The Freedom Summer Murders

A gripping true story of murder and the fight for civil rights and social justice in 1960s Mississppi.

On June 21, 1964, three young men were killed by the Ku Klux Klan for trying to help black Americans vote as part of the 1964 Fredom Summer registration effort in Mississippi. The disappearance and brutal murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner caused a national uproar and was one of the most significant events of the civil rights movement.The Freedom Summer Murders tells the tragic story of these brave men, the crime that resulted in their untimely deaths, and the relentless forty-one-year pursuit of a conviction. It is the story of idealistic and courageous young people who wanted to change their county for the better. It is the story of black and white. And ultimately, it is the story of our nation's endless struggle to close the gap between what is and what should be.

Don Mitchell is the author of two critically acclaimed non-fiction books for young people: Liftoff: A Photobiography of John Glenn (2006)/Foreword by John Glenn, and Driven: A Photobiography of Henry Ford (2010)/Foreword by Lee Iacocca (both published by National Geographic Books). Don is passionate about bringing this story alive for young readers.