Kristin Levine

I don't have a single complaint about this book. It was well-written, enjoyable, and I learned a little something about being 13 years old in small-town Alabama in 1918. I'd be happy if it got a Newbery nod.

The story's told by Dit, one of ten children, who is just your average kid until he befriends the daughter of the town's new postmaster: a super smart girl named Emma, who is black. Because it's 1918 and rural Alabama, their friendship is uncomfortable for many townspeople, both black and white. But it evolves naturally. Emma helps Dit with school. Dit teaches Emma, a city girl, how to play baseball. There's not a whole lot of plot until a fight between the awful white sheriff and a kind black barber results in a crime that rocks the small town--and Dit and Emma get involved in setting things right.

Because the chapters were short and filled with great details, I didn't mind at all that it took the story some time to get going. First-time author Levine was so great at setting the scene that the climax was ultimately pretty believable (which is rare in these kinds of books). Dit's moral development, and his understanding of race relations and history, never felt preachy or didactic.

This is one of those books that will be equally enjoyable for girls and boys, I think. While it is indeed about racism (the n-word is used quite a bit), it's also about friendship between a boy and a girl, and how bonding with a person who's different from you can change your life. In that way, it reminded me of [b:Bridge to Terabithia|2839|Bridge to Terabithia|Katherine Paterson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1161661043s/2839.jpg|2237401], which is a pretty high compliment in my book.… (més)

I'm a huge fan of Kristin Levine's first book [b:The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had|4570908|The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had|Kristin Levine|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255890624s/4570908.jpg|4620259], so I was predisposed to like this one, too. Again, she creates a compelling unlikely friendship between kids that are divided by race and racism. Again, the history is well researched and you feel like you're being educated and entertained at the same time.

Did you know that the year after the Little Rock Nine integrated Central High the governor of Arkansas closed the school rather than let it remain integrated? I didn't, and so I was impressed that Levine chose a less famous part of history for her setting. We get the story of quiet little 13-year-old Marlee, a white girl who loves math and hardly talks. Marlee makes friends with the new girl in school, Liz, who teaches her to have confidence in herself--but when it's revealed that Liz is passing as white, their friendship takes a dangerous turn.

Kids reading this book may ask themselves, would I take risks for a friend? Would I be brave in the face of discrimination? It's a little long for a read-aloud, but it would pair really well with Civil Rights curricula.

For those who may be concerned about language, the n-word is used a few times in this book.… (més)