Book Description

For months six-year-old Ruby Bridges must confront the hostility of white parents when she becomes the first African American girl to integrate Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

True story of courage in a six year old girl
Wonderful, powerful, humbling true story of Ruby Bridges, a six year old African American girl in 1960, sent to integrate an elementary school in New Orleans. Children of the 1990's will be speechless with astonishment when they come to understand the ugliness of racism. Ruby's calm perseverance, academic commitment, and gracious forgiveness are powerful lessons for all of us, parents as well as children. MUST READ FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY. Ruby's story makes it all make sense.

Ruby Bridges Opens the Door
The Story of Ruby Bridges By Robert Cole Ruby Bridges opens the doors to education for all black children. This original true story by Robert Cole tugs at the reader's emotions. Children of ages six and up learn the importance of equal rights. During early 1960, in New Orleans, the courageous Ruby Bridges fights her way through angry white mobs to learn in an empty classroom. In facing this unfairness, she finds help with someone special in her life... her teacher. In this descriptive book, the reader learns quite a few lessons. One is that a person should never give up. Another of the lessons is that a person should never hate someone for any reason. The Story of Ruby Bridges also teaches readers about American history. In this emotional book, the reader finds out if this brave hearted girl can pull through hard times of overt racism.

Amazing Story of Strength and Wisdom
Robert Cole did an excellent job of turning a biography into an interesting and enjoyable piece of literature. The phrasing was easy to understand, as was the explanation of the historical events. The subject is definitely worth reading about, to show the courage of the young Ruby Bridges. Children will be able to easily relate to Ruby because of her age and the setting of the story being at school.
Cole also included an afterword about the story of Ruby Bridges and gave a place to get further information about her. I thought that was a very good addition to the book, giving children and teachers a resource to broaden learning.
There were not photographs included in the book, but the illustrations were very life like, I thought. It is very easy to imagine Ruby Bridges, the teacher, the angry mob and other characters in the story because of the clarity of the illustrations. Overall, I think the author and the illustrator did an excellent job of bringing a biography to life with its easy and captivating words and illustrations.

A wonderful young heroine
The story of Ruby Bridges is a beautiful tale depicting the courage of six year
old Ruby Bridges and how she became the first black child to segregate the
elementary school system in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her story is one of hope
and encouragement to not only African Americans but also to the entire human
race. It teaches perseverance, forgiveness, and hope and should be read by all
to give insight into our history.

As for the illustrations, George Ford used watercolor paints mixed with acrylic
inks and conventional drawing inks to create images that are beautiful and so
real looking they're life-like.

Kudos to both author and illustrator on a job well done. I look forward to
sharing this book with family, friends, and my own children.

Reviewed by Tee C. Royal
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

An excellent history lesson for young children
I teach Kindergarten in New York City. My students sat totally engrossed as I read the story of Ruby Bridge's struggle to gain an education in New Orleans, Louisiana.

After I finished the story they asked to hear it again. My five year students actually had a sophistated discussion about the moral wrongs of Ruby's experience. To quote one little boy, "But that's not right. It doesn't matter what someone looks like, they should be able to go to school."

My students totally got it! In January we learned about Martin Luther King, Jr. and they instantly connected the Civil Rights struggle lead by King to Ruby's experience of going to an integrated school. They also learned the value of education. It was an awesome experience.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with children or works with children. ... Read more

Book Description

In this inspiring collection of true stories, thirty African-Americans who were children or teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s talk about what it was like for them to fight segregation in the South-to sit in an all-white restaurant and demand to be served, to refuse to give up a seat at the front of the bus, to be among the first to integrate the public schools, and to face violence, arrest, and even death for the cause of freedom.

"Thrilling...Nothing short of wonderful."-The New York Times

Awards:

( A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
( A Booklist Editors' Choice ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Amazing Read
Many figures and groups of people are marginalized in the study of the Civil Rights Movement. This book is an excellent forum to give voice to the children of the movement. Especially powerful are the stories of students who were among the first to integrate. One student recounts the time when he asked a white friend to sign his senior year book. the white friend wrote "there was a time when I was a bigot and a racist... but knowing you changed me. I now know that people are people, black or white." He ended the entry by saying, "We shall overcome." Annecdotes like these illustrate the profound effect young people had on the movement. This book is a rich resource, and I recommend it to anyone. Though some parts are quite depressing, enough to make you cry, in the end you will feel a respect and appreciation for what "everyday" young people did to contribute to the movement. Essentially, a priceless collection.

heartfelt accounts... children's 'history' of Civil Rights
Touching and powerfully honest personal accounts of the daily lives of children / youth in the Civil Rights Movement. Children surviving domestic terrorism in a culture of violence, ever hopeful of realizing " all men are created equal". Though it documents 'traumatic' incidents the focus is on courage , hope, and our personal responsibility for making the world a better world. For the children each day, each choice, each action made a profound vote for justice and equality. They are truly activists, and advocates for 'humanity'. Our elementary class uses this book to learn about and portray each person. They often seek to emulate them.The children respectfully honor these young heroes, and find their own 'voice'.

It was a great book!!!!!
Freedom's Children was a very good book because it involved different interveiws by thirty people so every person's story was different. It is probably one of the best African-American books for children. I really recommend it to people who like true stories and the 50's and 60's. At some points it was depressing, and at some points it was happy.

It is an inspiring story about child activists!
Freedom's Children is filled with inspiring real life stories of children who lived in the 1950's. It tells about their separate lives and how they fought for Civil Rights. This book describes many aspects of the movement. One part is about the Little Rock Nine. I admire them for having enough courage to attend an all white school. They were made fun of and even physically threatened by fellow students. The book also tells about the bus boycott, Freedom Riders, and all the laws passed to make a better life for African Americans. I enjoyed this book mostly because of how much it taught me and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Koja makes the Best of the Year list. Again.
Kathe Koja, Buddha Boy (Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux, 2003)

I got to the point about eight years ago where I finally gave in to the temptation to predict an author. After the back-to-back triumphs that were Skin and Strange Angels, I figured that from here on out, anything Kathe Koja would release would be brilliant, and every book she released would find its way onto my top ten for whatever year in which I read it.

Then she started writing kidlit. I approached Straydog with some trepidation, but it not only made last year's best-of list, it topped it. So I had no such qualms hunting down her second piece of young adult fiction, Buddha Boy. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised, at least not by the quality.

Justin is an Everyman in an Everyman's high school; if you went to high school in America, you'll probably recognize all the archetypes to be found here. The school gets a new student, Jinsen. To call Jinsen, an aspiring Zen monk, different would be the understatement of the year. And we all know what happens to different kids in high school.

