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What Members Thought
I wanted to like this book more than I did. While the characters and story line were promising, I don't think the writing lived up to my expectations. I'll take it to my students this week and see what they make of it.
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This is a nice book, but it felt too simplistic (rather than being nicely simple, which I would see as a strength). Glory seemed younger than her 11-12 years. Some of my nagging feelings while reading--that the girls knew too much about the civil rights struggle in their community, that both sisters (despite making some mistakes) were sort of Mary Sues--were touched on in the author's note, where she says that the girls in the book knew more than she and her friends did and that they were braver
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Glory is looking forward to having her birthday party at the town pool when the town council decides to close the pool instead of integrate it. The book is based on the author's own life, those of her friends, and research the author did. The cover is well suited to the intended audience--not too kid looking but not too teen looking either. Glory's friend Frankie is very believable. He goes along with what his dad and brother say about blacks without really thinking about it, but when Glory chal
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Jan 02, 2013
Kate Hastings
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
historicalfictionj,
jfic-middle-grades-4-6
Grades 4-6. RL 680. Takes place in 1964 in a small segregated town in Mississippi. Freedom summer brings breezes of change to Glory's town. Her pool closes (for "repairs"), a new girl moves in from Ohio and drinks from the wrong fountain, her sister is sneaking off with a mysterious boy and there are rumors that the library may close to keep new members out. Lovely story about how this young girl's priorities change over the summer. At first all she understands are the inconveniences to her life
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It is 1964, and Gloria and her friend Frankie live in Mississippi, where the Jim Crow laws are enforced. “White” and “Colored” signs still separate drinking fountains and bathrooms and African Americans go to different schools, swimming pools, and other public places. Laura is a Northerner that comes down south for the summer with her Mom; her mom is helping at the Freedom Clinic for the “Colored” people. Laura doesn’t see what all the fuss is about; in fact she picks up an African American litt
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Glory enjoys life in Hanging Moss, Mississippi, but the summer before her 12th birthday things are changing as some individuals in town question segregation. I wanted to love this book. Although it was well written and Glory grows and changes, I was expecting more.
This is the book that followed The Fault in Our Stars for me. Was so happy to find another character I could like as much as Glory.
Great job looking at the difficult times in the South right before integration came into being.
Great job looking at the difficult times in the South right before integration came into being.
Oct 26, 2012
Karen Gibson
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
2012-112-book-project
This is an excellent debut children's novel. Set in Mississippi during the turbulent 60's, it shows a very human side to the civil rights struggle. I highly recommend it.
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So charmingly written... a wonderful coming of age story during segregation era of the south... A "the help" for younger readers. I loved it!
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Nov 11, 2011
Laura5
marked it as to-read
Apr 11, 2012
Amy
marked it as to-read
Jun 26, 2012
Edith
marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2013
Rachel
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Bekah
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Kristine
marked it as to-read-kids-ya
Sep 13, 2015
Leslie
marked it as to-read
Jan 27, 2018
Margo Jantzi
marked it as to-read
