| Booktalk
#1
Paul Logan does not have an
easy life. Born a slave, he doesn't really remember those days.
His mother was a slave before the war. And his father was the slave
owner. It was quite common in those days for the slave owners to
have children by the slaves. It was known but not spoken of.
But Paul Logan's father was different. He acknowledged Paul and his
sister Cassie as his. Paul's mother had stayed on at the plantation
even after being freed. Some say that Paul's black mother and his
white father really loved each other. Of course, things being the
way they were, they could never marry or live together openly --- even
after his father's white wife died. That's just the way things were.
Paul was welcomed into the home of his father for meals and such but he
lived with his mother in a small house nearby. Paul was educated
and thought he was treated just like his white brothers. As he grew
into his teenage years, he came to the realization that he could never
be truly equal to his white brothers. He would always be his daddy's colored
son. His father also came to understand that maybe he needed
to
let Paul know what it meant to be black. Even though Paul was so
light he was often mistaken for white, he knew that he was black.
He would have to learn the hard way about the difference between black
and white. Through all his struggles, he had one goal in mind --
to own his own land. This was not a realistic goal for a black man
in the south during the Reconstruction, but Paul held onto his goal through
it all. Fans of Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
will enjoy this prequel to the novel. Meet Cassie's grandparents
and find out where it all began.
Booktalk #2
Paul Logan
does not have an easy life. His mother was a slave before the war
and his father was the slave owner. It was quite common in
those days for the slave owners to have children by the slaves. Although
it was known, people did not talk about it. Almost all children
born of mixed races were not recognized by their white parent. However,
Paul Logan's father was different. He acknowledged Paul and his sister
Cassie as his.
After the Civil War and gaining her freedom, Paul's mother stayed on at
the plantation. Some say that Paul's black mother and his white father
really loved each other. Because of people’s beliefs and society’s
rules they could never marry or live together openly - even after his father's
white wife died. That's just the way things were.
Paul and Cassie were welcomed into the home of their father for meals and
activities but, they lived with their mother in a small house nearby.
Both were educated and Paul had always thought that they were treated just
like their white brothers. Early in his teen years, Paul came to the realization
that he could never be truly equal to his white brothers. He would
always be his daddy's colored son. His father also came to
understand that maybe he had made a mistake in Paul’s upbringing and that
he needed to let Paul know what it meant to be black.
Even though Paul was often mistaken for white due to his light skin, he
knew that he was black. Throughout his teen and young adult years
he learns the hard way about the difference between black and white.
Paul faces many hardships and struggles, yet foremost in his mind is his
goal - to own his own land. This was not a realistic goal for a black
man in the Reconstruction years, but Paul held onto his goal through it
all.
Prequel to the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Read Paul’s
story and find out where it all began. (Rebecca P. Hopper, hopper_gfc@chester.k12.sc.us,
Media Specialist, Great Falls
Middle School, Great Falls, SC)
Booktalk #3
"The Land" by Mildred D. Taylor
was a very good book. If you have read any other books by this author,
then you know that she is very good at depicting life before African Americans
were considered equal. In this particular book, the life of Paul Edward
Logan is followed from his childhood to adulthood. Paul Edward was the
son of a white man and a Native American woman. As you know, way
back when, children of slave were thought of as illegitimate. Besides Paul
Edward, Edward Logan had another child named Cassie. This was Paul's big
sister.
In the book, it basically describes the life of Paul Edward growing up
and overcoming obstacles in his life. If you like historical fiction, holla
@ this book. (Nadia Smith, nadiahcms2009@yahoo.com,
Hertford County Middle School Library) |
