Tulsa Burning

Rating:
Summary: If you like reading moving books, read this one.
Review: It is 1921 in Wekiwa, Oklahoma and life has been hard for 15 year-old Nobe Chase. He lost his father, his home and his dog Rex, who was his best friend. Worst of all, he had to move with his mother to live with Sheriff Leonard --- dog killer, wife stealer and secret lawbreaker --- and he doesn't think it's fair at all. Ever since that day, he's been determined to get revenge.

While living with the Leonards, he gets a job as a dishwasher at a local cafe working with the new cook, Lester Cotton. Hate begins to take over his life, burning inside him uncontrollably. Sheriff Leonard is very mean to Nobe, who is determined to teach him a lesson. However, he can't understand why his best friend Issac is hated just because of the color of his skin. One day Nobe learns how awful hate can be when he discovers that Issac was involved in a race riot and is seriously injured. Nobe is determined to bring him back home and asks Lester Cotton, also Issac's father, to go with him. He does so reluctantly and they both save Issac's life. The next day, however, Issac is arrested because of his involvement with the death of a young girl. Nobe knows it was an accident, but some people in the town, including Sheriff Leonard, are still affected by the riots in Tulsa and they plan to kill Issac. Will Nobe be able to save his life once again, or will Issac be killed for an accidental crime?

This powerful book of a boy who must struggle with his past and find the courage and strength to break free from the cycle of hatred and abuse will captivate, move and inspire readers. If I were Nobe, I would have tried to run away from home. If you like reading moving books, read this one to find out if Nobe's life will be changed forever.

--- Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub


Rating:
Summary: Tulsa Burning is an excellent read
Review: Tulsa Burning is the story of a young boy, Nobe,who grows up on a farm and does not have a very good home life. His father is a drunk and is always off spending the little money his family has and then comes home to abuse him and his mother. This is the start of the over all theme of this book which is dealing with hate taking over peoples lives. Nobe's father eventually dies and his mother is forced to leave the farm and move in with the town sheriff and his dying wife. Nobe does not want to live with the sherrif and when he refuses to go the sherrif shoots his dog, escallating the hate with in Nobe. This story is also about the true event of Tulsu Oklahoma breaking out in a race riot and the eventual burning of the African-American portion of Tulsa. This just re-inforces the hate theme that is going on throughout the book. This story takes place after the slaves were free but before equal rights and Nobe has a friend that is African-American and living in Tulsa when the riots break out. Nobe hears that his friend has been hurt and rushes to Tulsa to try and save his friend. This is the climax of the story and from here Nobe begings to come to the realization of what hate can do to a persons life when it consumes it. Over all an excellent read and I would highly reccommend it.