The Land - Softcover

Taylor, Mildred D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0142501468 ISBN 13: 9780142501467

Publisher: Puffin Books, 2003

Synopsis

The son of a prosperous landowner and a former slave, Paul-Edward Logan is unlike any other boy he knows. His white father has acknowledged him and raised him openly-something unusual in post-Civil War Georgia. But as he grows into a man he learns that life for someone like him is not easy. Black people distrust him because he looks white. White people discriminate against him when they learn of his black heritage. Even within his own family he faces betrayal and degradation. So at the age of fourteen, he sets out toward the only dream he has ever had: to find land every bit as good as his father's, and make it his own. Once again inspired by her own history, Ms. Taylor brings truth and power to the newest addition to the award-winning Logan family stories.

About this title

Review:

The Land is Mildred D. Taylor's wonderful prequel to her Newbery Medal winner, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. In the stories Taylor has to tell, life is not fair, hard work doesn't always pay off, and the good guy doesn't always win. That's because this extraordinary author tells the stories of her African American family in the Deep South during and after the Civil War, a time of ugly, painful racism.

Paul-Edward Logan, the son of a white, plantation-owner father and a slave mother, is our narrator, bound and determined to buy his own land and shape his own future at whatever cost. Caught between black and white worlds and not fitting into either one is devastating for him, but his powerful, engaging tales of the love of family, the strength of friendship, and growing up will inspire anyone to dare to persevere despite terrible odds. Taylor's books are not only essential in understanding what led up to the Civil Rights movement in America--they are also breathtaking page-turners, full of suspense, humor, love, and hope. The Land certainly stands alone, but the other award-winning tales of the Logan family--Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Let the Circle Be Unbroken; and The Road to Memphis--are excellent as well. Heartily recommended. (Ages 12 and older) --Karin Snelson

From the Inside Flap:

n Santiago-Hudson
Approx. 12 hours, 15 minutes
8 cassettes

The prequel to Newbery Medal winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
Paul-Edward Logan, grandfather of Cassie (Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) is born during the Civil War, the son of a white plantation owner father and a former slave mother. Though this heritage was not unusual for the time, this upbringing is. Paul-Edward's father sees to it that Paul-Edward and his sister enjoy many of the same privileges as their white half-brothers. But, as the age of 14, Paul-Edward runs away to fulfill his dream: to won land as good as his father's plantation.

About this edition

• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0142501468
• ISBN 13: 9780142501467
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 400