Kate DeMonica: "Swing Sisters"

"Swing Sisters" by Karen Deans tells the tale of the Sweethearts. The Sweethearts were originally a group of all black females that played together in a big band in 1939. The Sweethearts started small but increasingly became popular and traveled all over the United States. They had such a passion for music that they were able to overcome a lot of struggles such as Jim Crow laws and discrimination. This inspiring book is useful in a music classroom because it teaches students that practice, hard work, and passion can help them overcome any obstacle regardless of gender or race. This is important when trying to motivate children to practice, create goals, and create a comfortable learning environment. This book also dives into some historical content and how jazz was influenced by societal changes. It also introduces what swing music is and what instruments are in a big band.