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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent story of determination in Reconstruction South
Review: I'm surprised to see very few reviews posted here for this excellent award-winning work of historical fiction for middle readers. This Scott O'Dell Award winner about African-American life in the South is in the same tradition as the renowned "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" books by Mildred Taylor.Here we get on an emotional roller-coaster ride as we follow the lives of three young ex-slaves during the early days of Reconstruction in 1865. Gideon returns from following General Sherman to his former plantation to retrieve his younger crippled brother, Pascal, and his orphaned friend Nelly. In their quest to find the "forty acres and maybe a mule" in Georgia, that had been promised by General Sherman, they befriend a grandfatherly carpenter, and his long-lost granddaughter, to create a new family. The harsh realities of unjust treatment by white nightriders, who are trying to force emancipated slaves to return to their plantations, are tempered by various friendly white people who help them find their forty acres, open a school for the children, register them to vote, who become neighbors, etc. This is a story of determination, hard work, rebuilding lives and families, of hope, peace, and love, in the face of discrimination and cruelty. A seldom recognized historical fact is woven into this well-researched tale: the party of Lincoln, the Republican Party, was the original party of Civil Rights. The impact of the death of Lincoln on these emancipated slaves that were given land is dramatically portrayed here. And the quick backpedaling of his successor, Andrew Johnson, becomes a painful reality for nearly 39,000 black landowners just months after he takes office. This book deserves a wider reading by upper elementary through middle school students and their teachers, especially when discussing the facts surrounding the impact of the Civil War and early Reconstruction efforts in the South.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent story
Review: The event in this story happened in the early of the reconstruction period of South America. It was about Pascal, 12-year-old a young black slave, and his family reaching for their own land. Gideon,Pascal's brother who had left a plantation of a white master which he used to live with Pascal, came back to invite his younger brother and his orphaned friend Nelly to escape there with him. They were motivated to have their own land by a promise of "forty acres and maybe a mule" from the Bureau of Refugees. Along the way, hey searched for other friends to create a new family friends. Finally, they pick up an older man calling himself Mr. Freedman, and his granddaughter, Gladness t. Pascal and his new family have imagine any of it could ever come true. After a long, hard journey, they find most exciting of all, a promise to give the land. They got the land forty acres in Georgia, and planed many plants. However, their great dream no longer stayed, when its nearly harvest time, a government said that slaves must gave back their land.
This is a story of determination, hard work, create a new lives and family, of hope, peace, and love, in a cruelty society. "forty acres and maybe a mule" seemed to be their new life that they had dreamed and fight for it all their hard journey. I think the writer, Robinet, allow the reader to enter the world of slaves that there are many obstacles during the reconstruction period. Moreover, the society is cruelty and unfair for them because of racism. I'm very impressed in Pascal characteristic because he learns that he is a worthwhile person even though he has a weak physical. About Gideon, he learns that he is a man whether or not he has no land, so he should lives with dignity although he is a black. He believes that human should have the courage to strike for their own right in this society. He and others learn that freedom is about having dignity. They never discouraged for the obstacles. They made me to think to a real life that although the land can be taken, but freedom can't be taken away from them.
Rating:
Summary: Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule
Review: The events in this book kept me on the edge of mt seat. My emotions were in constant turmoil. At times I found myself full of joy and hope for the City family. The very next moment, I was experiencing fear and sorrow, not knowing whether the family could survive the constant dangers presented by the nightriders. A major theme throughout this book is man against society. Robinet allows the reader to enter the world of ex-slaves during the reconstruction period. The reader is able to experience the fears and the joys of the characters. The true historical events presented help the reader to understand the brutality of slavery. Readers can also see that this brutality did not end when President Lincoln freed the slaves. Readers can also see how the characters changed during the telling of this story. Pascal learns that he is a worthwhile person even though he has a physical disability. Gideon learns that he is a man whether or not he owns land. He and the others learn that freedom is about having dignity. The land can be taken, but freedom can't be taken away from you.
Rating:
Summary: Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule
Review: The events in this book kept me on the edge of my seat. My emotions were in constant turmoil. At times I found myself full of joy and hope for the City family. The very next moment, I was experiencing fear and sorrow, not knowing whether the family could survive the constant dangers presented by the nightriders. A major theme throughout this book is man against society. Robinet allows the reader to enter the world of ex-slaves during the reconstruction period. The reader is able to experience the fears and the joys of the characters. The true historical events presented help the reader to understand the brutality of slavery. Readers can also see that this brutality did not end when President Lincoln freed the slaves. Readers can also see how the characters changes during the telling of this story. Pascal learns that he is a worthwhile person even though he has a physical disability. Gideon learns that he is a man whether or not he owns land. He and the other ex-slaves learn that freedom is about having dignity. The land can be taken, but freedom can't be taken away from you.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reconstrutionist tale
Review: Through the eyes of Pascal, a young black slave, we perceive the beginnings of the Reconstruction period of the South. Motivated by a promise of "forty acres and maybe a mule" by Circular 13 from the Bureau of Refugees, Pascal's brother Gideon enlightens his family and friends of the Emancipation Proclamation and convinces his younger brother to leave the plantation with him. Along the way, they search for other missing members of their family, make new friends, and find enemies. Joy builds as their farm comes together a piece at a time. Just when its nearly harvest time, a ruling that says slaves must give back their land comes out. Will the City family lose everything they have gained?
Readers come away with a clear picture of the life that has been fled, the continued injustice of racism, and frustration at the threat of impending loss. The humor, resilience, and hope of freed slaves are uplifting. Period details and realistic dialect add credibility to the characters and authenticity to the tale. An author's note presents facts that the story is based on; Robinet challenges readers to think about today's injustices against people of all kinds. A bibliography for further reading is appended.
Often wars are portrayed in historical fiction, not the act of rebuilding in the aftermath. Robinet's novel is a welcome change, and would work very well for classes studying the Civil War or African-American History.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reconstrutionist tale
Review: Through the eyes of Pascal, a young black slave, we perceive the beginnings of the Reconstruction period of the South. Motivated by a promise of "forty acres and maybe a mule" by Circular 13 from the Bureau of Refugees, Pascal's brother Gideon enlightens his family and friends of the Emancipation Proclamation and convinces his younger brother to leave the plantation with him. Along the way, they search for other missing members of their family, make new friends, and find enemies. Joy builds as their farm comes together a piece at a time. Just when its nearly harvest time, a ruling that says slaves must give back their land comes out. Will the City family lose everything they have gained?
Readers come away with a clear picture of the life that has been fled, the continued injustice of racism, and frustration at the threat of impending loss. The humor, resilience, and hope of freed slaves are uplifting. Period details and realistic dialect add credibility to the characters and authenticity to the tale. An author's note presents facts that the story is based on; Robinet challenges readers to think about today's injustices against people of all kinds. A bibliography for further reading is appended.
Often wars are portrayed in historical fiction, not the act of rebuilding in the aftermath. Robinet's novel is a welcome change, and would work very well for classes studying the Civil War or African-American History.
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