The Children Bob Moses Led

William Heath, the author of The Children Bob Moses Led, visited Hood College Wednesday.

Heath gave a speech on some of the history in his book and read two passages. His book takes place during Freedom Summer, a 1964 voter registration drive in Mississippi aimed at expanding black voting in the South.

Bob Moses, a civil rights activist, led to voter registration drive. Heath’s book, which is based on the history of what happened but is a fictional story, chronicles Moses’ journey.

“Bob Moses wanted to break the South at its strongest point: Mississippi,” Heath said. “People thought he was crazy, but he set out to do it.”

The Children Bob Moses Led describes the life of Tom Morton, a white college student who joined the efforts in Freedom Summer, and how he handled the events of that summer. Morton is a fictional character, but the Freedom Summer events he lives through all happened.

William Heath

“I found letters written home by the students from Freedom Summer, and they really helped me get perspective on what they went through and how they felt,” Heath said. “i probably know more about what happened than they did because I got to read about everyone’s experience, not just a few people’s.”

Heath’s book is really interesting because it takes real history and spins it into fiction in a really compelling way. People interested in the civil rights movement, or just an endlessly interesting read, should really pick up his book and give it a go. You won’t be sorry.