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A review by aaareading
The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
5.0
Powerful messages if you are willing to help kids break past the metaphorical imagery in this book.
Clover is a Black girl who lives in a town where the white side and the black side are divided by a fence. The book seems to take place during Segregation, maybe the 1950s and probably in the south. Her mother tells her never to go to “the other side”. She notices a white girl her age playing on the other side of the fence. The two are naturally drawn together by the desire to have a friend to play with, but neither can cross the fence. They do find a way to become friends despite the limitations put on them.
Clearly the fence is symbolic of the system of segregation and the racism that divides the town. The book ends with the girls hoping that someday the fence will come down. It’s a great opportunity to talk about what needs to happen to take down the “fences” in our world, and who can help do it. Another great talking point is when the mother tells her daughter that they can’t go over the fence because it’s “the way it’s always been”. Here we can discuss motivations for following or challenging rules, what fear does to us, sense of security, and curiosity. Finally, this book can just be a friendship story. There are lots of great points related to the friendship between the two main characters, but also between Clover and her other black friends as well. Even though they are minor characters, Clover’s thoughts about them provide some great teaching moments.
Clover is a Black girl who lives in a town where the white side and the black side are divided by a fence. The book seems to take place during Segregation, maybe the 1950s and probably in the south. Her mother tells her never to go to “the other side”. She notices a white girl her age playing on the other side of the fence. The two are naturally drawn together by the desire to have a friend to play with, but neither can cross the fence. They do find a way to become friends despite the limitations put on them.
Clearly the fence is symbolic of the system of segregation and the racism that divides the town. The book ends with the girls hoping that someday the fence will come down. It’s a great opportunity to talk about what needs to happen to take down the “fences” in our world, and who can help do it. Another great talking point is when the mother tells her daughter that they can’t go over the fence because it’s “the way it’s always been”. Here we can discuss motivations for following or challenging rules, what fear does to us, sense of security, and curiosity. Finally, this book can just be a friendship story. There are lots of great points related to the friendship between the two main characters, but also between Clover and her other black friends as well. Even though they are minor characters, Clover’s thoughts about them provide some great teaching moments.