Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor won the Newbery Award in 1977. The story takes place in the rural South during the Great Depression. Over the course of a year, the Logan family battles against prejudice, race related violence, and unfairness after an African American in the community is beaten and set on fire. Events build as tension between the White landowners and the African American families grow. The Logan family tries to maintain the safety of the family while fighting for what they believe.

Roll of Thunder was a heavy read. Not only is the subject matter heavy, but the reading is dense as well. I think most elementary aged students would be unable to handle the book. By AR it is leveled as a 5.7 (for whatever that is worth) but I think middle schoolers would be better suited for it.

The main character, Cassie is 8 years old. She must have been sheltered because over the course of the story, she must learn of the prejudice and inequality prevalent in her community. At the beginning of the story, the African American students receive the discarded textbooks from the county, and she nor her siblings understand why they are receiving such poor materials. Later in the story, Cassie goes into a store and is angered when the proprieter helps all of the white customers before he will help her and her friends. Other events occur highlighting how little she understands about the prejudice toward her race.

While I found her innocence somewhat unbelievable, it could help a young reader to understand the time period. As a young reader, many students may have a limited understanding of the prejudicial practices in the rural South. A reader could relate to Cassie's feelings of anger, resentment, and confusion as she experienced prejudice because of her race. As she is coming to understand the situation, the reader is also coming to understand it. For young adults, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry could be a fictional representation of America's ugly past that would help them become aware of our history in a way that would move them emotionally as they become invested in the Logan family.