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ikuo1000's review against another edition
5.0
Like [b:Song of the Trees|130215|Song of the Trees (Logans, #3)|Mildred D. Taylor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203798l/130215._SY75_.jpg|2200495], The Well is essentially a short story.
The book is written from the perspective of a grown-up David telling a story from his childhood. It's easy to imagine the words spoken aloud, as part of a family's oral tradition.
This is the 4th book of the series that I've read. Having already gotten to know the main characters from other books, I went into this one feeling fully invested in the Logan family. Being able to follow the arcs of character development was certainly a factor in why I was so captivated by the book. I was moved by the poignancy of an elder Ma Rachel, still so affected by the importance of her name, and I was saddened to see Paul-Edward talk of his brother, his childhood playmate, as "that white boy" (p. 73-74).
A lot of big themes were packed into this short story. There was Hammer's strong sense of pride and justice, despite the injustice of the laws and reality of the time; David's dedication to family and peace in his quiet willingness to take a completely unjustified beating; Caroline's keen understanding of people and events, coupled with smart thinking and quick action, in her efforts to help ensure as good an outcome as possible with the sheriff; and Paul-Edward's thoughtful and sensitive treatment of Joe McCalister.
The shocking unfairness depicted in this story is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. Everyone should read this series to better understand a part of American history that isn't always taught in schools, but should be.
Parents should know that dialog is appropriate to the time period, and the n-word is used quite a bit.
The book is written from the perspective of a grown-up David telling a story from his childhood. It's easy to imagine the words spoken aloud, as part of a family's oral tradition.
This is the 4th book of the series that I've read. Having already gotten to know the main characters from other books, I went into this one feeling fully invested in the Logan family. Being able to follow the arcs of character development was certainly a factor in why I was so captivated by the book. I was moved by the poignancy of an elder Ma Rachel, still so affected by the importance of her name, and I was saddened to see Paul-Edward talk of his brother, his childhood playmate, as "that white boy" (p. 73-74).
A lot of big themes were packed into this short story. There was Hammer's strong sense of pride and justice, despite the injustice of the laws and reality of the time; David's dedication to family and peace in his quiet willingness to take a completely unjustified beating; Caroline's keen understanding of people and events, coupled with smart thinking and quick action, in her efforts to help ensure as good an outcome as possible with the sheriff; and Paul-Edward's thoughtful and sensitive treatment of Joe McCalister.
The shocking unfairness depicted in this story is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. Everyone should read this series to better understand a part of American history that isn't always taught in schools, but should be.
Parents should know that dialog is appropriate to the time period, and the n-word is used quite a bit.
amandagstevens's review against another edition
4.0
Those who have read [b:Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry|310459|Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Logans, #4)|Mildred D. Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388345167s/310459.jpg|1165554] will recognize David Logan as the father of Cassie and her brothers. In this short novel, David is ten years old and his brother Hammer is fourteen. It's 1910 in Mississippi, a summer of drought, and the well on the Logans' land is the only one that hasn't run dry. The Logans are willing to share water with black and white alike, but their generosity isn't appreciated by everyone.
I consider Roll of Thunder to be one of the best middle-grade books ever. Ms. Taylor's voice not only captures the spirit of her young protagonist but also crafts some lovely prose. She writes with a sort of effortless assurance, a quiet wisdom that doesn't try to be profound; it simply is. Her characters are real people, struggling against their inner selves as well as one another, making mistakes and making me root for them to grow strong and true. The Well is exactly what I would expect from a short novel by this author.
In less than a hundred pages, Taylor portrays racism with not just honesty but intimacy, layering her depiction with the stories of Ma Rachel and David's father in addition to David's own experience. David and Hammer react as individuals, each of them hurt and humiliated but processing and expressing these emotions in different ways (reflecting their different responses as adults in Taylor's other works). Every scene of this story peels back another layer of racism's reality, of the fight for one's dignity as a person to be acknowledged by those with power and agency. David's parents expect him to know how to behave in front of white people; but just as strongly, they remind him that he has worth whether it is acknowledged by others or not.
