Freedom Riderscompares and contrasts the childhoods of John Lewis and James Zwerg in a way that helps young readers understand the segregated experience of our nation's past. It shows how a common interest in justice created the convergent path that enabled these young men to meet as Freedom Riders on a bus journey south. No other book on the Freedom Riders has used such a personal perspective. These two young men, empowered by their successes in the Nashville student movement, were among those who volunteered to continue the Freedom Rides after violence in Anniston, Alabama, left the original bus in flames with the riders injured and in retreat. Lewis and Zwerg joined the cause knowing their own fate could be equally harsh, if not worse. The journey they shared as freedom riders through the Deep South changed not only their own lives but our nation's history.

As part of her research for her book on the Freedom Rides, Ann Bausum followed the route of the Freedom Rides in a primary-source-gathering research trip supported in part by the distinguished Anna Cross Giblin nonfiction research-in-progress grant from the SCBWI. She personally interviewed Congressman John Lewis at his office in Washington and met with Jim Zwerg as well. Ann Bausum is the author of National Geographic's With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote, Our Country's Presidents and Dragon Bones and Dinosaur Eggs: A Photobiography of Explorer Roy Chapman Andrews. She lives in Beloit, Wisconsin, with her husband and two sons. Awards and Recognition for WITH COURAGE AND CLOTH: Kirkus-starred review "Bausumn++makes the history live as she explains, exhorts, and lets nothing drop by the waysiden++.Excellent." School Library Journal-starred review "Bausum's careful research is evident throughoutn++.[a] vivid presentation." New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Awards and Recognition for OUR COUNTRY'S PRESIDENTS: 2002 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People Joint selection by the National Council for Social Studies and the Children's Book Council Awards and Recognition for DRAGON BONES AND DINOSAUR EGGS: 2001 Juvenile Literary Award from Friends of American Writers, Chicago-presented annually to new authors who either reside in or set their books in the Midwest Choices 2001 Cooperative Children's Book Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison Outstanding Books by Wisconsin Authors and Illustrators for 2001 one of ten children's books chosen by the Wisconsin Library Association Gold Award 2000 National Parenting Publication Awards Blue Ribbon List Center for Children's Books University of Illinois in Urbana "Outstanding" rating Parent Council 2001 Books for the Teen Age List New York Public Library