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maryehavens's review
1.0
I'm abandoning this book simply due to the fact that this author is White and I'm not really interested in reading a White author describe a Black girl's life, even if they grew up in similar circumstances. It's not ever going to be the same.
I understand this won the National Book Award in 1980 (?) or thereabouts which is why it made my list in the first place but I really want authors to stay in their lane or, rather, I want to read BIPOC characters written by BIPOC authors.
I understand this won the National Book Award in 1980 (?) or thereabouts which is why it made my list in the first place but I really want authors to stay in their lane or, rather, I want to read BIPOC characters written by BIPOC authors.
mokey81's review
2.0
I think my expectations were too high considering how much I enjoyed "The Girl in the Box" by this same author. This book did not hold my interest nearly as much. It was a decent read, but...it shouldn't have taken me as long as I did.
This is the story of Lena who learns about prejudice after winning a scripture-reciting contest at her school.
This is the story of Lena who learns about prejudice after winning a scripture-reciting contest at her school.
acedragonrider1's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime and Racial slurs
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, and Blood
theresidentbookworm's review
2.0
Okay, so here's a theory I've been working on: schools are secretly conspiring to turn all children against reading forever. And why do I think this, you may ask. Well, I'm going to tell you. Because teachers wouldn't assign such mind numbingly boring books without knowing the consequences. For example, a close friend of mine was recently assigned The Odyssey for Honors English. This friend usually enjoys myths from all cultures, but this was just too much for her in such a short time span. It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that it totally changed her opinion of mythology. What I think is the fault with the way English is taught in schools today is that they're trying to teach literary elements rather than a love of literature. Literary elements aren't that important when you leave school, but a love of literature is. Adults wonder why some kids hate reading books when the answer is right in front of them. Kids don't read because that's what school indirectly teach them to do. This is not a hate-on-schools-and-English-teachers rant. I usually enjoy most of the books I read in English, and my English teachers have always been encouraging. Still, the majority of good books I've read in my life I've had to find on my own without any guidance. My parents aren't exactly the literary types, and I doubt my brothers have read anything since high school. I'm the bookworm of the family.
And so now that I've bored you with a rant and useless information about myself, I'll get on to my review and why that first paragraph was relevant. I wrote all of that because I was assigned to read Words by Heart in middle school, and it wasn't something I enjoyed. The major contributing factor had to be that I read it in school and therefore dissected it until there was nothing left. (Another thing I hate about English. They dissect things to the point where the words hold no magic for anyone anymore.) After all those quizzes and tests on this miniscule 135 page book, I was sick of it. And let's not forget the snail-speed rate we were forced to read it at. Two chapters were do a week. I could've finished this in one sitting. Reading so slow definitely took away some of the fun in reading this.
Of course, there is also the fact that I didn't even enjoy this to start with. It's really just a subpar historical fiction book aimed for elementary and middle school students with low reading levels. I'd passed this level by the third grade when I read the unabridged version of Little Women to win a reading contest. There was just nothing left for me to enjoy. The characters were average and the issues overdone if not still realistic. There was a nice twist at the end, but even that wasn't enough to revive this novel. In other words, it was perfect to teach a bored middle school class.
Recommendation: Don't read it. Hopefully, you won't ever have to read it for school.
And so now that I've bored you with a rant and useless information about myself, I'll get on to my review and why that first paragraph was relevant. I wrote all of that because I was assigned to read Words by Heart in middle school, and it wasn't something I enjoyed. The major contributing factor had to be that I read it in school and therefore dissected it until there was nothing left. (Another thing I hate about English. They dissect things to the point where the words hold no magic for anyone anymore.) After all those quizzes and tests on this miniscule 135 page book, I was sick of it. And let's not forget the snail-speed rate we were forced to read it at. Two chapters were do a week. I could've finished this in one sitting. Reading so slow definitely took away some of the fun in reading this.
Of course, there is also the fact that I didn't even enjoy this to start with. It's really just a subpar historical fiction book aimed for elementary and middle school students with low reading levels. I'd passed this level by the third grade when I read the unabridged version of Little Women to win a reading contest. There was just nothing left for me to enjoy. The characters were average and the issues overdone if not still realistic. There was a nice twist at the end, but even that wasn't enough to revive this novel. In other words, it was perfect to teach a bored middle school class.
Recommendation: Don't read it. Hopefully, you won't ever have to read it for school.
iceangel9's review
3.0
A touching story of a black family trying to make a new life amongst a white population in the early 1900's. Lena thinks that by winning the Scripture recitation contest she will finally have others notice her for her abilities rather than the color of her skin. After winning the Bible-quoting contest she finds it doesn't bring her the attention she expects or wants. After violence breaks out, Lena, who believes in vengeance, must learn to forgive. This book does use the "n" word as it was used during this time period.
jenncherry's review
5.0
VERY good read aloud - not an easy read with the kids, but very well written - we thoroughly enjoyed this book!
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