Scan barcode
bergsteiger's review against another edition
4.0
Great prequel to "Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry". As with her other, more famous book, Mrs. Taylor does an excellent job of evoking strong emotions, without over simplifying characters or playing into stereotypes. Using this as a companion book to Reconstruction, Jim Crow laws, and the Great Northern Migration, as it helps illustrate the time period and motivations of different races and social groups. The story itself is about the Logans, a black family in Mississippi in the 1910s, who own the only well that doesn't dry up in the vicinity. As a resentful, poor white family comes to draw water, the outcome is entirely predictable. The Logans manage to avoid total catastrophe and we see why Hammer will appear in later books no longer in the South. This is really a novella and a quick read, so you have no reason to not pick it up off the shelf. However, its short length is also its greatest handicap as there is not nearly the development of characters and plot that we see in Mrs. Taylor's other works. Still a solid 4 stars though.
mysterymom40's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Gaslighting
olbeelaine's review
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
rich2023's review against another edition
sad
fast-paced
5.0
This was a quick read. I will say that it was sad what Charlie and Ed-Rose did. I liked how the Logans shared the water with their neighbors.
dswhite's review against another edition
4.0
The second book in the Logan family saga is a short novel about a conflict between two of the Logan boys and a white boy. The pain in this story and what families had to endure in the South is well done and the characters are well developed for such a short book.
mildredtail's review against another edition
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tashas_reads's review against another edition
3.0
This book depicts the struggle of farm life in rural areas during the 19th century. There’s more though, it follows the life of racism and prejudice that plagues the world. The author does great with this book. It is both captivating and heartfelt. It is a small book but is a great story. It is as long as at it needs to be.
lidia7's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Animal death