The Land
The Landis Mildred D. Taylor's wonderful prequel to her Newbery  Medal winner,Roll of Thunder,  Hear My Cry. In the stories Taylor has to tell, life is not fair, hard  work doesn't always pay off, and the good guy doesn't always win. That's because  this extraordinary author tells the stories of her African American family in  the Deep South during and after the Civil War, a time of ugly, painful racism.Paul-Edward Logan, the son of a white, plantation-owner father and a slave  mother, is our narrator, bound and determined to buy his own land and shape his  own future at whatever cost. Caught between black and white worlds and not  fitting into either one is devastating for him, but his powerful, engaging tales  of the love of family, the strength of friendship, and growing up will inspire  anyone to dare to persevere despite terrible odds. Taylor's books are not only  essential in understanding what led up to the Civil Rights movement in  America--they are also breathtaking page-turners, full of suspense, humor, love,  and hope.The Landcertainly stands alone, but the other award-winning  tales of the Logan family--Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry;Let the  Circle Be Unbroken; andThe Road to Memphis--are excellent as well.  Heartily recommended. (Ages 12 and older)--Karin Snelson--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.