Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry, is a great book, that, coincidentally fulfills the weekly challenge for me. It centers around the Logans, a black family living in The South during the 1930s. The book is somewhat dated, but still is moving and enjoyable. The book chronicles the kind of racism mostly unseen today, that of lynchings and absolutely deplorable segregation between blacks and whites. The book is very real and not a Hollywood depiction of 1930s segregation.
The main character and narrator is Cassie Logan, a 9 year old girl who resents the segregation so rampant in her home. She has three brothers, Stacey, Christopher-John, and Clayton-Chester, who is affectionate known as Little Man. Unlike most blacks in the region, the Logans own their own the land, and this is resented by many in the area.
The characters are well presented, and the descriptions are vivid. The characters are not two dimensional, as are too many in books chronicling the hardships of people are, and the story is not black and white (no pun intended). When I say it is dated, I don't mean in a blissfully politically incorrect novel, but just in the way that it feels old, like your grandma is telling you the story. However, it is still good and I would recommend the book to most kids, even non-middle schoolers.

- Chris, 8th grade, CSCL