Share a Book!

Click here to see a movie with book-shares from Mrs. Martenson and Mrs. DiVanno's classes.

Mrs. Snowden's Picks:

The Land by Mildred Taylor (A Coretta Scott King award winner and ALA Notable Book)           

I have created a new word! It's "RISTENING", a combination of  listening and reading. I have a long commute and one of the few advantages is that I have been able to RISTEN to many books on tape and cd. One of my absolute favorites was The Land by Mildred Taylor. I had already read several of Ms. Taylor's books about the Logan family including, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry and The Road to Memphis, but this one was the best!  All of Ms. Taylor's Logan family stories are based on her own family folklore passed to her through her parents and grandparents, which is perhaps why they feel so real and are so compelling. The stories are about the Logans, a Black family, living in Mississippi, how they came to own their precious land and their struggle to keep it in the family. The Logans give a whole new meaning to Family Values, keeping their work ethic, dignity, and love for each other, in the face of the ugly, dangerous, and racist reality of post Civil War  to the Civil Rights Movement southern life.  

In The Land, Paul, one of two children born as slaves on a Georgia plantation to a White plantation owner and his slave/mistress, tells the story of his complicated relationship with his father and White brothers. Southern society with hypocritical standards accepted the circumstances of Paul's birth as long as he never broke the rules that dictated he should act as negro, even though he was so light skinned he could have passed for White. Paul's father treats him well if not equally to his White brothers, educates him, but will or cannot break the rules that relegate Paul to the status of a Black man in the re-constructionist South. During this time, even though Blacks were no longer slaves, they still had few civil rights and acting as if you did could get you killed. Paul eventually leaves his "safe" but flawed home to make his own way and chase after his dream, that of owning his own land. At times the story is scary, dangerous and riveting. On several occasions, I had to sit in the driveway even after an hour ride home and finish listening to a chapter, because it was that good. I'd say the Land is a great read and an even better "RISTEN."