Defeat of the Ghost Riders: Introducing Mary McLeod Bethune

Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century racial tensions, the story follows eight-year-old Celeste Key, whose family flees Georgia after their blacksmith shop is destroyed by the Ku Klux Klan. Relocating to Florida, they encounter Mary McLeod Bethune, who runs one of the first schools for black children. Initially resistant, Celeste grows to love her education, but the Klan's threats loom large as they burn a cross on school grounds. The narrative explores themes of courage, education, and the fight against oppression, raising questions about freedom and safety.