Justin, however, assigned to a class project with Jinsen, discovers that Jinsen is one of the finest artists Justin has ever come across, and thus grudgingly befriends the kid the others at school call Buddha Boy. From all this springs this small, delicate tale.

Koja's writing is, as usual, short and to the point. Even the slowest reader will probably get through Buddha Boy in no more than a couple of days. Most people will be able to find someone here to identify with (though many won't like what they see in the book's looking-glass), and the story is compelling enough to draw the reader through, perhaps in a single gulp. Nothing surprising there.

What is surprising, perhaps, is the language she chooses. It seems, especially in comparison with Straydog, that Koja's language is slipping back towards that she used in her adult novels. Not that she talked down to the audience in Straydog or that she elevates them here; it's a slight difference in tone, a barren quality from Skin and Strange Angels that was (despite the painfulness of Straydog's subject matter) absent from the previous book.

She's got a new one coming out any day now, The Blue Mirror. I can't wait. **** ½

Buddha Buddy
When a new artistically talented boy shows up at Rucher high, calling himself Jinsen instead of his real name, and acting "strange", sophomore classmate Justin doesn't understand why, but he also doesn't know why Jinsen tolerates the continual harassment by the other students without complaint. More of a portrayal of friendship than of Buddhism, Buddha Boy shows how the practice of religious tenets can turn a person's life around. Koja manages to do this in a non-preachy way, noting through Justin's observations that "all religions are about the same thing" but that religion "doesn't seem to make any difference" in making people better or changing the way they act. Several chapters begin with Justin's comments on karma or other issues and then flash back to the events that formed them. Justin's growing concern about the way his classmates treat his friend, and how the school officials ignore it to serve their own interests, trigger actions that result in "karma" for both of them.

Buddha Boy
In the novel, Buddha Boy, Kathe Koja describes the life of two boys in high school. Justin had never been popular, but he has always had two great friends. Everyone had been talking about a weird new kid at school, but Justin hadn't seen him until lunch that same day. A boy came up to him, and asked him for money, and that's when he got his name Buddha Boy. Justin becomes friends with Buddha Boy and starts hanging around him. Buddha Boy gets invited to a very famous art school, and has to make a banner for the school to use to make sure he's ready for the challenge. The day of judging comes but things go terribly wrong. In the novel, Koja teaches that everyone's different, but you should still accept him or her. Find out what happens in Buddha Boy.

Great book for all ages... or at least tweens
There are coming-of-age books that deal with some things that are simple -- like love and sex. And then there are those that handle the harder topics - such as fighting cliques, going against the social order, or confronting inertia. This book is in the latter category, and is more about Justin, than about Jinsen (the Buddha Boy). Jinsen is harrassed daily by his classmates. This is half high school tale and half mystery, as new facets of the chracters are revealed in each chapter. There is also a dollop of karmic buddhism to give the story some uniqueness. The author has created a realistic story of Jinsen, a teenager who decides to live as a monk with a shaved head, calming smile, new name, and begging bowl. Justin, who is assigned to an Econ class project with Jinsen, must then face guilt by association, and decide what choices to make when confronting his parents, teachers, class leaders, bullies, drama club members, and friends. What sounds like a canned stereotypical story turns out to have much deeper nuances.

Devoured it in one sitting.
Great book--similar to Stargirl by Spinnelli in that it portrays an individualistic teen who flaunts the established social behaviors. Would be great for discussion! ... Read more

Book Description

Louie Banks has it made.

He's got a starting spot on the football team, good friends, and a smart, beautiful girlfriend who loves him as much as he loves her.

Early in the fall, he sees all his ideas of fair play go up in smoke; by spring, what he cares about most has been destroyed. How can Louie keep going when he's lost everything?

Reviews (30)

Running Loose
Running Loose is a phenomenal book. It is a book for a reader that enjoys young adult fiction. Chris Crutcher does an excellent job at combining drama with sports. If you enjoy reading books about sports you should consider Chris Crutcher as an author. The book starts out when a high school football player named Louie is in summer training for football. He exercises every day to get in shape. As the season approaches, he becomes the star defensive back for Trout High School. In the meantime he falls in love with a cheerleader named Becky. When his team is faced against one of the toughest teams in the league, Salmon River, his coach tells one of Louies teammates, Boomer, to take out their star quarterback, Washington. After it happened Louie was upset with Boomer and tried to get is own team a penalty by telling the referee it was an intentional hit. His coach kicked him off the team for the rest of the season and said he will never play another sport at Trout High School again. When he thinks that worse has happened to him, something else worse happens. His girlfried, Becky, is killed in a car accident. Can Louie overcome his problems, or will something even worse happen? You must read this exciting book to find out.

Interesting
Chris Crutcher's book Running Loose was a very good book with very true to life characters. Louie, who's main goals in life are to be a good football player and get a girl, faces many challenges that teens today are faced with. Crutcher grabs the real essence of teens and shows them to us with unadulterated skill. Looking at the plot in this book, a bad call by a good coach, it causes me to look back at my school time (going to a small school like Louis)and realizing that this could have really happened anywhere and probably does to some extent. I am heartened to read about an untypical hero who stands up to fight in the face of adversity.

Crutcher is one for the record books.

sms student
Running Loose, by Chris Crutcher was a great read. It was about a high school boy who is faced with some very tough decisions. His senior year starts out great. He's got a starting sport on the varsity football team, and the girl of his dreams, Becky. Then tragedy strikes. He is kicked off the football team for standing up to the coach. Also Becky gets killed in a car crash. Louie gets help from and support from his parents. Crutcher tried to get across in the story that Louie is an average kid faced with difficult decisions. This book is worth reading if your older than 13 because of different parts in the book. It would not be good for someone in elementary school.

Saved by the Mile
In the book "Running Loose", a high school boy made a stupid decision that could have messed up the rest of his senior year. Fortunately, he found a sport that helped him to clear his mind. This sport turned out to be the best thing for him.
Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. The only thing that concerned me was that the author, Chris Crutcher, didn't quite make it clear who all of the characters were. This book might be just a little mature for sixth and seventh graders. This isn't such a great book for elementary students. I also thought this book had some really funny parts in it. Out of five stars, I would rate this book a 4.

