River, Cross My Heart (Thorndike Large Print Basic Series)

Rating:
Summary: Colorful, moving story
Review: I found the story moving, the characters were colorful and interesting. It is the story of the rite of passage of a young girl. It is really a simple story, well told. I'd like to read more from Breena Clarke.

Rating:
Summary: River Cross My Heart Failed To Cross Mine
Review: Though River Cross My Heart was an enlightning read in learning the ways of black society in Georgetown during the early 20's , I found little else enlightning about the book as far as it being considered fiction . I wasn't clear on whether I was reading a history book or a fictional story , also there was no substance to the story's plot , no real character development , and no feel of what the author was trying to say in writing this book . The first couple of pages started off with a bang and had me thinking that I was about to read an engrossing book , boy was I wrong , I felt like I was reading nothing but blank pages afterwards . I wish Breena Clarke better luck next time in her next writing endeavor .

Rating:
Summary: River, Cross My Heart - Not What I Expected
Review: Just wasn't what I expected. The jumping from before to after the death was very distracting. I expected more of a "story" after reading the back of the book... it said it was about how Georgetown dealt with the death of a child... it really wasn't about that much at all. It did have some nicely written, description moments... getting caught at the pool made my heart sink..

Rating:
Summary: Dive into "River, Cross My Heart"!
Review: Some people like to read. Some people like to think. And some people like to do both. River, Cross My Heart is a book that makes you think as you read. It is a touching story about a black family living in the south in the early 1900s. The family faces racism every day. The black children are not allowed in the town's white pool, and one day Clara, a black girl, drowns when she goes to a nearby river. The novel deals with Clara's sister, Johnnie Mae, and her emotions in dealing with death and racism. The book really makes you think. If Clara would have been allowed to swim in the town pool, she never would have drowned. I kept thinking this over and over in my head. Racism indirectly killed an innocent child. I loved how the book took me back to the times of when it took place. I felt the racsim in the book and related to the black characters in the story. The author, Breena Clarke, does a great job of letting the reader relate to the characters. I really felt like I knew Johnnie Mae. I fell in love with Johnnie's character right away. This girl is so strong-willed and brave. My favorite part of the book is when Johnnie Mae sneaks into the white pool one night to overcome her desire to beat racism. Johnnie is so courageous to do this. The way the author describes Johnnie helps the reader to really know her, predict her actions, and admire her. For those of you reading this review, get the book-that is, if you want to think about what you are reading. You could read the novel as a light story for pleasure, but you really should go in depth with your thinking. This book deals with serious subjects like death and racism-subjects everyone needs to be exposed to. Anyone can read River, Cross My Heart. But I reccommend it to those who will really think-about Johnnie Mae, about the river, about racism, about death---about life. This novel is enjoyable and well-written. Give it a chance. Dive into River, Cross My Heart!

Rating:
Summary: Boring!
Review: Our book club read this book and discussed it within two minutes. The consensus was "boring!" "Went Nowhere." "Does Oprah even read her books anymore?" We have decided to stay away from any "Oprah Books".

Rating:
Summary: Emotionally Riveting
Review: I loved this book, probably more than the past 30 books I've read. It was so easy to relate to the 12 year old tom boy protagonist. She was 'real' enough to touch - and hold. The characters were well drawn and the story 'flowed' beautifully. This book was a gift, in more ways than one!

Rating:
Summary: Our book club hated it
Review: Our book club (all white women, in ages ranging from mid-20s to 60) read this book and we all thought it was a total dud, not even interesting enough to provoke a good discussion as some not-great books do. A good editor should have made the novelist turn this social studies into a real novel.

Rating:
Summary: Just okay.
Review: The first part got my interest, but the rest of the book didn't seem that connected to it. Nothing much happened after that and I found myself getting bored. I kept reading because I figured something had to be worthwhile if Oprah recommended it. Finally, the main character did some things which brought me back in a little. An okay read, but could have been a lot better with such an emotional beginning.

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as expected
Review: Having read many of Oprah's picks, I had high expectations for River, Cross My Heart, but upon reading it, I was rather disappointed and confused. The imagery was well written, and the story-line had potential, but all of the themes involved were so disjointed that finishing the book left me with a very incomplete feeling. The back of the book describes the story as a tale of Georgetown trying to recover after the tragic death of a little girl, but it really isn't very accurate. Perhaps if the book had been twice as long, the plot would have been more full.

Rating:
Summary: Also touched my heart
Review: I enjoyed this coming of age tale set in Georgetown. Learning more about the African American Community during that time and space was interesting. I felt the characters were developed well. It is such a great period piece that I would like to know even more as Clarke unveils each character. Sent me delving back into history. We need more accurate accounts of life in the African American community throughout American history. And accounts like this (though a novel) that make these characters come alive to us are an essential addition to our knowledge of our country's past and present. Well worth the read.