Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Emily

I remember reading this book for a civil rights unit in 8th grade English. The story was fine, and historical angle of the events seemed reasonably accurate from what I've learned in history classes. However, our class read another book called Warriors Don't Cry, a nonfiction story of a girl during the Civil Rights period. It was based on her diary, so it detailed actual events that happened to her. I think middle schoolers tend to respond more enthusiastically to true events (I know my class did, myself included), knowing that everything they read about was actually somebody's life, which is why I believe Warriors Dont Cry was a better curriculum choice. So, for school, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is an okay choice, but a nonfiction book would be more effective.