

Civil Rights Movement units of study should be a fixture in all classrooms. Educators looking for a narrative that delves into the perspective of those participating in the movement will find ample material in We Were the Fire. The novel’s content is rich and moving in its portrayal of civil rights activism. Perhaps most importantly, it highlights the bravery of young students and their ability to effect change in a way that proves challenging for adults. The positive messages in We Were the Fire are endless, the lessons enduring, and the history raw and real. Whether as part of a book club or a novel study, We Were the Fire belongs in every classroom, and it will come as no surprise when it finds its way there.

Thank you to Edelweiss+ and publisher, Nancy Paulsen Books, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of the Civil Rights Movement, especially the lesser-known heroes of the movement.
• Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of novels centered around the Civil Rights Movement.
• Book Club or Book Exchange – Share the novel with students that enjoy reading historical fiction.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Civil Rights Movement
• The Birmingham Campaign
• Housing Discrimination
• Jim Crow Laws

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with We Were the Fire. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink (Character Connections, Themes, Nonfiction Connections)
• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
• Mighty Inside by Sundee T. Frazier (Character Connections, Themes, Nonfiction Connections)

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