The Land (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) - Hardcover

Mildred D. Taylor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803719507 ISBN 13: 9780803719507

Publisher: Dial, 2001

Synopsis

Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award!

Millions of fans have followed the Logan family in their seven-book series. Living in the South in the not-so-distant past, the Logans are the only black family to own farmland, while most of their black neighbors are sharecroppers on white-owned land. But where did this valuable legacy come from?

The story begins with Paul-Edward Logan, grandfather of Cassie Logan, the beloved protagonist of Newbery Medal–winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Born during the Civil War, Paul-Edward is the son of a white plantation owner and a former slave. Though not an unusual heritage, his upbringing is. Paul-Edward’s white father sees to it that he and his sister have many of the privileges their white half-brothers enjoy. But at fourteen, Paul-Edward runs away to seek his fortune. His story is filled with exciting, sometimes heart-breaking adventures, and what is most amazing, his dream of land-ownership, almost impossible for a black person to accomplish in the post–Civil War South, becomes reality.

The Land, like all the books in this award-winning series, is based on the experiences of the Taylor family, bringing historical truth and power to this awe-inspiring story.

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: Dial
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0803719507
• ISBN 13: 9780803719507
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 373