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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed this book. It felt very real. Fiction or no, the events in this book could actually have happened. I liked Cassie, though I didn't like everything that she did. The ending was stressful as well. Books need to have a climax, and then wrap up. This book had a climax, and a good one at that, but the wrap up was to short, and was not very satisfying. We're left wondering what will happen to T.J., and if the Logans will get to keep their land, and that is annoying. I also would have enjoyed something more with Jeremy Simms. He didn't have the racism and the meanness of the rest of his family, but Cassie's father tells Stacey not to bother being friends with him because he'll eventually become like his father. This isn't fair since Jeremy doesn't like his father, and doesn't get along with his family. I think there is something more to the fact that he sleeps in a tree, something to do with the unpleasantness of his family, but this wasn't addressed in the book. Hopefully it will be in the sequels, but it's still a bit disappointing because this book could almost stand alone, and its just a few little things that weren't addressed well at the end that messes that up. I still really enjoyed the book, but the ending really could've been done better.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
N word used, but this is a book about the terrible racism in 1930s south. Cassie was stressing me out. Girl, be careful!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Violence, Fire/Fire injury
This was a painful book to read but marvelous historical fiction. Taylor won the Newbery Medal for this novel and it was well-deserved. The young children in this novel are complex survivors. I am looking forward to teaching this book to the 6th graders this school year. I think it will lead to very interesting discussions.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
EDIT FROM SAME DAY FINISHING READING BOOK.
WHY AM I JUST NOW REALIZING MY TEACHER MADE US READ THE FOURTH BOOK IN THIS SERIES?? IS THIS WHY I DIDN'T LIKE IT???? How could you make us read a random book in a series. That makes absolutely no sense!!?????
FINALLY FINISHED ALL MY BOOKS FOR SCHOOL!!!! IM FREE TO READ WHATEVER I WANT!!!! This book was a hard one for me to read. I actually had to get the audiobook version of it and that says a lot because I never listen to audiobooks.
WHY AM I JUST NOW REALIZING MY TEACHER MADE US READ THE FOURTH BOOK IN THIS SERIES?? IS THIS WHY I DIDN'T LIKE IT???? How could you make us read a random book in a series. That makes absolutely no sense!!?????
FINALLY FINISHED ALL MY BOOKS FOR SCHOOL!!!! IM FREE TO READ WHATEVER I WANT!!!! This book was a hard one for me to read. I actually had to get the audiobook version of it and that says a lot because I never listen to audiobooks.
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-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
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I've been in orbit of this book my whole life, I've seen it others talk about it and my first reading of it is at 29 years old. Tbh, I think I read this at the right time for so many reasons, I was absolutely gutted at my big age reading those last 2 chapters so if I read this at like 12 this might've did me in to tell you the truth. Plus there's more stuff I'm aware of now that I caught. Like boycotting. Like the fact that the logans are a bit more well off than others, the fact that TJ was very lonely and him being isolated from the others set up the unfortunate turn of events, the fact that Cassie is a kid and I had the like adult eyes to see that sometimes she just really didn't know how cruel this world could be to Black people because she her siblings TJ and all the unnamed Black children in this book would lose their innocence way earlier than they should have. Much like the Black children in real life back when this book was published, through its reprints and now. Hell, reading this as an adult had me in shambles so I can only imagine how this experience is for kids. So much in here, I need to take a break and come back to it. An absolute masterclass of children's literature. Very well done.
This book can be a bit slow moving at times, but overall, it was an engaging and thought-provoking story.
This is a really touching, heartfelt book. I think this is one piece of literature that is actually really good. I could sit down and read this, whereas Anne Frank, which wasn't too bad, would bore me to death if I had to sit and read it all in one or two sittings. It is just really sad how segregation just went on and on. I really hate it, especially in some parts where it is totally unfair. I also, in my opinion, think that T.J. is just the most horrible person. He's just so mean and bullies others, and when they get mad at him, he tells them to just cool off and not to be so hotheaded. I really dislike him and it annoys me to no end that he always, usually, gets his way. At the end, it got really exciting, and T.J. played a big part in the book, but in a bad way, again.
Though this book was still a bit boring, it was nothing like the pain of some books I have had to read. I enjoyed it and totally read it again.
Though this book was still a bit boring, it was nothing like the pain of some books I have had to read. I enjoyed it and totally read it again.