Running Loose
The book Running Loose by Chris Crutcher is the story of Louie Banks' senior year in high school. I think that this book was very well-written. The story dealt with many of today's issues, such as racism and standing up for what you believe in.
Louie Banks lives in a small town where everyone knows each other. The story begins with Louie being on the football team, having great parents, and a perfect girlfriend. However, his near perfect live begin to unravel when he stands up for an African-American football player from another school who was purposely injured by one of Louie's teammates. Louie is thrown off the team by his coach and the school principal. This sets off a year-long feud between Louie, the coach, and principal.
The year progresses, with everything going not so good for Louie. The school principal is constantly trying to get Louie suspended, because he still holds a grudge from the football season. The saddest part of the book is when Louie's girlfriend, Becky dies unexpectedly. Louie does some surprising acts after Becky is killed, such as chopping down the oldest tree in the town's forest, yelling at her funeral, and throwing her memorial plaque into the river where she was killed. He did most of these acts out of anger because of her death or because of the way people were acting. He yelled at her funeral about the minister who said the mass, because he was saying things that were not important about Becky's life. In the spring, Louie joins the track team and does well most of the time. Being on the track team helps him relieve some of his anger and sadness that he had from the loss of Becky.
I think that the main thing that Louie learns from his last year of high school is that being the best at football or having the whole town love you because you "put on a show" are not the most important things in life. In the end, being kind to the people that you love and standing up for what is right and what you believe in is what makes you a good person. I think that Running Loose is a book that all high school students should read, because it gives a message that we all should learn. ... Read more

Book Description

John Henry swims better than anyone I know.
He crawls like a catfish,
blows bubbles like a swamp monster,
but he doesn't swim in the town pool with me.
He's not allowed.

Joe and John Henry are a lot alike. They both like shooting marbles, they both want to be firemen, and they both love to swim.

But there's one important way they're different: Joe is white and John Henry is black and in the South in 1964, that means John Henry isn't allowed to do everything his best friend is.

Then a law is passed that forbids segregation and opens the town pool to everyone. Joe and John Henry are so excited they race each other there...only to discover that it takes more than a new law to change people's hearts.

This stirring account of the "Freedom Summer" that followed the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 powerfully and poignantly captures two boys' experience with racism and their friendship that defies it. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Friendship for Freedom
Freedom Summer, written by Deborah Wiles and illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue, is a wonderful book for all ages. Children can understand it, and adults will appreciate the message this book is trying to send. It is about a white boy whose name is Joe, and his best friend, John Henry, who is black. The book takes place in 1964 when there was still segregation, and Joe and John Henry live in the Deep South. They do everything together. When they go to get something from the store John Henry has to stay outside because he isn't allowed inside. One day when Joe and John Henry were at Joe's house they overheard his mom talking about the new law that was passed that made segregation illegal. They were so happy that they ran down to the town pool because now, finally, John Henry will be allowed to swim in it. They find out that some people aren't ready to change what they think just because of a new law. The people who own the pool have filled it with asphalt. They don't want black people to be able to swim in it. Joe and John Henry are so disappointed, but they decide to go enjoy whatever they can together. In the book the artwork is beautiful! I love all of the different colors that the artist uses. The pictures really help tell the story. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I do!

The Color of Friendship
Joe and John Henry are best friends. They both enjoy playing together and share a common love of swimming. It seems as nothing can separate these two, except race. John Henry's skin is "the color of browned butter" while Joe's skin is "the color of the pale moths." Although the boys see nothing wrong with one another's skin color, the small, rural, Southern community in which they live, sees things differently. FREEDOM SUMMER shows the lengths that racist people went through to prevent integration under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and how the friendship of two young boys transcended across racial barriers. The story is written in a manner that young children will be able to understand and relate to while the bold, colorful illustrations complement the story. Deborah Wiles has done an excellent job tackling the serious and touchy topic of racism in way that young children will be able to comprehend.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Important history . . . and a timeless lesson
Making this a compelling story for young people isn't easy, but Miz Deborah (as she would have been called then) and Mistah Jerome have done so very well. Just as the Germans must not forget Hitler, we cannot forget the institutionalized racism of our past (which, sadly, remains with us more than National Socialism does with Germany), and Freedom Summer tells that story in a way that is both powerful and positive. As someone who lived through those times and finds this tale haunting, I only wish that Freedom Summer had been written 15 years ago, when I could have read it with my children. This is what children's literature should do.

Winner of '02 EJ Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Award
This extraordinary book was awarded the 2002 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer and New Illustrator Award because of its graceful portrayl of the deep pain caused by racism and bigotry in the lives of children of every color. Wiles and Lagarrigue together create a world of joy and turmoil through the succinct text and rich images of the two young boys (one white and one black) together at play and then in confusion over the depth of race hatred in their world. For those who have treasured the books of Keats, whose work also broke through the barriers of race and ethnicity for children, Freedom Summer will be a welcome addition to a home library.

A lesson in racism and in how to defy it through friendship
...When I heard the Declaration of Independence said "all men are created equal," I assumed that was fairly obvious. But, of course, there were always those who thought there were created more equal than others. Deborah Wiles tells a simple story of two friends, who do not pay as much attention to the fact that one of them is white and the other black as other people do in their Southern town. In 1964 the Civil Rights Act is passed forbidding segregation, which the two boys think means they can now use the town pool together. However, there is a lesson to be learned regarding how far some people will go to perpetuate ignorance and stupidity.

Jerome Lagarrigue's paintings for this book have an impressionistic quality, but what stands out for me is how he highlights the light areas on the black boy's face and the dark areas on that of the white boy. But what really stands out is the simplicity of Wiles's story, which finds a tiny victory as the first step towards a better world. After young students read "Freedom Summer," they may well have a better understanding of the power and import of King's "I Have a Dream" speech. ... Read more

Book Description

Sparkling new illustrations refresh this Thanksgiving classic based on the true experience of a member of Barbara Cohen's family. The touching story tells how recent immigrant Molly leads her third-grade class to discover that it takes all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving. Originally published in 1983, Molly's Pilgrim inspired the 1986 Academy Award winning live-action short film. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The wonderful book that brought me down low
Ladies and gentlemen, I come before you today with a confession. I, knowingly and without malice, am a wimp. I am a wimp of the finest pedigree, forged in the wimpy steps of my wimpy forebears. This loathsome quality only cares to show itself in the oddest of moments. Normally, I feel relatively safe reading children's books and, especially, picture books. Certainly the protagonists in these tales have their trials and tribulations to endure, but they usually do so with relative good faith and their enemies are by and large trampled soundly at the end of their tales. Usually. Then there are books like, "Molly's Pilgrim". Ladies and gentlemen, if your child can read through this book in its entirety without feeling overwhelmed by a sense of misery and woe then they're a stronger man or woman than I.

