Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the landmark Civil Rights Case by P.H. Powell

Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the landmark Civil Rights Case by P.H. Powell

Loving vs Virginia is a historical fiction book told in verse but based on real events and people. The story begins in Caroline County, Virginia that follows Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving who fall in love. Mildred who is part African American and Native American and Richard who is white get married in the segregated south where it’s illegal to mix white and black races. Eventually, the authorities find out about their marriage, and the couple is forced to leave the state. They soon find a lawyer who is willing to take their case, but as the case is being pushed through the courts, they must wait years to return. The story follows the turmoil of longing for home and after many years of legal maneuvers, the couple finally wins the right to stay married. School Library Journal called it “Accessible and engaging, this intimate account situations the Lovings in the broader sweep of civil rights history and personalizes the struggle against racial discrimination.” (Palmer, 2017)

Critical Analysis

The book is in the first person and the plot is easy to follow. The characters are charming and kind, which will make the reader empathize with them deeply when they are met with hate. Themes include racism, civil rights, young love, and the importance of family. Readers may enjoy a similar book called The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, which deals with a similar theme of racism and prejudice.

The strength of this book is in its ability to tell a historical fiction story that is all too real. Similarly, it provides a glimpse into the inhuman racial segregation that happed less than 50 years ago and a passionate story of love triumphing over hate. The weakness of the story is that is far too short, and the reader may feel that they are missing out. Teachers can use this as a lesson about the Civil Rights era, racism, or perseverance.

Audiobook Details

This review was done with the unabridged audiobook version using the Audible application. The length of the audiobook is 2 hours and 49 minutes. The narrators do an excellent job speaking with southern accents that are endearing. This version contains no sound effects, which makes no difference because the narrators are enough to make the story beyond appealing. The author’s message at the beginning dedicates the book “to all those who struggle with injustice” and her final message is, hauntingly, about the last anti-miscegenation law being removed as recent as the year 2000 in Alabama.

References

Palmer, E. H. (2017, December 1). Loving vs. Virginia: A documentary novel of the landmark Civil Rights Case. School Library Journal. Retrieved February 23, 2022, from https://www.slj.com/review/loving-vs-virginia-a-documentary-novel-of-the-landmark-civil-rights-case

Powell, P. H. (2017). Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the landmark Civil Rights Case. (A. Ojo, Narr. & M. Andrews) [Audiobook] Dreamscape Media, LLC. https://www.audible.com/pd/Loving-vs-Virginia-Audiobook/B01N26566C?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp&shareTest=TestShare