Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Title: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Author: Taylor, Mildred
Publication Year: 1976
Publisher: Dial Press, New York, NY
Awards: Newberry Medal of Honor, 1977
Interest Level: 4th to 6th Grade
Lexile Framework: 920L
Grade Level Equivalent: 6.9
Guided Reading Level: W
Age Guide: 9 to 11
Genre: Historical Fiction

Similar Suggestions:
Prequel: Song of the Trees, 1975
The Land, 2001
Sequel: Let the Circle be Unbroken, 1981
The Friendship, 1987
The Road to Memphis, 1990
Mississippi Bridge, 1990

This was a great book, I enjoyed every page. It is about an African American family not only battling everyday battles because of skin color but topping it off with living during the Great Depression. The odds are not in their favor but they do have land that has been in the family for a long time. More importantly they have each other, and they stick together through tough times. There are a lot of awesome lessons that kids can learn from this book, but is appropriate for upper elementary, grade 6 and up. I think some background knowledge should be built before studenst read the book, they should have an idea of what slavery is and where it came from as well as what the Great Depression was, when it took place, and the impact it had on people and places. It is a great book for young students to coonect to because most of the main characters of the book are kids. Lessons readers can take from the book include respect/disrespect, discrimination, bullying, hard work, values/morals, and adversity. After reading this book you won't be able to wait to read the sequel!