In this classic tale, a little girl named Molly is having problems at school. Her classmates tease her relentlessly, usually making fun of her funny accent and supposed un-American ways. Molly, you see, immigrated to this country with her mother and father from Russia. Jewish in faith, they originally lived in New York City, but now Molly's father has found steady employment in Winter Hill. Here, Molly is the only Jewish girl around, and she suffers mightily at the hands of the other girls. One day, Molly's teacher, Miss Stickley, decides that the class is going to do something a little different for Thanksgiving this year. Each child will design a pilgrim or an Indian for a little diorama and present it to the class. Molly is assigned a pilgrim, and she eagerly tells the assignment to her mama. Her mother, however, listens to the description of what a pilgrim is (someone seeking religious freedom and a life free from persecution) and creates a doll that is a small Russian immigrant. Of course, the other kids at school deride this idea of a pilgrim, until Miss Stickley explains that Molly's doll is perhaps the most appropriate of all. After all, the very idea of Thanksgiving is based on the Jewish harvest holiday of Tabernacles, and unlike any other student in the room, Molly is the real pilgrim.

I have absolutely no problems with this story. I mean, how can you not like it? And how many adults, if you stopped them on the street today, would be able to tell you what Jewish holiday the pilgrims, that came to our land, based Thanksgiving on? Few, I suspect. Molly is an incredibly sympathetic character, and that's probably where my own problems stem from. After all, there's a significant lack of comeuppance in this tale. Molly suffers relentless teasing and problems from other children her age, but that's never really resolved. The evil Elizabeth is never reprimanded for her actions, nor even made to think twice about treating Molly like a human being. Instead, she's nasty from page one until the end and stays that way. Which, honestly, was probably the best way to go. I mean, vengeance doesn't really have a place in children's picture books, does it? But how hard would it have been for Elizabeth to get what's coming to her? Even a little?

What I had a hard time with in this story was Molly's pain. Barbara Cohen describes it beautifully, and we've plenty of gorgeous illustrations by Michael J. Deraney (if that's the version you're purchasing) showing Molly huddled in misery on a swing, running with tears in her eyes from the girls, crying on her Mama's chest, dreading entering her school building, and miserably hiding her doll when other children mock it. It's a lovely book, but distinctly and incredibly painful for me and, I suspect, for certain types of children. For some, however, this book will be a kind of balm. They will see that they are not alone in being teased by other kids, and that Molly suffers just as they suffer.

The story is excellent. The illustrations superb. The moral, unequivocal. If you would like an excellent tale to tell around the Thanksgiving season, you really couldn't find one better. Just be aware of what you're getting yourself into ahead of time. It's a great book, but for some people a distinctly depressing one.

A New Meaning of Thanksgiving
Molly's Pilgrim is an excellent story of the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Molly has just moved to America from Russia, and is not enjoying it one bit. Kids in her third grade class make fun of her all the time because of her clothes and accent. She can't stand it, especially her worst enemy, Elizabeth. When Molly's class starts a project on Thanksgiving, they are told to make a doll. When Molly tells her mother this, her mother makes a doll for her, and the doll looks exactly the way her mother did when she was a girl. Her mother tells her that the Pilgrims fled England because they wanted to practice their religion freely, this is exactly what Molly's parents did, making them Pilgrims. That day, Molly takes it to school, but it looks very different from everyone else's. The children make fun of her, but they have a very big lesson to learn; the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Anyone will enjoy this story, old or young, because many can relate to it.

The spirit of Thanksgiving is always with us.
The only negative thing I can think of to say about this book is that when I read it aloud, I have a very hard time not crying. It is a short and simple story (longer than a picture book, but an adult can read it aloud in one sitting, and most second or third graders could read it to themselves), but one of the most moving children's books I know of.

Molly is a turn of the century Jewish immigrant girl from Russia. She lives in a small town, where no one understands her, and other children make fun of her clothes, and accent and her ignorance of American customs. In November, her classmates are appalled that she has never heard of Thanksgiving. But as we get to know Molly better, we, and eventually her classmates, realize that this child, who left her country and moved to America so that she and her family could practice their religion without fear is no different from the first pilgrims.

By the time they reach second or third grade, most children have heard the story of the first Thanksgiving many, many times. This is a wonderful way to renew the meaning of the story for them, by reminding them that people are still coming to American for the same reasons they came hundreds of years ago.

Molly's Pilgrim
Mrs. Stickly asks the class to make a pilgrim for Thanksgiving. Molly's mother makes one that looks like her. Mollys Pilgrim is a great book! At the end Molly understands that being different isn't bad. by Barbara Cohen

This is my favriot book it is the best book I have ever read
Molly's Pilgrim is really cool. This book is about a little girl, her mom and her dad. They can't speak english very well. When Molly goes to school she gets picked on alot. There is this one girl her name is Elizabeth and she picks on Molly the most. Elizabeth made up this song about Molly. I can't remember how it goes or I would type it in but I can't remember it. The teacher gives the class an assighnment. The boys have to make Indians and the girls have to make pilgrims. When Molly went home after school she told her mom about her school assighnment.Then Molly eats dinner, then she trys to think about some stuff to do for her assighnment but she can't thind of anything. It is already late so she just goes to bed. The next morning she wakes up and she goes to the breakfast table and at her spot is a pilgrim all nicely dressed and made just perfect. Then she asks her mom what it is and her mom tells her that it is her homework to turn into the teacher. Then Molly gets mad and starts yelling at her mom. Her dad told her she had better stop or she was going to get in big trouble. So then she stoped yelling at her mom but Molly was still mad at her mom.Then Molly eats breakfast and goes to school. Then when she gets to school Elizabeth asks her if she did her homework and she says, "yes." Then Elizabeth says then let me see it. Molly said no. Then Elizabeth says, "See I knew you didn't do it or you would show me." Molly had put it in her desk and then when the teacher came she went around the room to look at everyone's homework. When she got to Molly she showed the teacher and all the oter kids started laghing at Molly's homework. The teacher said it was the best one so she put it on her desk.

I reallly enjoyed reading this book it was alot of fun to read. Sometimes when I read it I fill like I am one of the charectors.I fill like I am one of the charectors in all the book it is like real life. I really loved this book. Well I hope you enjoy readind this book too. Thenk you for reading my review.My name is Michelle I am 10 years old. I will turn 11 very soon. I live in Texas. Oce again thank you for reading my book review. By and Thank you once again.

