Are You The Rock Or The River? For my book review, I choose the book, The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon. It was published in April of 2010. This book was historical fiction, and the main theme was to always stand up for what you believe in, and stand up for yourself. The Rock and The River is the exciting and yet sad tale of a boy named Sam who gets mixed up in segregation.In this book, Sam always knew he was treated differently for his skin color, and he hated that. His father, Roland Childs was a peaceful protester, and spoke to thousands of people about making a change. On the other hand, Sam's older brother Stick believes that the only way to change the segregation going on around them is to do something. Sam was always asked by people, "Are you going to be the rock or the river?" Then, Sam's brother Stick joins the Black Panthers, a self defense group that stands up for themselves and others when they see something wrong around them. He also runs away from home while he joined the Black Panthers, and his parents don’t know where he is. When Sam finds out where his brother is, and that he is hiding a gun in their room, he tries to protect Stick by getting him out of the group. While Sam is trying to watch out for his brother, he is also trying to keeping his girlfriend, Maxie, safe from the chaos. Throughout the book, there is nonstop action for standing up for what is right and love being tested between the characters. The Rock and The River was an excellent book, and I enjoyed reading it. My favorite part was when Sam said, "I am the river. I am the one who will turn the corner and see what tomorrow held in store." I would recommend this book to all of my friends, family, peers, and all of those people who want to take a blast to the past and read a compelling book. I rate this book a 5 out of 5. It was a great book!!!This book was a true tale of the racism, segregation, and the strong bond of family and what you believe in. I cannot wait to read the companion to this book which is Fire In The Streets by Kekla Magoon. I hope that you fall in love with this book as much as I did. :) What a work of historical fiction! This book tackles a difficult time period and complex issues for young people to understand. Set in 1968, thirteen-year-old Sam finds himself caught between his father's non-violent leadership in the Civil Rights Movement and his brother's growing allegiance to the Black Panther Party. The author does an artful job of showing us why both are powerful ideas, yet often conflicting ideas, about fighting for one's rights. I was really drawn into Sam's struggle to find his own path through these dilemmas. The author opens a window into what it must have been like to be a young person during the tumultuous times of the Civil Rights Movement. This book will make you think!
What do You think about Rock And The River, The (2010)?
Heavy duty book, alot to think about. Shows both sides to a very sensitive issue.
—benachiza
[Review to Come: SOBBED LIKE A CHILD WHO HAD THEIR TOY TAKEN AWAY....]
—11eajala
Power historical fiction that read true to life.
—Pinki
