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allera99's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
This bright childhood novel is one that shows the joys of childhood that connect to the trials and sins of adulthood. The story talks about a white boy who is friends with the workers son John Henry. This story is one that introduces the struggles of our history in terms of race and how the innocence of childhood over power our biases as a society. <childhood> <race> <history>
cweichel's review against another edition
5.0
I had tears in my eyes by the time I finished this book. It's the story of two best friends growing up together in a town in southern USA in the 1960's. One is white and one is black. When the Civil Rights Act became law in 1964, the two boys thought they would now be able to do everything together. Unfortunately, it wasn't that simple as the white community shut down the pool and closed stores to avoid integration.
mmattmiller's review against another edition
5.0
I have read a number of (wonderful) books that take place during segregation, but this was the first I can recall reading that is about the time when laws were mandating integration (but maybe it wasn't going as smoothly as it should have). I love this story, and I feel it's VERY important for kids to see! There was no magic light switch that could be flipped to make everything better in a heartbeat. But the bond between these two boys is pretty incredible, and what a great message for kids. (Or maybe, the message is for us grownups, because I swear, we all could learn a thing or two from children!)
beecheralyson's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful story of friendship between two children in the south during the tail end of segregation. When I got to the part about the pool, I nearly sobbed.
circleofreadersdruid's review
5.0
I've read and enjoyed several middle grade books by Deborah Wiles, but this is my first Jerome Lagarrigue. His illustrations are gorgeous. The colors are beautiful and each picture complements the text perfectly. I'd hang some of them on my wall if that were possible. Lagarrigue totally deserves the awards he won for his work in this book! Wiles was eleven in 1964 when the Civil Rights Act was passed and she spent her summers with her grandparents in rural Mississippi. Don't skip her foreword! I like the friendship between John Henry and Joe and the way their relationship deepens and matures through the book. This would be a great one for discussions. I checked this book out from the Mississippi Library Commission.
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