Molly's Pilgrim ... Read more

Reviews (13)

The book "White Lilacs" was ok..........................
I read the book "White Lilacs" for a school project, and to me the book was kind of boring except with one or two parts that made me not want to put the book down. I would recommend this book for older adelescents and not for young elementary school children. The book's comprehention was quite difficult at some parts, and unless you really get into the book it may be hard to understand. Finally, honestly the book just basically bored me, but that's just my opinion, and all of you reading this right now may have a different opinion, so if you just want to find a book that you are not expecting to be filled with action and violence, then you may like to try and take a look at this book.

White Lilacs- The forgotten parts of American History
I am a college student, and I read White Lilacs for a class project. This book is a valuable supplement to any middle school curriculum because it thoroughly presents elements of history that social studies textbooks often overlook: namely, that of African-Americans. White Lilacs is very well written, and offers a poignant illustration of true events in the 1920s. It accurately portrays black church tradition, the experience of black soldiers in World War I, and the different attitudes blacks and whites had towards race in the 1920s. As I am personally very concerned with the issue of racial reconciliation, I find this book a valuable tool in helping both white and black people to understand from whence we have come, and what prevailing attitudes have caused race relations in the U.S. to develop as they have.

This is a great book!
I loved this book. It told the facts, while also telling the story of a young girl. This book is showing Denton that we don't have to hide our past. It's better to get it out in the open. I read this as a class assignment, but I loved it. I truly recommend it.

Moved to Tears
Being the person I am, it is not easy to make me cry. I am just naturally happy. It gets especially hard when it's a book. They always just seem unreal as they are. This book however (based on a true story) is so well written and is about something so sad that I was crying my eyes out at the end of the book. I won't tell you why the end was so sad (read it!!!). It's written from the point of view of an older Rosa Lee Williams looking back from adulthood. It's written beautifully with great compasion. One of the great parts about the books is that it makes clear that not all white people are unfeeling and prejudice and that they are taught to be that way from the time they are born. This is showed by the character Miss Emily Firth, Rosa Lee's older, white, lady friend, who just moved to Dillion from the North and offers to give Rosa Lee free art lessons. Rosa Lee William is a great heroine and appears in a great book about the prejudice south at the turn of the century. It well worth the money you pay and the time you spend reading it.

White Lilacs
White Lilacs is a very good book . It is about a girl that is made to get out of her home along with other blacks by the rich persons of Dillon .They want to make the homes of the blacks into a park .This was a true story . It is a very good book and I hope you read it . ... Read more

Book Description

Fifty years have passed since Miss Elizabeth was a girl, but she still remembers Willie Rudd, the black housekeeper who helped raise her. She remembers the feel of sitting in Willie Rudd's lap while the housekeeper sang to her. And she remembers how Willie Rudd scrubbed the floor on her hands and knees. What would Miss Elizabeth say to Willie Rudd if she were alive today? She decides to write her a letter telling her how things would be different. Now Willie Rudd would come in the front door -- not the back. She would ride in the fornt of the bus with Miss Elizabeth, and they could sit together at the movies. The two of them would have a wonderful time. And in her heartfelt letter, Miss Elizabeth has the chance to tell Willie Rudd something she never told her while she was alive -- that she loved her. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Must Read
When I first heard this book, I was brought to tears. I had to have it. You do too. This book does an excellent job of explaining Jim Crowe to young children. It is a must read during Black History month. All teachers should keep a copy for your library. It should be read it again and again.

Great Teaching Tool!
This book is well written, beautifully illustrated, and thought provoking. I use it to teach about equal rights and letter writing to 3rd-6th graders. Check it out! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ikarus Jackson, a new boy on the block, surprises his neighbors one dayby flying above the rooftops with his "long, strong, proud wings." People startto whisper, though, and soon those whispers turn to taunts, disdain, and finallyeven dismissal from school. One quiet girl, someone who knows lonelinessherself, doesn't think the winged boy is strange. She runs through the streets,searching the clouds for her exiled schoolmate, only to find a policeman yellingat him to get down from the edge of a building where he perched with thepigeons: "Could the policeman / put him in jail for flying, / for being toodifferent?" She musters her strength to tell the laughing onlookers to leave himalone, and she tells her new friend "what someone should have long ago"--thathis flying is beautiful.

Christopher Myers, who illustrated the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Black Cat and the CaldecottHonor Book Harlem shinesin this simple, lovely tribute to individualism, encouraging his young readersto dare to fly too close to the sun despite the warnings of the mythologicalIcarus. "Ikarus Jackson can fly through the air; I want kids to find their ownset of wings and soar with him," says Myers. His masterful cut-paper collagescapture the odd, crazy beauty of Ikarus's big white wings and the dizzyingperspectives of a boy who is flying over rooftops. Urban landscapes arerepresented by cut photos of fencing, brownstones, and photo-booth portraits,while the sky in one spread is a sea of fuschia roses. Wings is awonderfully expressive pairing of story and illustration. (Ages 6 and older)--Karin Snelson ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fly High and Rejoice in Our Differences
Ikarus Jackson is new to the neighborhood. He has long beautiful white wings and can fly gracefully over rooftops, diving and swooping. All the children call him strange, gawk, taunt and laugh at him. Even adults stare and make unkind comments. Everyone but a shy girl. She knows how Ikarus feels. She's heard them whispering and making fun of how quiet she is. She thinks what Ikarus can do is wonderful and when a policeman orders him to stop flying and stay on the ground, she bravely tells all the others to stop laughing and pointing and leave him alone. Then she turns to Ikarus and "told him what someone should have long ago: Your flying is beautiful." And for the first time, he smiled. "Ikarus had found his wings again."..... In this simple retelling of the Icarus myth, Christopher Myers' modern day Ikarus Jackson doesn't fall from the sky because he dared to fly too close to the sun, but because the neighborhood couldn't tolerate his differences and broke his spirit. His beautifully gentle, poetic text, full of imagery and magic is only outdone by his amazing cut paper and photo collage illustrations and both children and adults alike will be mesmerized by the bold colors and intricate detail. Together, word and art combine to make a very expressive and thoughtful story about the triumph of the human spirit, celebrating our differences and embracing what makes each and every one of us unique and special. Perfect as a read aloud story for youngsters 4-8, Wings will have even more meaning for older children and should open interesting family discussions.

Take flight with Ikarus
"Wings," by Christopher Myers, is an excellent work of fiction for younger readers. Myers combines an easy-to-read text with colorful collage illustrations to tell the story of Ikarus Jackson.

Ikarus has wings, and is able to fly. These characteristics make him different from the other kids. He faces prejudice and discrimination, but ultimately finds a friend who appreciates him for the unique person he is.

