Rob Sanders’ picture book about Stonewall tells the story from the perspective of the Stonewall Inn itself. This both immerses readers in the setting and avoids privileging any one LGBTQ person’s perspective on what happened. It is not a tale of walls and bricks, however, for the Inn’s narration focuses on the people in its neighborhood, and Jamey Christoph’s evocative illustrations capture their diversity of race, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Sanders, an author and teacher, describes the evolution of the Greenwich Village neighborhood from a haven for immigrants to a gathering place for artists and musicians, “a place where being different was welcomed and accepted.” At the same time, the Inn observes, “Others were not as accepting,” and “loving someone like yourself” or “wearing the wrong clothes” could lead to arrest. Sanders deals in an age-appropriate way with the violence of the Riots, mentioning shouting, broken windows, and some unspecified fires, but focusing on the feelings of outrage and resistance more than physical altercations.
He ends by explaining some ways that things have changed because of Stonewall—two men or two women who love each other can marry, and LGBTQ people celebrate freedom and equality each June—even though the movement “still has further to go.”
A few final pages offer further details about the Inn and Uprising, a glossary, additional reading suggestions, a selection of photographs, and a Q&A interview with LGBTQ activist and Stonewall participant Martin Boyce. While the story is simplified for younger readers, it is no less moving for it.