The storytelling craft is strong, weaving unspoken layers that a very young reader might not pick up on. For example, the scene between Caroline Logan and the sheriff (in which she tries to keep Hammer out of jail after he knocks down a white boy) is a subtly complex interplay between a civilian and a law officer, but also between a black woman and a white man in the turn-of-the-century South. Though Caroline knows that deference is her only option, she also knows how to make necessary appeasement work for her. For a moment, there's almost a sense that, with her people-smarts and her unquestionable dignity, Caroline is winning the day.
The story offers no happy ending. The Simms family, who resent the Logans for being black and yet having more land, more water--they don't suddenly admit to their prejudice and ask forgiveness. This is a children's book, but it is tough and unflinching and therefore moving, no matter the age of the reader. All of which make this a worthy installment of the Logan family saga. I loved getting a glimpse into David's heart, seeing him and Hammer as boys. I love this fictional family, and someday I hope to read all of Taylor's work.
I consider Roll of Thunder to be one of the best middle-grade books ever. Ms. Taylor's voice not only captures the spirit of her young protagonist but also crafts some lovely prose. She writes with a sort of effortless assurance, a quiet wisdom that doesn't try to be profound; it simply is. Her characters are real people, struggling against their inner selves as well as one another, making mistakes and making me root for them to grow strong and true. The Well is exactly what I would expect from a short novel by this author.
In less than a hundred pages, Taylor portrays racism with not just honesty but intimacy, layering her depiction with the stories of Ma Rachel and David's father in addition to David's own experience. David and Hammer react as individuals, each of them hurt and humiliated but processing and expressing these emotions in different ways (reflecting their different responses as adults in Taylor's other works). Every scene of this story peels back another layer of racism's reality, of the fight for one's dignity as a person to be acknowledged by those with power and agency. David's parents expect him to know how to behave in front of white people; but just as strongly, they remind him that he has worth whether it is acknowledged by others or not.
The storytelling craft is strong, weaving unspoken layers that a very young reader might not pick up on. For example, the scene between Caroline Logan and the sheriff (in which she tries to keep Hammer out of jail after he knocks down a white boy) is a subtly complex interplay between a civilian and a law officer, but also between a black woman and a white man in the turn-of-the-century South. Though Caroline knows that deference is her only option, she also knows how to make necessary appeasement work for her. For a moment, there's almost a sense that, with her people-smarts and her unquestionable dignity, Caroline is winning the day.
The story offers no happy ending. The Simms family, who resent the Logans for being black and yet having more land, more water--they don't suddenly admit to their prejudice and ask forgiveness. This is a children's book, but it is tough and unflinching and therefore moving, no matter the age of the reader. All of which make this a worthy installment of the Logan family saga. I loved getting a glimpse into David's heart, seeing him and Hammer as boys. I love this fictional family, and someday I hope to read all of Taylor's work.
fatkidatheartreads's review against another edition
5.0
Tw: Racial slurs, Racism
The audacity of these white folks. 🤬
The audacity of these white folks. 🤬
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
thatokiebird's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Well is a short story chronologically taking place after The Land. The audiobook version is about 2 hours in length, and is told from David's point of view, one of Paul-Edward's sons. The story wasn't long enough to impact as deeply as The Land, but is still well written and an important look into racism in the early 1900's; racism from adults and the racism by children who've learned from the adults. It's heartbreaking and the humiliation and hurt portrayed is different by each individual characters as they process the hurt differently.
Reading a short story like this can be hit or miss, when there's not quite enough pages to encapsulate the nuances of each character, but this one did a great job building from what we learned about the characters in The Land. I am excited to continue reading through the Logan Family series.