"Wings" is an effective blend of fantasy and urban realism. Myers' story captures universal truths, and his artwork is stunning. This book is a good tool for teaching children about diversity and tolerance.

Explaining Differences
My two children and I enjoyed reading this book. It exhibits to children that it is okay to be different. It also prompted a discussion with my children on the varying differences in the world which allowed me to express, again, our appreciation for diversity. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Determination to learn in spite of the threatened punishment
Up The Learning Tree is a picture book story ably written by Marcia Vaughan and set in the American South before the Civil War. In an era when black slaves were not allowed to read or write, one young boy burns with curiosity to know about the power hidden within books. His determination to learn in spite of the threatened punishment pushes him to make a remarkable discovery about himself, and to discover the highest kindness from others. Impressively illustrated by Derek Blanks, Up The Learning Tree is a very thoughtful story for young readers ages 4 to 8 with powerful underlying messages about history and personal drive. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

"Your work, Vera," Alfred's grandfather told me,
"your work is to know the ways of our people."

In June of 1942, seven months after attacking Pearl Harbor, the Japanese navy invaded Alaska's Aleutian Islands. For nine thousand years the Aleut people had lived and thrived on these treeless, windswept lands. Within days of the first attack, the entire native population living west of Unimak Island was gathered up and evacuated to relocation centers in the dense forests of Alaska's Southeast.

With resilience, compassion, and humor the Aleuts responded to the sorrows of upheaval and dislocation. This is Vera's story, but it is woven from the same fabric as the stories of displaced peoples throughout history. It chronicles the struggle to survive and to keep community and heritage intact despite harsh conditions in an alien environment.

In a luminous novel of unrhymed verse, Newbery winner Karen Hesse brings to light this little-known episode from America's past. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Aleutian Sparrow emphasizes destructive power of violence.
It's 1942 in Alaska, just seven months after the Japanese navy destroyed Pearl Harbor. They have now just attacked the Aleutian Islands. Before this, the Aleut people had lived happy and successful lives. But now, all lives are on hold as they are sent to relocation centers in Southeastern Alaska.

Throughout her life, Vera has lived close to the sea with her family. But when the Japanese attack her home, the entire population is evacuated and crammed into crowded barracks. Everyone is stripped of their own lives. People now have to endure horrible conditions, look for food and work, and pray that the Japanese will surrender. Will things ever get better? Will the Aleut people be able to return to their normal lives?

ALEUTIAN SPARROW emphasizes the destructive power of violence and what it can do to victims and their communities. Hopefully, when people read this book, they will be reminded that violence only makes problems worse. If you like reading dramatic stories, read ALEUTIAN SPARROW to find out what happens to Vera and her community.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub

Not a fan of poetry? You don¿t have to be!
This book, a collection of short poems, tells the story of a little known event during WWII. In 1942, Japan attacked the Aleutian Islands. Vera, the narrator tells of how the native people, the Aleuts, were removed from the islands and relocated to the Alaskan mainland. The military claimed it was for their own protection. Over the course of three long, hard years, we see how Vera and her fellow people deal with prejudice (because of their resemblance the Japanese) and daily life in an internment camp. Hesse is wonderful at conveying many emotions to the reader. Though it was a short read, it made me want to learn more about the Aleutian Islands and maybe attempt to read more poetry, and that's saying a lot!

Captian Jack Sparrow
Book Review

Aleutian Sparrow is about a this girl, Vera. She lives in Alaska with her family and friends in the time of World War II. She is forced to move away from her home in Alaska.
Aleutian Sparrow in my opinion is not a very good book. Historical fiction isn't my favorite. I'm not a big World War II fan. I like adventure, fantasy, and books like that.
Karen Hesse really tells a lot about family and World War II. Hesse decided to do a paragraph on each page. I like that she put a paragraph on each page because it makes the book go faster. She also talks a lot about the girl's life with only saying her name one time in the whole book. I think that is really amazing. The reason I say that is because you can tell a lot about her but you only say her name one time. In my head it would be telling myself to write the name, but I can't or else that would be giving it away. Also it would be very mysterious and that is what kept me going in reading the book. The reason it is hard to read this book is because it is hard to follow. What I mean is that each page Hesse talks about something different. That is hard to follow. Some of the paragraphs don't even make any sense.
The book also has a different title for every paragraph. I think that is very interesting because each and every one of those paragraph talks about something different, and that is another reason I kept reading the book.

Stirring--Hesse's best writing yet
It is June of 1942, and America has joined in the war in the Pacific. Displacement for Vera and her community comes from the Japanese who have relocated all the Aleuts to camps on different islands. Though the Aleuts are told that they are being moved for their own protection, it is clear to Vera that they are treated much worse than the prisoners of war.

For the next three years, Vera and the others carve out as much of a happy life as they can for each other, while trying to maintain a sense of heritage and culture. They are forced to deal with poor health, death, malnourishment, and horrific sanitary conditions. At one point, a doctor visits the camp only to tell the Aleuts that the breakout of horrific boils is simply their bodies trying to "adjust" to a new life.

What keeps Vera and her friends strong is their belief in the power of nature and their hopes that someday they can reclaim their homes. For Vera, there is also the promise of new love.

What stands out first about this novel is the incredible, sensitive use of combined poetry and prose. The phrases and lines flow from one to another, without distraction from unnecessary words. The reader is forced to make sense of fewer words, but this exercise in language results in a clean, powerful story.

When has another author been so adept at the use of figurative language? Hesse writes of "crayon days, / big and happy" and of "the gray cheeks of the sky." The imagery is clear and fresh, and the story moves forward covering three years of important events in just 156 pages.

Vera appears to be more of a representation of the entire Aleutian culture than an individual character, though her personal relationships with her mother and with Alfred make her memorable.

Emotionally moving
It is difficult to convey the entirety of the experience of the Aleutians after the Japanese bombing - their confusion and dismay at being taken away from their homes and villages, the nearly total lack of compassion their "rescuers" demonstrated toward their homes, their lives, and their people. In this heartbreaking account of the relocation of the Aleutians for 3 years during World War II, Karen Hesse beautifully and movingly conveys the feelings of one young girl who grows up in this time.

This is one case where free verse seems to be the best medium to convey the story. Free verse appeals to images and emotions and not just plot. In truth, this book is not plot driven; you don't read it to find out what happens next. You read it because it tells you how it felt, what it looked like, how it changed the people.

