Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
17th out of 137 books
—
675 voters
Crow
by
Barbara Wright (Goodreads Author)
The summer of 1898 is filled with ups and downs for 11-year-old Moses. He's growing apart from his best friend, his superstitious Boo-Nanny butts heads constantly with his pragmatic, educated father, and his mother is reeling from the discovery of a family secret. Yet there are good times, too. He's teaching his grandmother how to read. For the first time she's sharing sto...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
January 10th 2012
by Random House Books for Young Readers
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,325)
Last spring, I accidentally tripped over a Goodreads Newbery 2013 prediction list. This small gem of a list has had me blazing through many great novels the past few months. Actually I was blazing a few months ago. Now I'm snatching time here and there. Anyhoo... check out Crow...a worthy recommendation! It is my latest, all-in-good-fun, guess for the Newbery winner.
I have found it fascinating to read how professional reviewers look at Newbery predictions and discuss the details of what might ma...more
I have found it fascinating to read how professional reviewers look at Newbery predictions and discuss the details of what might ma...more
Dec 19, 2012
Barbara
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
bullies,
civil-rights,
community,
death,
cultural-identity,
disasters,
families,
friendship,
ncbla2013,
social-justice,
social-studies
First of all, I must confess that I knew nothing about this event--the Wilmington Massacre of 1898--in which white supremacists bullied members of the African-American community, including elected officers. As anger grows within the white community as the result of an editorial written and printed by the publisher of an African-American newspaper, readers will be swept along with the irrational reaction that builds until there are several acts of violence. I liked the man character, Moses Thomas...more
Moses, an 11-year-old boy living in Wilmington, North Carolina, is growing up in the beginning of the Jim Crow south. His father, a newspaper reporter, and his mother, a domestic worker, try their best to protect their son from the harsh realities of a world still very much defined by slavery and the Civil War. Boo Nanny, Moses' former slave grandmother, lends an endearing and colorful narrative to Moses' world.
Many of the chapters serve as stand alone stories. Moses follows his adventurous spi...more
Many of the chapters serve as stand alone stories. Moses follows his adventurous spi...more
An interesting book about a little known and extremely overlooked incident in history. I loved the fact that the author brought the true events (and some people) in Wilmington, North Carolina 1898 to life.
History is woven together with the life of a fictional boy, Moses. I love when history and fiction are intertwined. Having said that, I did find the writing very 'preachy'. I had no problem with the grandmother's speeches- they were believable and in character, but I found other parts just too...more
History is woven together with the life of a fictional boy, Moses. I love when history and fiction are intertwined. Having said that, I did find the writing very 'preachy'. I had no problem with the grandmother's speeches- they were believable and in character, but I found other parts just too...more
Crow is a singularly effective piece of historical fiction. It both captures and transcends the time and place it describes, and I think structure and pacing are key to its effectiveness.
It begins with a portent - "The buzzard knew." From there, though, it moves on to paint an episodic, leisurely portrait of a way of life that seems idyllic compared to what is to come. Moses's concerns, for the most part, are the concerns of any sixth grade boy: will he get a bicycle? Will he lose his best frien...more
It begins with a portent - "The buzzard knew." From there, though, it moves on to paint an episodic, leisurely portrait of a way of life that seems idyllic compared to what is to come. Moses's concerns, for the most part, are the concerns of any sixth grade boy: will he get a bicycle? Will he lose his best frien...more
"I've been naive. I've taught you to live in a world I wanted to exist, not one that actually does."
