The Rock and the River, by Kekla Magoon

2012 Book 32: The Rock and the River, by Kekla Magoon (2/17/2012)

Reason for Reading: It was there

My Review: 4.5/5 stars

Sam is an African American boy who comes of age in 1960’s Chicago. He is torn between the peaceful civil rights protests of his father and the Black Panther action of his older brother. This book is heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Well written books about racism generally piss me off, and this book had my emotions thoroughly engaged. The performance on the audiobook was also fantastic—the reader emotionally charged his voice at just the right levels at just the right times. I would recommend this book for older teens, but it should be screened before given to younger people. There is some realistic violence.