Reviews - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

1.09k reviews for:

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Mildred D. Taylor

3.87 AVERAGE

tiffanycase's review against another edition

4.0

emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

chekareadswhat's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional informative sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

readiculousqui's review against another edition

4.0

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a book I first encountered as a child, but rereading it now, more than two decades later, has been a profoundly different experience. The story resonates deeply with me, especially as someone who has lived through racial injustices and grew up in the Southern United States. It feels both personal and universal, given the author’s reflections on her own upbringing in rural Mississippi during the 1940s.

Cassie Logan, the young protagonist, is a character I both admire and find exasperating—a testament to how real and multifaceted she is. Her courage and defiance in the face of systemic racism make her unforgettable, even if her stubbornness sometimes tested my patience.

This story is not an easy one to digest. It’s layered with themes of resilience, family, and the ugly realities of racial inequality, all of which evoke emotions that are hard to confront. The fate of T.J. in particular broke my heart—I found myself shedding tears for his pain and the injustices he endured.

While I plan to delve deeper into the Logan family saga, starting with Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry has been a powerful and moving reintroduction to their story. It’s a timeless and necessary book, one that continues to challenge, teach, and stir emotions in ways that only great literature can.

triggs4780's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

johnny_the_ginger's review against another edition

4.0

I first read this book in elementary school and this is how I learned the N-word. I brought it up to my mother, who…made sure I never said it again. And I haven’t. There have been efforts to ban this book because it’s historical fiction and because of its use of the n-word. However, the plot is based on real stories (I can’t confirm to what degree) and I think it’s important for kids to learn why such language is so derogatory and shameful. Parents should take an active role in what they allow their elementary aged children read, but this book is so good and many kids can handle it.

garnet_reads's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is a powerful story. I am so glad that it was included in our language arts curriculum this year. I don’t know that I would have read it otherwise and I am glad that we did. The language is controversial for obvious reasons but wholly necessary to convey the realities of the time. I am glad that my kid is reading this along with me. I am certain that, through our discussions, he will have a better understanding of the realities of racism as a result. The author’s epilogue was a treasure at the end. This on its own, made the book worth reading.

emstewart23's review against another edition

4.0

This book challenged me because so much of it was character-driven (and I know that’s the author’s point) and I have a problem getting into those kinds of books sometimes. The author’s note of this book was so, so powerful and beautiful and really brought everything full circle for me. It really struck me how much of this series was based on the lives of her grandparents…the realities of these books is so much more recent than we usually think. I’d love to sit down and talk with Taylor about the reality of racism in America today. Wow.