About This Book
Reach for this book when your child begins noticing systemic unfairness or asking why history textbooks don't always tell the whole story. Set in Depression-era Mississippi, this Newbery Medal winner follows nine-year-old Cassie Logan as she discovers the strength of her family's bonds and their deep connection to the land they own. It is a profound exploration of dignity, racial injustice, and the quiet courage required to maintain integrity in a world designed to strip it away. While the story contains intense depictions of Jim Crow-era racism, including physical threats and institutional humiliation, it is ultimately a masterclass in resilience and family love. Parents may choose this book to help middle-grade readers process the history of the American South through the eyes of a child who is learning, just as they are, that justice is often something that must be fought for with both wisdom and heart.
