Mississippi Bridge
by Mildred D. Taylor | Children's Books | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0553159925 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0553159925 Global Overview for this book
Registered by nyisutter of St. Charles, Missouri USA on 2/8/2006
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
"From School Library Journal
Grade 5-10-- Drawing once again upon her father's stories, Taylor has created a harsh, disturbing tale of racism in Mississippi during the 1930s. Told from the viewpoint of Jeremy Simms, a ten-year-old white boy who aspires to be friends with the black children of the Logan family, this is the story of a rainy day, an overloaded bus, and the destiny of its passengers after the driver has ordered the black travelers off to make room for latecoming whites. Telescoping the injustices faced by blacks on a daily basis into one afternoon drives home the omnipresent effects of racism with a relentless force. This is an angry book, replete with examples of the insults and injuries to which the African-American characters are subjected. Jeremy, the only white character to acknowledge this unfairness, is brought to task by his father for "snivelin' " after the Logans. The book's climax is a catastrophic accident in which the bus crashes off a bridge, killing the passengers. When Jeremy asks a black rescuer how such a thing could happen, he is told, "the Lord works in mysterious ways." This is a disturbing explanation, not for its implication that the white passengers are being punished for the sins of their race so much as for the logical extension that the black characters were saved because they were kept off the bus in the first place. Well written and thought provoking, this book will haunt readers and generate much discussion. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library"
The children enjoyed listening to this book as part of our school day, but they were saddened by the treatment of the black characters. They were also upset at the ending of the book.
Grade 5-10-- Drawing once again upon her father's stories, Taylor has created a harsh, disturbing tale of racism in Mississippi during the 1930s. Told from the viewpoint of Jeremy Simms, a ten-year-old white boy who aspires to be friends with the black children of the Logan family, this is the story of a rainy day, an overloaded bus, and the destiny of its passengers after the driver has ordered the black travelers off to make room for latecoming whites. Telescoping the injustices faced by blacks on a daily basis into one afternoon drives home the omnipresent effects of racism with a relentless force. This is an angry book, replete with examples of the insults and injuries to which the African-American characters are subjected. Jeremy, the only white character to acknowledge this unfairness, is brought to task by his father for "snivelin' " after the Logans. The book's climax is a catastrophic accident in which the bus crashes off a bridge, killing the passengers. When Jeremy asks a black rescuer how such a thing could happen, he is told, "the Lord works in mysterious ways." This is a disturbing explanation, not for its implication that the white passengers are being punished for the sins of their race so much as for the logical extension that the black characters were saved because they were kept off the bus in the first place. Well written and thought provoking, this book will haunt readers and generate much discussion. --Anna DeWind, Milwaukee Public Library"
The children enjoyed listening to this book as part of our school day, but they were saddened by the treatment of the black characters. They were also upset at the ending of the book.
Journal Entry 2 by nyisutter at First Baptist Church Of St. Charles On Muegge Rd in St. Charles, Missouri USA on Monday, March 27, 2006
RELEASE NOTES:
Book Exchange Box.
Releasing for Never Judge a Book by its Cover week 12: bridge AND Oh, The Places We Can Go.
Book Exchange Box.
Releasing for Never Judge a Book by its Cover week 12: bridge AND Oh, The Places We Can Go.
