Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Reader reviewed by Macie K.

Cassie and her family must fight for their land and watch for the whites. This book is all about racism and the whites thinking theyre better than the blacks. It started as papa came home from his job on the railroad. Everyday, when they would walk to school the white school bus would splash them and laugh. The kids thought it was a good idea to get revenge, so during lunch they did some dirty work. As the events get better and better they also get scarier. Papa got hurt, uncle hammer coming, and a fire burning cotton this family might just be doomed.

            I thought this book was great. It was a little confusing though, because it had so many characters. When it said some one new, it only told them speaking. The book gave no information of that particular person. The events were also very long for no reason, too. But still this book was very deep and interesting.

            I recommend this book to anyone that likes historical fiction and sad times. Also, to whoever would like to know how the whites treated the blacks back then.  

Reader reviewed by Peacechik

This has to be my favorite book in the world!
Before I read this book all i really kney about the civil rights movement was the stuff in the 50s and 60s, but this book reveals racism in the 1930s, and there's not a whole lotta books like that.

Cassie, a black girl in Mississippi, faces racism every day. And when her brother's friend TJ gets caught in a crime scheme involving two white boys, Cassie and her brothers risk their land, land they own which is rare for a black family. It's a bittersweet ending, but if you like historical fiction this book is for you.

PEAce

Reader reviewed by Brie

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was a great book! I loved it a lot. It's about a family, the Logans, who are living in the deep south during the Civil Rights movement. They come across many obstacles because they are black. Stacey, the oldest brother, is friends with a white boy, Jeremy Simms, and that is a big problem back then. Then, there's the problem with thye night riders. And, Stacey's friend, T.J., is blamed for hurting a white man and woman, and is taken to jail innocent. He was blamed because he was black and often in trouble. This book is wonderful. It makes the story of the hate and torture that was put upon Blacks, and makes it a very intresting story that you won't want to put down.

Reader reviewed by Allie

This book is boring. The begining is slow and the chapters last FOREVER! I hated it. I had to read it for school. if it wasnt for school then i wouldnt have even finished the first page. you have to start out with an excting begining to bring the readers in. well this author didnt!

now to the positives, there isnt a lot though! the author gets her point on segregation across. also the end part of the book like the last few chapters are okay, but just ok!

i do NOT like historical fiction books so i was bored! if you do i dont know, you might like it. but other wise ROLL on out of there!

Reader reviewed by Ashley Gwinner

After we reread the book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, I was impatient to watch the movie, since the book was outstanding. I think the movie could have had more important events and better description of the characters. The movie also didnt show the biggest theme, and cut out the important lines.
I think that the movie could have included more important events, and better description of the characters. When Cassie and Lillian Jean got in to a fight. Also in the beginning when mama got fired from being a teacher because she pasted paper inside the books. Cassie wasnt narrating that much in the movie but in the book.
The movie didnt show the biggest theme and cut out important lines. The movie cut out the poem Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Roll of Thunder means loud. Hear My Cry means to be heard. Which all together we should be equal. The movie didnt have important lines. For example when mama said, we going to pay for that one day.She said that when they passed over the bridge and Mr. Wallace let them over.
I thought that there were a lot of weak spots; therefore I would prefer the book.It gives the reader more details than the movie. It will help you understand the characters more if you read the book than just to the movie right away.

Reader reviewed by Karlee, Liberty Twp, OH

Although I enjoyed the novel Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, I was unhappy about the movie version of the wonderful story of Cassie and her family.

The movie version of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry didnt show the climax between Lillian Jean and Cassie. In addition, they cut out the attack of the night men on Mr. Berry.

Because I think that the movie left out a lot of important events, I prefer the novel over the movie of Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. If youre going to see the movie, make sure you read the novel first.

Reader reviewed by Ben - Liberty Jr. School, OH

The book Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry was very good, but I was very upset with the movie. One weak point was when the movie did not show the fight between Lillian Jean and Cassie. Another weak point was when they didnt have Stacey say trust me, that put trustworthiness as a theme in this book.

Some bad points in the movie were in the beginning it started with papas leg being broken. Another bad point was in the movie when they didnt show the poem.

However, they did cover most of the parts that happened in the book, it just wasnt in order. Also the ending was exactly how I visualized it while reading the book.

In my opinion, the movie was not good but the book was great. I would say the book is much better.

Ben B.
Liberty Junior School, OH

Reader reviewed by Manuela, Liberty Twp,OH

I just read the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry with my Language Arts class. After we finished the novel, we watched the movie. My expectations did not reach a good level. I think the movie could have been better. For example, they skipped the exposition, rising action, problem, solution, and many themes!

For example, the climax was skipped about Cassie, Stacey, and many other important events. The movie also didnt mention the poem. The poem depicted important themes in the novel. It showed racism, segregation, slavery, and civil rights.

I feel like I didnt know the characters in the movie, but I knew them very well in the novel. I prefer reading the novel instead of watching the movie. The movie didnt seem to move the plot along therefore, I understood the novel more then the movie. Segregation is an important theme in the novel but in the movie, I dont think they showed much.

I was excited to watch the movie Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, but I was so disappointed that it didnt reach my expectations. The novel was more exciting to read and, it had many more important events. I recommend that you just read the novel.

Reader reviewed by Aileena

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

I did not enjoy the movie Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry as much as the novel. During the movie, Cassie is not as round as she is in the novel. There were also many important parts missing in the movie.

In the novel, Cassie is more round than she is in the movie.
Cassie is flat because I feel like she did not communicate with the audience that well. It seemed like there was a third person for the narrator, not Cassie.

Many important parts were missing in the movie. For example,
the fight between Cassie and Lillian Jean. Also, the main climax did not happen in the movie. During the movie, Cassies mother gets the letter unlike in the novel, when papa gets it. To me, the movie was very different from the book.

I did not enjoy the movie as much as the book because it skipped many events. The book to me was better and more understandable. I understood the characters more in the novel than the movie.

Reader reviewed by Whitney, Liberty Twp OH

After reading the book Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, I would much rather recommend the movie because I really liked it and I understood the story more.

The movie was very detailed in its actions. For example, when T.J came to the Logans house hurt and desperate for help. I thought that this was detailed because T.Js character is very talented in acting.

Even though the movie was much more disorganized than the book, I still thought that it was very clear in its order. For example, when Cassie picks up Lillian Jeans books and apologizes to her for her actions in Strawberry, the movie skips straight to the scene in the school house.

I would recommend the movie to any one who has already read the book.