The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.17, 2011, under Coretta Scott King, Grief, Historical Fiction, Real life, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Panthers, and/or a riveting story about justice and loyalty.
Why? Sam’s father is a well-known civil rights leader in their city of Chicago who expects Sam and his older brother Stick (Steven) to behave and follow the teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr. When Sam and Stick leave a demonstration without permission, they get caught up in a fight and Stick is injured. The racism at the hospital is just one example of the many reasons that Stick is sympathetic with the ideas of the Black Panthers, a stance that is forbidden by their father. As tension mounts at their house, Sam finds romance with Maxie (whose older brother is a Panther). Narrated by Sam, the story of his efforts to navigate the minefields in his life – his family, his girl, racist society – is moving and riveting. Through his eyes, readers learn about the racism of the time and the different ways of fighting that racism. This book is important reading for anyone looking for insight into 1968.
The details: 290 p. 2009 Review by Samrarian
