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typesetprint's review against another edition
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Racial slurs and Violence
Minor: Death
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well-written and explained for a younger audience. This is one I wish I had read as a young child, as it would’ve highlighted true American history for me long before I encountered those truths as an adult. You’ll find yourself rooting for the characters of the Logan family as you read. This book explains and analyzes difficult topics with grace, humility, and compassion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Grief, Police brutality, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Toxic friendship, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Violence, Slavery, and Racism
kryskrosszee's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
sarahtonin_bby's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
i’m glad i finished this book and i think it’s a really important one for people to read but i was never super invested. i read this for class so that definitely influences my experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Gun violence, and Death
nytephoenyx's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is as memorable a book in 2021 as it was in 1997 and as impressionable as I’m sure it was at its time of release – in 1976. Not many books age so well with time, but Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry remains an important book to read about the Jim Crow era.
First, the story. This novel addresses basic human rights and how they were (are?) constantly denied to Black people. The Logans are a strong family, and in any other world they’d be well-situated. They own their own land and on top of that Cassie’s father works or the railroad and her mother teaches at the local Black school. They are still only barely just getting by. They have to go into a different town to be able to buy home goods and basic necessities from a kinder proprietor. They are constantly under threat by their white neighbors who would want their land and their lives. Everyday, the Logans and the other Black families have to fight for their dignity… and most the time, at threat of their lives, they can’t even have that.
Every step in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry shares another story of oppression. There is joy woven around the stories. There are good people (Black and white) but there are also bad people (mostly white, but I’m not entirely discounting TJ). It’s not a lecture on racism, it’s a window into how life was. And, at that, I presume it’s a pretty generous window and that for so many, things were much, much worse.
Cassie’s story remains a staple because of all of these things, but on a technical level, Mildred D. Taylor’s writing makes a middle grade book both accessible and necessary for all ages. I was taught Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry in middle school and twenty-two years later, I’m glad to have picked it up again because it still rings true. It’s a good reminder of privilege and debt.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is an excellent book. It pulls your emotional heartstrings! Also, even though it’s the fourth book in the Logans’ story, it can easily be read as a standalone. I’m very glad I was taught this book in my little backwater central school, and I desperately hope it continues to be taught in schools today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death, Slavery, and Murder
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book had a slow start for me, but I knew it was difficult in all the right ways and I needed to keep going, even it was on and off between other books. The last part of the book really picked up for me (partly because I was finally in a better mental space to appreciate the story) and by the end I finally understood why so many people report loving this book so much! Made me cry!
Highly recommended for everyone, even young readers, as long as they're able to handle the references to violence and intense racism.
Highly recommended for everyone, even young readers, as long as they're able to handle the references to violence and intense racism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Slavery and Death
References to being burned alive, and later mild but disturbing descriptions of the burn scars of a survivor.
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