It joins a long line of books, some of which deal in a parallel manner with the relocation of people of Japanese ancestry from the west coast during the war, some of which deal with other events, such as the bringing of diseases and religious, linguistic, and cultural changes by early missionaries to these and other peoples. All of these make you wonder, "Why?" How could we have been so cruel, so lacking in understanding? What are we doing even now that, in future years, we will again look upon with sadness and horror at people's inhumanity toward other people?

As a teacher, I feel books like this make excellent complements to classroom textbooks. Books like this make history come alive and feel real. And they provide some balance. It is not only Hitler who did unspeakable things; there are other examples, from both "sides" - throughout history.

And a brief compliment to the illustrator and cover designers. It is a beautiful book as well. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Interesting and Endearing Addition to the YA Genre
Sixteen-year-old Kate Pride is outraged when her parents inform her that they are moving. Not only moving a few miles away, but hundreds of thousands of miles away, from their beloved hometown of New Jersey, to Redford, Tennessee. Kate is horrified at the thought of leaving her closest friends behind, as well as giving up the spot that she earned in a prestigious playwriting workshop. In Redford, racial tensions quickly arise, as Kate admits that she is a very northern teenager, in a very southern town. These differences prompt her to write a play. Her play is about the town's choices to fly the Confederate flag, and the opposition that the movement causes. However, when Jack Redford steps into the picture, a Romeo-and-Juliet type love affair begins. Suddenly Jack is trying to explain to his Mother why he doesn't want to attend the Citadel, even though it is a family tradition, and Kate joins various high school students in the attempt to get the school team's name changed to something other than the Rebels, and to get the town to stop flying their Confederate flag.

The voice of Kate Pride is wise beyond her 16-years. She is intelligent and confident, determined and strong. Kate is a role model for teenage girls the world over, as she speaks to readers, rathern than down to them. Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld have created an inspirational and endearing novel that will stay with the reader for years, and, eventually go down in literary history. For once, two authors of the young adult genre have decided to give their lead character a plot, and voice of importance. A HEART DIVIDED will leave a lasting impression. Don't miss it!

Erika Sorocco

A wonderful book about the South
This is by far the best book I've read in years for young people about the experience of living in the South today. Whether the reader is white or black, conservative or liberal, rich or poor, in a big city or in a small town is much that can be gained from A Heart Divided. The best thing about the book is that the authors have written a marvelous story about a teen girl and wrapped it around a hot political issue. Even though the issue is hot, they have managed to present all points of view with fairness and with dignity. No matter what you think about the Confederate Flag and whether it should be flown today, you will feel that your point of view is represented and not smirked at. Meanwhile, Kate Pride emerges as one of the most interesting teen girls I've read about in years. She's a regular girl from a regular family, trying to figure out what it all means. This is a wonderful read for anyone age twelve and up.

An Instant Classic
Jeff Gottesfeld and Cherie Bennett have written a novel in which any student, parent, or teacher can find truths about life. As an educator, I am constantly given recommendations for good books to read; this book is one of my favorites. It deals with issues that fit not only adolescent concerns, but also with problems facing society in general: tolerance for others' differences, compassion for others' suffering, and adjustment to new situations. Best of all is the awakening of the main character, Kate, to the realization of her goals. She discovers that opening her heart and mind to life's obstacles takes her to places she had previously only dreamed of reaching. This book is one that teens and adults will read cover-to-cover!

Richie's Picks: A HEART DIVIDED
By the time I finished reading RAZZLE three summers ago, the intensity of my hatred toward Kenyon Baker's manipulative and clueless mom compelled me to pass a perfectly beautiful day at the beach totally obsessing about what she had done to him and was actually the catalyst for my modest attempt at writing a contemporary YA novel.

Halfway through A HEART DIVIDED, those memories of hating Mrs. Baker were coming back to me full blast, and for that I nominate Jackson Redford's mom for 2004's Insidious Mother of the Year.

A HEART DIVIDED is the story of Kate Pride, a Jersey Girl and aspiring playwright. Thanks to her father's getting his dream job, Kate is forced to leave her friends and her Manhattan-based Young Playwrights Showcase program in order to move with her family to the small town of Redford, Tennessee. Arriving just in time for her junior year of high school, Kate is plopped down--Northern liberal sensibilities and all--into the midst of a townwide controversy concerning her school and the Confederate battle flag. And upon first meeting him--under a library desk--Kate immediately falls head over heels for the aforementioned Jackson (Jack) Redford. Jack--enlightened, gorgeous, and a drama aficionado--turns out to be the last surviving male descendent of both the town's slaveholding namesake and a long line of Redford men who'd proudly served in the military.

You can imagine where Jackson's Southern-born and bred mother fits into this mix.

Whether it's Kate's attempt at creating a relationship with Jack, her stepping into the middle of the flag debate, or her struggle to compose a meaningful play about the deepening controversy, she becomes immersed in the baggage of a community where so many people--young and old--are descended from either Confederate soldiers or slaves, and also from recent generations whose bitter division during the Civil Rights Movement has left Redford with some even less healed wounds.

" 'Back in those days, Lucas Roberts was a student at Fisk. He and nine other students walked right through the front door of Jimmy Mack's. The boys wore jackets and ties. The girls wore lovely dresses. They took seats at two tables and waited. All the white people were served. But those ten young people were ignored. So they sat there all day, in silence.'
"I stopped her, checked my tape to be sure it was recording properly, and then restarted it. 'Go on, please,' I urged her. 'What happened?'
" 'Well, when Jimmy Mack III closed at the end of the day, these young students came outside to find white folks lined up on the sidewalk cursing them and waving the Confederate battle flag.
"My hand flew to my mouth. 'That's disgusting.'
" 'Yes. It is. But in the long run, the black students won.'

It was only earlier this month that I read an Associated Press article about a town in Virginia whose school board's policy preventing children from wearing clothes to school depicting the Confederate flag had resulted in suspensions, statewide protests, and livid parents demanding that their children be given the right to celebrate their ancestry.

" 'I'm ashamed that my ancestors owned slaves. But that doesn't mean I'm not still proud of them, because I am. They were honorable men, for a different time. And they put love of country ahead of whatever they wanted for themselves. Can you understand that? Can you?' "

The authors certainly made the most of their decade of living in Nashville to create a spectrum of complex characters and believable dialogue. They have now adapted this story for the stage, and I'd sure love to have the opportunity to see one of the productions that is already scheduled.

A HEART DIVIDED is a provocative and satisfying book that will inspire passionate debate--both above and below the Mason-Dixon line--about racial and regional issues and the attendant pain that continues to remain a part of our nation's character.
(...).

