Banned Book Week:
Have you read this banned book?

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D Taylor

Why is the land so important to Cassie’s family? It takes the events of one turbulent year—the year of the night riders and the burnings, the year a white girl humiliates Cassie in public simply because she’s black—to show Cassie that having a place of their own is the Logan family’s lifeblood. It is the land that gives the Logans their courage and pride—no matter how others may degrade them, the Logans possess something no one can take away.

Is there anyone who hasn’t read Roll of Thunder? It’s a moving piece of literature for tweens to help them understand the lives of African Americans. It’s also just, GOOD. WRITING.  Written in the 70’s, this book is still frequently challenged today for its expression of racial themes and use of the “n” word. One family in Florida challenged it because they didn’t think it was appropriate for their own son, who was African American. They decided to keep the book but provided more sensitivity training to the teachers, which I think is a great idea. Here’s hoping that any teachers who include this book are teaching it as sensitively as they can. There’s so much to learn from this book.

If you’ve not read this book, why not try it? It’s a great addition to the Diversity Reading Challenge, too.