By Ann Bausum’79

National Geographic Society

Washington, D.C., 2012

In 1968, after years of unfair treatment, the sanitation workers of Memphis went on strike. The African-American workforce was asking for safer working conditions and fair pay—rights most employees take for granted, but that these men were denied.

Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Memphis twice to mobilize citizens and garner support for the strike. On his second visit, the day after delivering one of the most inspiring speeches of his career, King was shot and killed. His death shook the nation and marked a turning point for the civil rights movement.

Award-winning author Ann Bausum takes on this story with clarity and a conversational tone, making the subject matter relatable to readers young and old. Marching to the Mountaintop is Bausum’s ninth book for the National Geographic Society. She specializes in children’s and young adult books with a focus on U.S. history.