An Insightful Look at a Real Topic
Having been born and raised in the South, this book really seemed to hit home for me. It acurately portrays so many of the mixed emotions of many southerners. There is a fine line that we walk between being proud of our southern heritage and our ancestors who sacraficed so much during the Civil War without being labeled a racist. This book should serve as a good read and a forum for open debate amoung teens on this issue. ... Read more

Book Description

One girl too many . . .

When a girl is born to Chu Ju's family, it is quickly determined that the baby must be sent away. After all, the law states that a family may have only two children, and tradition dictates that every family should have a boy. To make room for one, this girl will have to go.

Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju knows she cannot allow this to happen to her sister. Understanding that one girl must leave, she sets out in the middle of the night, vowing not to return.

With luminescent detail, National Book Award-winning author Gloria Whelan transports readers to China, where law conspires with tradition, tearing a young woman from her family, sending her on a remarkable journey to find a home of her own.

Reviews (3)

A wonderful adventure
In her previous novels, including ANGEL ON THE SQUARE and HOMELESS BIRD (winner of the 2000 National Book Award), Gloria Whelan brought to life specific times and places --- such as modern India and revolutionary Russia --- through the stories of individual young women. With CHU JU'S HOUSE, Whelan applies her same eye for detail to modern China, in the story of a young woman who must travel far away to find the self-respect she'll never gain at home.(...)

As Chu Ju travels throughout rural China, readers will learn about many traditional Chinese occupations: fishing, silk making and rice farming. Because of its focus on rural life and traditional work, the novel sometimes seems to be set in the distant past. But occasional references to city life (including a harrowing journey to Shanghai) and recent events such as the Tiananmen Square tragedy remind readers that this novel is indeed set in modern times.

CHU JU'S HOUSE touches on political issues in modern China, and it would be an excellent jumping-off point for discussions about politics, culture and gender roles. It's also an entertaining adventure story. Although the book is short, it covers several years in Chu Ju's life. Readers will enjoy watching this headstrong, idealistic girl grow into a strong-willed, responsible young woman.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Another classic Gloria Whelan book
14-year-old Chu Ju lives in a rural Chinese village where according to culture boys are far more valued than girls. Her mother is pregnant again and the whole family prays for a son, because they know the strict rules of 2 children per family would not permit them to have another child if the baby turned out to be a girl. Unfortunately, Chu Ju's new sibling turns out to be another girl. Chu Ju's grandmother is very bitter at the result and convinces the family to put the girl up for adoption and hopefully have another child that will be a boy. Chu Ju is devastated when she hears of her family's plan and she decides to run away so her baby sister will not have to suffer. Little does Chu Ju know how important this journey will be to her life and self-realization. Told over several years, Chu Ju's journey brings her many hardships, but joy as well. She goes from village to village finding an assortment of jobs, such as working on a silkfarm, a fishing boat, and working in the rice paddies. In the end, Chu Ju realizes she made the right decision and you know she will be happy since she has found her true love and a family that accepts her for who she is and not her gender.

Being a 2nd-generation Asian-American this book hit very close to home. Unfortunately this type of gender discrimination is very common in many of China's rural villages which still go by old customs and have not been educated in the new modern ways. This topic was probably very tough to write on, but I think Gloria Whelan did a great job touching on both sides of the issue. Like Homeless Bird, she has created another great story of a girl who had courage to face the odds.

Wonderful new novel from Gloria Whelan.
Fourteen-year-old Chu Ju and her family live in modern rural China, where a strict policy of two children per family is enforced. When Chu Ju's mother becomes pregnant again, the family hopes for a boy, because sons are strongly preferred. But when the baby is born, it is another girl, who is named Hua. When Chu Ju learns that her grandmother plans to sell baby Hua to an orphanage so that there will be room in the family for another child, hopefully a son, Chu Ju decides to run away from home to spare her sister this terrible fate. Chu Ju's journey brings her to a fishing boat, a silkworm factory, a rice paddy, and the bustling and modern city of Shanghai. Fans of Gloria Whelan's previous novels won't want to miss this one. It's a wonderfully written and fascinating look at the hardships faced by a young girl in a society that strongly prefers males, and her journey to prove her worth and find a place for herself in the world. ... Read more

Book Description

As a boy in the segregated South, author Richard Wright was determined to borrow books from the public library. His story vividly illustrates the power of determination in making a dream into reality. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How young Richard Wright got to read books from the library
Richard Wright is an African American author best known for his novel "Native Son" and his autobiographical work "Black Boy." In "Richard Wright and the Library Card" author William Miller fictionalizes a story from the latter work that tells of how Wright was inspired to become a writer. Growing up in the Mississippi of the segregated South of the 1920s, Wright was only allowed to go to school through the 9th grade. His mother had taught him to read by using the newspaper and Richard read everything he could find. At the age of 17 Wright traveled north to Memphis, where he got a job sweeping the floors and doing other jobs in the office of an optician. Wanting to check out books at the local library Wright is told he cannot do so because he is black. The only things he can read are old books and newspapers that he finds in the trash. But then, with the help of a white co-worker, Wright is able to come up with a strategy for circumventing the rules.
Miller takes some liberties with Wright's original description of these events in his life, but for the most part these changes simply reinforce the elements of the story; for example, the librarian is suspicious of Richard until he lies and says that he cannot read, at which point the librarian laughs. The detail is not in "Black Boy," but certainly having the librarian laugh reinforces both the irony and the injustice of Wright have to lie in order to gain access to books to read. For that matter the language in the story is made appropriate for young readers, who do not need to hear the epithets in use at the time to understand the prejudice Wright and other African-Americans faced in the segregated South. Miller also does a nice job of setting up the anticipation of young readers who, even if they know nothing of Wright's literary accomplishments, quickly realize that he is going to be able to get to read some books and have to wonder how he is going to do it and beat the oppressive system of segregation.

This volume has the advantage of wonderful impressionistic illustrations by Gregory Christie that pointedly capture the contrast between the face that young Richard shows to the suspicious white librarian, and the real face that comes alive when he is able to read books. This book is appropriate for young readers (Grades 2-5 in terms of interest level and Grades 2-3 for reading level) and emphasizes the wrongness of treating people as different in that Wright's co-worker, Jim Falk, is also considered an outside because he is Catholic, although clearly the Jim Crow laws are the implicit target of condemnation in this book. Wright considers every page of each book to be "a ticket to freedom," and when the young Richard leaves Memphis to go to Chicago and a new life, hopefully young readers will look forward to actually reading some of the important books that he wrote. But at this point the main benefit will be the sense of how things were different back then; I wonder how many young readers could look at the cover and the title of this book and guess correctly the story found inside. ... Read more