Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

by Mildred D. Taylor

Reviewed by Jane Doe

Fall 2016

REVIEW: Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

ISBN#: 0142401129

THE STORY:

Cassie Logan, an African American girl, lives with her three brothers, parents, and grandmother in a rural part of the Southeast United States during the early 1930s. The 1930s were a time of deep racial segregation and economic turmoil because of the Great Depression. Throughout the book, Cassie goes through a series of events, mostly with her brothers, and realizes that black people are not treated equally as white people. She finds this situation disturbing. One particular event, took
place in Strawberry, a small market town that is the prime place for farmers to sell their produce. While she was there, she accidentally bumps into Linda-Jean Simms, an arrogant white girl who condescends over black people. Linda Jean’s father pushes Cassie to the ground and hurts her, and no one could oppose his behavior because he is a white man. That night, her mom tells her why no one reacted when Mr. Simms pushed her to the ground. She understands the racism and segregation that is all around her. More events unfold to worry Cassie as well as the other members of her family who struggle to survive in a community that isn't always welcoming.  Over time, she learns to cope up with the situation and overcome her initial opinions of the whites in her town.  She even outsmarts Linda-Jean and teaches her a lesson about giving respect. With her newfound confidence she tackles newer racial obstacles that are in her way and also helps out her family members and friends with these types of issues. (256)

MY OPINION:

When I first opened the book, I felt that it was going to be hard to understand because of the southern accent used by the characters in it. As I read on, the historical fiction became interesting, and I became familiar with the accent. I realized that it is a unique characteristic to the book. The author uses a variety of figurative language that helps me to picture the imagery perfectly.  The story is also very emotional because it tells about all the hardships a black family faced in the time before the Civil Rights Act.  The exquisite word choice raises the reading level and gives me the sense that it would appeal to a wide audience. The story was especially important to me as a person who lives in a diverse community.  I could understand the struggles that the main family faced, including racism and discrimination.  The only weakness this book has is its sophisticated vocabulary which is quite hard to understand. I would recommend this book to younger high school students and older middle school students as it uses explicit language. Overall I would rate this book nine out of ten stars, so I would definitely read it again someday. (202)

STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:

FIRST SECTION

1. What is the main character’s name?

1a. The main character’s name is Cassie Logan. (pg. 12)

2. What does the main character’s father job?

2a. He works on the railroad. (pg. 14)

3. What’s the nickname for Cassie’s youngest brother?

3a. The nickname for Cassie’s youngest brother is “little man.” (pg. 7)

4. Why does Little Man throw a school’s textbook on the ground?

4a. Because of the racist inside cover that denegrades a black student. (pg. 24)

5. Who does Cassie’s father bring to the Logan household?

5a. He brought Mr. Morisson, a railroad worker close to Cassie’s father. (28)

disdainfully (pg. 11)

tarpaulin (pg. 19)

gusto (pg. 35)

frail (pg. 40)

naughtily (pg. 73)

MIDDLE SECTION

6. Who comes to visit the Logan household during Christmas?

6a. Uncle Hammer visits the Logan’s household. (pg. 29)

7. Who is constantly trying to swipe the Logan’s land?

7a. Mr.Granger, a white male owning almost 2000 acres of land, tries to steal the Logan’s Land. (pg. ##)

8. What makes Uncle hammer stand out in the community during his visit?

8a. Uncle Hammer becomes very well due to the fact that he bought a car, which most black families could not afford back then. (pg. ##)

9. Who pushes Cassie off the sidewalk in Strawberry?

9a. Charlie Simms pushes Cassies down because she touched his daughter, Linda-Jean Simms. (pg. ##)

10. Who is the white attorney that respects black people?

10a. Mr. Jamison is the names of the white attorney that gives respect to black people. (pg. ##)

cockatoo (pg. 104)

aloofness (pg. 119)

chignon (pg. 131)

placid (pg. 160)

folksy (pg. 166)

LAST SECTION

11.Who gets fired form teaching at the Great Faith School?

11a. Cassie’s mother gets fired form Great Faith after members of the school board found out she was teaching material that was not in the textbook. (pg. ##)

12. Who almost killed Cassie’s father?

12a. The Wallaces tried to kill Cassie’s father but failed too. (pg. ##)

13. Who goes regularly to the Wallace store and is Stacey’s former friend?

13a. T.J Avery goes to the Wallace store regularly and makes friends with white folks. (pg. ##)

14. Who killed Jim Barrett Lee, a white storeowner at Strawberry?

14a. R.W and Melvin killed him but they wrongly accused T.J of killing him. (pg. ##)

15. Why did Cassie’s father start the fire?

15a. To protect T.J from a mob that is trying to arrest him for Jim Barrett Lee’s death. (pg. ##)

cocky (pg.191)

lilting (pg. 206)

ambled (pg. 227)

mercantile (pg. 258)

acrid (pg. 260)