Synopses & Reviews
It's 1962, and Kitty's father, who works for the government, has been assigned to an Indian reservation in Oregon. All the teachers at Kitty's new school are white; the other kids are nearly all Indian. In addition to the discomfort of being new and in the minority, Kitty faces active hostility from the other students. She sees at first hand how widespread, and how deep, race prejudice goes in the community, and even within her own mind and heart.With the passage of time, she comes to understand that different groups have their own versions of the history she has learned in school, and that the "discovery" of America took place long before the whites arrived. Friendships and allegiances, mischief, baseball, mourning, humiliation, the courage to stand up against injustice and the desperate struggle to survive a forest fire--all are woven into the compelling account of Kitty's growing season at Warm Springs. Based on the author's childhood experiences, at a time when the civil rights movement was just beginning, this is a fresh look at age-old transitions: coming of age and coming home. Includes Author's Note.
Review
Draper neatly intertwines history, pop culture, and emotion as she explores the turbulent era of Civil Rights through the eyes of an African-American teen. The year is 1957 and Sylvia Faye is chosen to be one of the first black students to enter Central High School in the racially charged town of Little Rock, AR, where the owner of the barbershop has “trained his dogs to attack Negroes.” She is excited and honored but also very scared. She worries about her older brother who challenges whites with his fists instead of following her noble example by excelling in school and walking away from trouble. Sylvia Faye’s character is very real and appealing, and the frank dialogue is both educational and refreshing. The text alternates between third-person narrative and Sylvia Faye’s journal entries, allowing readers to experience her thoughts and fears about the important decision she must make. The author’s ability to explore numerous prejudices subtly without bogging down readers with too much backstory is impressive, and she effectively shows the enormity of the decision and the tenor of the times. —School Library Journal
Review
"Draper offers an emotional tale about integrity, justice, and determination."
-KLIATTReview
"Kittys discoveries and ethical dilemmas are age-and era-appropriate, the characters affectionately portrayed, rounded individuals."--Kirkus "Based on the author's own experiences, this novel fills a gap in the historical fiction genre. Great for classroom discussion as well as independent reading." --School Library Journal
Synopsis
Sylvia Patterson is shocked and confused when she is asked to be one of the first black students to attend Central High School, which is scheduled to be integrated in September 1957, whether the citizens or governor of Arkansas like it or not. Before Sylvia makes her final decision, smoldering racial tension in the town ignites into flame. When the smoke clears, she sees clearly that nothing is going to stop the change from coming. It is up to her generation to make it happen, in as many different ways as there are colors in the world.
Synopsis
Sylvia Patterson is shocked and confused when she is asked to be one of the first black students to attend Central High School, which is scheduled to be integrated in September 1957, whether the citizens or governor of Arkansas like it or not. Before Sylvia makes her final decision, smoldering racial tension in the town ignites into flame. When the smoke clears, she sees clearly that nothing is going to stop the change from coming. It is up to her generation to make it happen, in as many different ways as there are colors in the world.
Synopsis
Can a white girl feel at home on an Indian reservation? Based on the authors childhood experience in the early 1960s, this debut novel centers on Kitty, whose father is a government forester at Warm Springs Reservation, Oregon. Kitty is one of only two white kids in her class, and the Indian kids are keeping their distance. With time, Kitty becomes increasingly aware of the tensions and prejudices between Indians and whites, and of the past injustice and pain still very much alive on the reservation. Time also brings friendships and opportunities to make a difference. Map, authors note, glossary, and pronunciation guide.
Synopsis
Sylvia is shocked and confused when she is asked to be one of the first black students to attend Central High School, which is scheduled to be integrated in the fall of 1957, whether people like it or not. Before Sylvia makes her final decision, smoldering racial tension in the town ignites into flame. When the smoke clears, she sees clearly that nothing is going to stop the change from coming. It is up to her generation to make it happen, in as many different ways as there are colors in the world.
About the Author
Katherine Schlick Noe teaches in the Master in Teaching Program and directs the Literacy for Special Needs graduate program at Seattle University. Dr. Noe is co-author of four books on literature circles for teachers and is web master of the Literature Circles Resource Center. Something to Hold is her first novel. She lives in Seattle, WA.