Reviews with content warning for Gun violence - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

8 reviews

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

sarahtonin_bby's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

afion's review

Go to review page

Content Warnings

ruthmoog's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.75

A beautiful book, about a warm and caring family in 1930s South USA. The story is about the Logan family living through racial injustice, it's full of harsh moments and truths, but also laughter, care, and remembering the past.

Content Warnings

lmshearer's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I remember trying to read this as a middle school student but not engaging with the first chapter, so it had been a DNF. The story takes a bit to build, but once it gets going, it's hard to put down. This book should be required reading and taught alongside To Kill A Mockingbird. The name Cassie Logan should be as well-known as Scout Finch. I fell in love with the whole Logan family and look forward to reading the prior books in this series.

Content Warnings

nytephoenyx's review

Go to review page

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

dytiscusfriend's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

kommatator's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

More...