The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had - Softcover

Levine, Kristin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0142416487 ISBN 13: 9780142416488

Publisher: Puffin Books, 2010

Synopsis

A powerful story about race and an unlikely friendship from award-winning author of The Lions of Little Rock.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

The last thing Harry "Dit" Sims expects when Emma Walker comes to town is to become friends. Propertalking, brainy Emma doesn't play baseball or fish too well, but she sure makes Dit think, especially about the differences between black and white in the 1910s. But soon Dit is thinking about a whole lot more when the town barber, who is black, is put on trial for a terrible crime. Together Dit and Emma come up with a daring plan to save him from the unthinkable.


★ “Tension builds just below the surface of this energetic, seamlessly narrated first novel set in small-town Alabama in 1917.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ “This classic story of how unlikely persons can change things for the better should appeal to all readers.”—VOYA, starred review

About this title

About the Author:

Kristin Levine (kristinlevine.com) received her BA in German from Swarthmore College and an MFA in film from American University. She spent a year in Vienna, Austria, working as an au pair, and has taught screenwriting at American University. Currently, she lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her two daughters. She is the author of the critically acclaimed The Best Luck I Ever Had, The Lions of Little Rock, and The Paper Cowboy. 

From AudioFile:

Taken from Levine's family history, this story tells of the life-altering friendship between a white Alabama farm boy and an African-American city girl. Kirby Heyborne effectively portrays Harry, better known as "Dit," the 12-year-old narrator of the story. His enthusiasm is evident as he stands at the train station awaiting the arrival of the new postmaster and his 12-year-old son. You hear all the disgust and disappointment in Dit's voice when he realizes that the boy is not only a GIRL but also black! Young Dit is believable as he slowly risks friendship with Emma, teaching her baseball while admiring her broader experience. The friendship leads him to question the status quo and find the courage to act against his town's Jim Crow justice. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0142416487
• ISBN 13: 9780142416488
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288