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glendaleereads's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy reading novels set in this era. The Civil Rights Movement and the oppression of African American's were one of my favorite topics to study in Highschool and college. Though Wright didn't capture everything and though I felt like the story was unfinished and by that I mean the main characters story Moses. Despite this I enjoyed the different characters I was introduced to and Moses narrative, his young innocent perspective showed us readers how really brutal this era was for African Americans.
mschlat's review against another edition
3.0
A hard read, primarily due to the emotional impact of reading about a horrible 1898 race riot and coup d'etat from the viewpoint of a twelve year old African American boy. I think I would prefer to read a straight historical account, but I'm guessing this is an effective young adult read.
turrean's review against another edition
5.0
A compelling read about a black boy in 1898 on the eve of a race riot in Wilmington, North Carolina. The days of slavery are only a generation past. Members of the black community face hated, lynching, and the constant daily threat of intimidation. The story of Moses, the young son of a prominent member of the black community, is beautifully and movingly told. As an approaching election brings racial tension to a boil, Moses discovers what it means to be a man. The themes and language of the book make this a novel for 8th grade and above: lynching, rape, the life of slaves. The author also uses the n-word, which will make it a difficult read for some teenagers--or at least, difficult for their parents.
annakim's review against another edition
4.0
A great historical fiction about a little-known event. I was incredibly surprised to learn about the racial history of Wilmington, NC, and I'm grateful that Barbara Wright included more information in the Author's Notes at the end. In terms of writing style, Crow is similar to To Kill a Mockingbird in that the novel is written as a series of events with one inevitable encounter putting each "scene" together. This is a great novel for teens, though I would hesitate to recommend it for younger readers due to the content and language. I could anticipate this being challenged on the grounds of language by some parents who don't understand the context, which Wright does a nice job of explaining in the Notes, so just be prepared for that possibility.
Overall, I think this is a great example of a fictional novel that educates as well as entertains.
Overall, I think this is a great example of a fictional novel that educates as well as entertains.
glendaleereads's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy reading novels set in this era. The Civil Rights Movement and the oppression of African American's were one of my favorite topics to study in Highschool and college. Though Wright didn't capture everything and though I felt like the story was unfinished and by that I mean the main characters story Moses. Despite this I enjoyed the different characters I was introduced to and Moses narrative, his young innocent perspective showed us readers how really brutal this era was for African Americans.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
3.0
http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/11814-crow
melissapalmer404's review against another edition
5.0
Book #66 Read in 2012
Crow (YA) by Barbara Wright
This was a great young adult historical fiction read. Moses is a young African-American boy. He has been taught by his value that education is valuable. He is taught legends and superstitions by Boo Nanny, his grandmother, who was a former slave. Along with these influences, it is a time of strained race relations, white supremacy and lynchings. Moses is forced to grow up quickly in this environment.
This book is disturbing to read, as it is a harsh reminder of a horrible time in our past. Wright vividly describes the tension and violence of this time period. She has created wonderful characters in Moses, Boo Nanny, Jack and Sadie. Readers will feel a connection with them immediately. Wright has a wonderful writing style that will draw readers into the book. This was a quick read. I enjoyed it.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
Crow (YA) by Barbara Wright
This was a great young adult historical fiction read. Moses is a young African-American boy. He has been taught by his value that education is valuable. He is taught legends and superstitions by Boo Nanny, his grandmother, who was a former slave. Along with these influences, it is a time of strained race relations, white supremacy and lynchings. Moses is forced to grow up quickly in this environment.
This book is disturbing to read, as it is a harsh reminder of a horrible time in our past. Wright vividly describes the tension and violence of this time period. She has created wonderful characters in Moses, Boo Nanny, Jack and Sadie. Readers will feel a connection with them immediately. Wright has a wonderful writing style that will draw readers into the book. This was a quick read. I enjoyed it.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
rlwertheimer's review
4.0
I've never read historical fiction about this time period in the South and really enjoyed learning about the post-emancipation cultural transitions. I particularly liked the generational differences in this family where the grandmother was a slave, the mother was born into slavery but freed as a baby, and the 10 year old protagonist was born free. Recommended. Listened to the audiobook.
casehouse's review against another edition
3.0
Would be a good, educational read for the boys. It is so difficult to know that stories like these are a part of our nation's history.