Ron Husband

It is 1847 in Missouri, and young James is not thrilled about going to school. The classroom feels dark and dreary, and he would much rather be exploring outside. But his dedicated teacher, Reverend John Berry Meachum, believes that education brings its own kind of light, and soon James discovers a true love for learning. Everything changes when a harsh new law is passed in Missouri, strictly forbidding the education of African American children. The local school is forced to shut its doors, leaving James and his classmates without a place to learn. Refusing to accept this unfair law, Reverend Meachum comes up with a brilliant and daring plan. He decides to build a brand new school right on a steamboat floating in the middle of the Mississippi River, just outside the boundary of the unjust rules. This powerful true story highlights courage, clever problem solving, and the unstoppable right to an education.