Circle of Stone by Verne Jackson

A group of friends fights to overcome severe opposition in this empowering novel, which takes place in Arkansas during the Great Depression. When Ralph, a young black boy from Colored Town, is unfairly accused of murdering two white people, his death by lynching seems inescapable. But when Dave Bailey and the group known as "The Circle" rescue Ralph and his family by giving them the resources to leave town before any arrest or real harm is done, an important shift of power occurs in Colored Town.

Tired of the brutality forced upon them, the men and women of The Circle are committed to unity and overcoming injustice by any means necessary. The success in their endeavors is a moving testament to the power of educated activism and the strength of taking a unified stand.