Novel – 210 pages – my copy (hardback; 1987) bought for £1 from Shabby Chic, Plymouth, during January 2012
#35 of 2011-12 - #156 of All Time
- 3 nods out of 5 -
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a children’s novel that manages to deal with some very grown up issues. Set in the American South during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the novel follows the story of a black family, the Logans. They are a peculiarity in their area: they own the land they farm on. However, resentful families are surrounding them, wishing to take it back and assert their control on those of different colour, as was the situation before the American Civil War.
The book is narrated by Cassie, the only daughter of the Logans: perceptive and thoughtful, she gives the reader an account of life in the south in this era. Through her eyes the author – Taylor- is able to weave together an interesting and thought provoking novel. As seen in his snippet:
“Cassie.” Mamma did not raise her voice, but the quiet force of my name silenced me. “Now,” she said, folding my hand in hers, “I didn’t say that Lillian Jean is better than you. I said Mr. Simms only thinks she is. In fact, he thinks she’s better than Stacey or Little Man or Christopher John…”
“Just ‘cause she’s his daughter?” I asked.
“No, baby, because she’s white.”
Mamma’s hold tightened on mine, but I exclaimed, “Ah, shoot! White ain’t nothin’!”
Mamma’s grip did not lessen. “It is something, Cassie. White is something just like black is something. Everybody born on this earth is something and nobody, no matter what colour, is better than anybody else.”
In many ways, the book follows the typical “coming of age” story; yet set in the sinister and threatening period of this era: Taylor allows this threat and suspense to grow and grow. Blood is soon coming, it is known and smelt: but the book’s ending manages to get in a twist, without the reader feeling cheated.
For all that, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, isn’t a heavyweight of fiction. But it is a good book to read if you wish to allow the “little guy” to prevail over “the man”. Its progressive, non-violent values makes it clear to see why the book is studied in schools. Taylor has other books, continuing with the Logan family tale (Let the Circle Be Unbroken and Song of the Trees): the Worm intends to read more of these books in the future, to revel in the trials and tribulations of the Logan family, as well as the triumph of equality.
Buy it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Roll-Thunder-Hear-My-Cry/dp/014034893X