Reading a short story like this can be hit or miss, when there's not quite enough pages to encapsulate the nuances of each character, but this one did a great job building from what we learned about the characters in The Land. I am excited to continue reading through the Logan Family series.
abi_carter's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
aprilparker97's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shyster's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
bookworm_baggins's review
4.0
Read aloud to the kids. This is our first novella in the series. It was really great to see David and Hammer as young men, to see all that has passed since the end of The Land, and to know where things are going with Roll of Thunder. Not as engaging as the longer books, but still full of life and character.
gabsalott13's review
4.0
***As part of our 2020 reading challenges, my mom and I are revisiting the old works of her favorite YA author, Mildred D. Taylor, and will soon get to read All the Days Past, All the Days to Come for the very first time.***
The Well is the second book in the Logan family saga, a story that takes us one generation forward: to David George Logan, Paul-Edward’s youngest son, and Cassie’s father. One summer while his father and older brothers are away, David attempts to manage the competing issues of a local drought, a hotheaded brother, an increasingly senile grandmother, and a competing duo of white brothers (aka “scounds”) who would love nothing more than to cause trouble for David and his brother Hammer.
This story is one that you can see becoming Logan family legend before your eyes—it is a perfect tale to be repeated over family reunion picnics tables years later, when the danger seems less present.
However, despite Taylor’s use of David as an even-tempered, ever-so-patient narrator, you still sense the very present danger for these characters. For preteens in this community, lynching is an everpresent reality feared by the black boys and threatened by the white ones.
While the pre-2020 books in the Logan family saga were all written by the time I was reading them as a child, I’m not sure that I ever paid close attention to the sequential order of them. For this reason, I enjoyed being able to read The Well directly after the Land. It’s nice to witness all the references: for starters, I can’t help but think the Sims are tenant-farming on the same “40 acres” Filmore Granger scammed away from Paul and Mitchell! Both Ma Rachel and Paul-Edward share stories we’ve heard in The Land, but with some new details or vantage points. Through his recounting of his falling out with Robert, you can see that Paul-Edward has inherited his parents’ skill for using storytelling to impart wisdom, and you also see the growth he’s experienced over the years. He’s clearly come a long way from struggling to successfully share this story with Nathan and being saved by the bell—I mean Mitchell.
I’m enjoying my more linear time with the Logans, and am excited to continue on soon!
The Well is the second book in the Logan family saga, a story that takes us one generation forward: to David George Logan, Paul-Edward’s youngest son, and Cassie’s father. One summer while his father and older brothers are away, David attempts to manage the competing issues of a local drought, a hotheaded brother, an increasingly senile grandmother, and a competing duo of white brothers (aka “scounds”) who would love nothing more than to cause trouble for David and his brother Hammer.
This story is one that you can see becoming Logan family legend before your eyes—it is a perfect tale to be repeated over family reunion picnics tables years later, when the danger seems less present.
However, despite Taylor’s use of David as an even-tempered, ever-so-patient narrator, you still sense the very present danger for these characters. For preteens in this community, lynching is an everpresent reality feared by the black boys and threatened by the white ones.
While the pre-2020 books in the Logan family saga were all written by the time I was reading them as a child, I’m not sure that I ever paid close attention to the sequential order of them. For this reason, I enjoyed being able to read The Well directly after the Land. It’s nice to witness all the references: for starters, I can’t help but think the Sims are tenant-farming on the same “40 acres” Filmore Granger scammed away from Paul and Mitchell! Both Ma Rachel and Paul-Edward share stories we’ve heard in The Land, but with some new details or vantage points. Through his recounting of his falling out with Robert, you can see that Paul-Edward has inherited his parents’ skill for using storytelling to impart wisdom, and you also see the growth he’s experienced over the years. He’s clearly come a long way from struggling to successfully share this story with Nathan and being saved by the bell—I mean Mitchell.
I’m enjoying my more linear time with the Logans, and am excited to continue on soon!