Reviews

The Well: David's Story by Mildred D. Taylor

123erty456's review

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

hedleyreads's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kimiloughlin's review

3.0

This was a cute little vignette/novella to continue the Logan Family Saga. It was from the perspective of David Logan, the son of Paul Edward Logan from The Land (since I am doing this series in time order and not published order, this is the appropriate tag.... David Logan is also the father of Cassie Logan in Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry). His family has a well on their land that is the saving grace for many in their town when the droughts hit. The racial relations and tensions are still high with the Logans. Despite owning their own land and everything they've had to fight for, there are still white folk who want to tear them down. This novella centers around the usage of the well and tensions between David's older brother Hammond and Charlie Simms.

Compared to The Land, The Well was a teensy bit of a letdown for me. It was cute, succinct, and gave some more details about the family but was ultimately a little more juvenile in it's telling. There wasn't much character depth besides what was already established. Excited to read the next full length novel though!

hldillon's review

4.0

During a sever drought the Logan's well is the only one with water in it. They gladly share it with white and black settlers all around them. However, they soon learn that not everyone is happy about having to go to them to get water. Charlie and his brother are white settlers that live on a farm not too far away. They hate the fact that their well has no water and the plan on making David and his older brother Hammer pay for this.

cosmicbookworm's review against another edition

Important reading for students. Deals with human pride, human dignity, racial hatred and bias, resilience and overcoming.

amyreadsbooks917's review against another edition

3.0

This book did not spare details of the time period... n-word, whippings, injustice, and mentions of lynching. When a drought hits the community, the Logans' well is the only sweet water still flowing and they happily share. Things become complicated, though, as the Simmses' feelings of entitlement and racism meet Hammer Logan's temper and pride head on.

This was a quick read with very frustrating events, but the ending was satisfying.

drakean8's review against another edition

4.0

I think this would be a good book for any middle school child to read. It greatly depicts the hatred between white and black, hatred felt on both sides. I've always thought of white folks back then hating blacks, but the idea of blacks hating whites was just as common, just stemmed from a different place. Taylor also greatly paints the infuriatingly unjust world black people were living in post civil-war. One can't help but palpate the hatred felt between these two peoples.

renareads's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

remigves's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad 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

4.0

zquill's review against another edition

4.0

Taylor has such a compelling rhythm incorporated into how she writes. And Hammer's actions are so understandable even as one is terrified at what the consequences will be.