Crow

CROW by Barbara Wright. Listening Library, 2013.

Crow tells the story of Moses Thomas. The year is 1898, and his town in North Carolina has been relatively calm. His father is one of two Black people who serve as alderman. There is still division between the races, but the town seems to be dealing with racism. But then something changes, and the racism and hatred mount. Moses will have to face his fears and stand up for what he knows is right. The narration by J.D. Jackson is perfect as he captures a wide range of characters from Moses to his grandmother, Boo Nanny, and his parents along with the people of the town.

Glory Be

GLORY BE by Augusta Scattergood (Scholastic, January 2012) examines the vestiges of racism in the South in the 1960s. Gloriana, Glory, is just shy of her 12th birthday which happens to fall on the Fourth of July. She hopes to be able to celebrate it at the community pool as she has in the past. However, some of the town leaders have decided to close the pool in order to avoid allowing Negroes to swim there. Some of the town residents resent the Freedom workers who have come to Hanging Moss, Mississippi, to help Negroes register to vote. There is palpable tension in the air. Glory writes a heartfelt letter to the editor of the local paper decrying the narrowmindedness that is keeping the pool closed and minds closed as well. Glory does not see herself as an activist, but that is indeed what she is becoming. Of course, she is also preoccupied with her older sister's sneaky visits out at night, with her own relationship with a lifelong friend, and with the other usual troubles and triumphs of being on the verge of young adulthood. Team this book up with A THOUSAND NEVER EVERS by Shauna Berg and A SUMMER OF KINGS by Han Nolan to name just a couple of other excellent books set in this era. <43>