Which Side Are You On? tells the story of the classic union song that was written in 1931 by Florence Reece in a rain of bullets. It has been sung ...
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reviews
Jan 26, 2012
Jessica
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Which Side Are You on? The Story of a Song by George Ells Lyon is a wonderful book about the hardships of the life of a coal miner and his family in the rural Kentucky mountains. The book, written from the perspective of one of the miner's children, is filled with rich dialect and phrases that would be frequently used in the hills of the Appalachia. The illustrations on each page lend to the rough and hard times that the family experienced while living the life of a coal miners family. The pictu
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Jan 25, 2012
Heather
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This book was written to tell the story of a "classic" union song. It is told through the eyes of a coal miner's daughter. Sam (the coal miner) and his wife Florence, along with their family live in Kentucky where the miners of a large company are going on strike due to low pay, un-safe working conditions and a need for health care.
Sam is the leader of this union strike and is being threatened by his bosses. They come into his house and threaten his family. Sam takes refuge More...
Sam is the leader of this union strike and is being threatened by his bosses. They come into his house and threaten his family. Sam takes refuge More...
Jan 24, 2012
Elena
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Jan 23, 2012
Samantha
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"Which Side Are You On?" demonstrates a particular family's experience with a 1931 coal-mining strike in the mountains of Kentucky. Through a nightmare of "raining bullets" and only a bed to protect themselves, a mother and her seven children hide from the men aiming to bring justice to their company by killing the family's father (Sam). Helpless and in distress, the mother (Florence Reese) begins writing a song.
"Come all you poor workers, Good news to you I'l More...
"Come all you poor workers, Good news to you I'l More...
Jan 31, 2012
Linsey
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Sep 18, 2011
Barbara
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Social justice comes in many different forms, and this picture book shows the results of greed in the hills of Kentucky. Set in 1931 when some of the local coal miners band together to create a union and strike for better working conditions for their members, the story centers on one family's experience during those times. After their father, a union organizer, flees the area to avoid repercussions. his family remains at home, forced to hide under the bed as company men shoot into the house. Ma
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Jan 27, 2012
Rachel
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This book is about a family who is affected by the coal mining industry. The father wants to form a union and puts his family in risk. To protect themselves from flying bullets the family had to take cover under the bed. While taking cover the mom writes a song. This song in the end brings the union together.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this book for older grades. The book did a good job incorporating the song into the story line. Throughout the whole book More...
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this book for older grades. The book did a good job incorporating the song into the story line. Throughout the whole book More...
Oct 06, 2011
Megan
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This was an interesting picture book I had not heard of, but found at the library. I think I could use it in Social Studies for Industrialization. It teaches why coal miners in Harlan County KY organized a union. It does a nice job of making the reasons miners needed a union very clear for young readers. I think it would help the kids understand this time period better than any other resource I have for it at school. And...it's all based on a true story of the woman who penned the song "
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Jan 16, 2012
Andrea
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Like like. Don't know a teacher who would use. Love love that the mom writes a protest pro union song. Children need to understand the importance of Unions during this crappy selfish Republican Union busting time we are in. READ it parents. READ it teachers. Read this book to your kids. I need to sing the song, too - on the back cover.
Jan 06, 2012
Mary Ellen
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A gem of a book - inspiring personal narrative for kids of all ages. As much as the story, I enjoyed the Author's Note and the bios of the author and illustrator. Prepare to savor the words and pictures of this book, on the 80th anniversary of the song.
Oct 29, 2011
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
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I am not certain what I expected from this book from its cover but probably not what it turned out to be. Coal Miners. Struggle to start a Union to protect worker rights. And a family that weather part of the battle with creating a song.
Jan 11, 2012
Sandybear76
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A small story in history but an interesting one. A woman writes a song to help the coal miners join the union.
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