Nothing makes me happier than to blindly stumble into a great story. With the right recommendation, even the flap is a spoiler. Boo Nanny is the first reason to fall in love with this book. As Moses tells it, she takes in wash from the white people in town which clues us in to the time period. Jack Thomas, dad of Moses, works for a newspaper, the first black daily. Over the next 120 pages we coast...more
Nothing makes me happier than to blindly stumble into a great story. With the right recommendation, even the flap is a spoiler. Boo Nanny is the first reason to fall in love with this book. As Moses tells it, she takes in wash from the white people in town which clues us in to the time period. Jack Thomas, dad of Moses, works for a newspaper, the first black daily. Over the next 120 pages we coast...more
Although this book is marketed as middle-grade fiction, it has a depth and complexity that I believe will appeal to sophisticated readers in all age groups. Filtering the story of the little-known Wilmington Massacre and the events leading up to it through the eyes of a boy of eleven-going-on-twelve was an inspired choice. Moses learns about racism in a similar way to that in which a younger child discovers there is no Santa Claus, only it's a much ruder awakening. To feel the confusion of a boy...more
Moses and his parents and grandmother live in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the turn of the 20th century. His mother and grandmother make money keeping house and doing laundry, while his father writes for a newspaper and serves as an elected member of the city council. Moses has a vague understanding that his family has seen struggle he can never comprehend, both from slavery and from post-Civil War prejudice, but now Wilmington seems like a place where different races can live and work next to...more
Moses and his parents and grandmother live in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the turn of the 20th century. His mother and grandmother make money keeping house and doing laundry, while his father writes for a newspaper and serves as an elected member of the city council. Moses has a vague understanding that his family has seen struggle he can never comprehend, both from slavery and from post-Civil War prejudice, but now Wilmington seems like a place where different races can live and work next to...more
This was a mighty powerful novel from outside my usual genre preferences, but boy am I glad I gave it a try. Crow depicts events surrounding the Wilmington Insurrection/Massacre/Race Riots of 1898, a shocking and shockingly little-known episode in U.S. history, through the eyes of young Moses Thomas, the son of a Black city alderman. James Thomas is a strong literary father and civic leader in the mold of Atticus Finch, and Crow would be a perfect companion novel to Mockingbird. While the suspen...more
Kirkus Reviews : Growing up in Wilmington, N.C., in 1898, a naive black boy and his family are devastated by a racist uprising in this fictionalized account of a little-known historical event. On his last day of fifth grade, a buzzard portentously casts a shadow over Moses Thomas, prompting his grandma, Boo Nanny, to warn: "[Y]ou happiness done dead." Moses lives with Boo Nanny, a former slave who takes in white people's laundry, his Mama, a housemaid for wealthy whites, and his Daddy, a reporte...more
Richie’s Picks: CROW by Barbara Wright, Random House, January 2012, 304p., ISBN: 978-0-375-86928-0
“She grew up on a plantation by the ocean and knew an awful lot for someone who couldn’t read or write. She taught me things that Daddy, with all his degrees, didn’t know: that the full moon pulls the tides higher; that star formations appear in different parts of the sky depending on the season; that conch shells hold the sound of the ocean inside them; that the tiny beads of silver that twinkle at...more
“She grew up on a plantation by the ocean and knew an awful lot for someone who couldn’t read or write. She taught me things that Daddy, with all his degrees, didn’t know: that the full moon pulls the tides higher; that star formations appear in different parts of the sky depending on the season; that conch shells hold the sound of the ocean inside them; that the tiny beads of silver that twinkle at...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Wright, Barbara. Crow.
Moses has a good life in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898. His father is an alderman and a reporter for the African American newspaper, his mother does cleaning work to earn extra money for the family, and his grandmother, Boo Nanny, takes good care of him. He has friends, and enjoys his life of freedom, knowing that his mother was born into slavery but freed when she was very young. When the newspaper publishes an op ed piece stating that if it is okay for white men to f...more
Moses has a good life in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898. His father is an alderman and a reporter for the African American newspaper, his mother does cleaning work to earn extra money for the family, and his grandmother, Boo Nanny, takes good care of him. He has friends, and enjoys his life of freedom, knowing that his mother was born into slavery but freed when she was very young. When the newspaper publishes an op ed piece stating that if it is okay for white men to f...more
The somewhat sheltered, studious son of a Howard University graduate, twelve-year-old Moses has grown up as part of Wilmington’s thriving African American community in the late 19th century. His father is a city alderman and a reporter/manager of the only Negro daily in the South; his mother is the daughter of a slave and works as a maid to a rich white woman. Racism is part of Moses’ life, but not a dominant concern. Summer fun is what is on his mind. As the summer passes and elections loom, th...more
Wright takes readers to the American South, just before Jim Crow laws permeated the society--a time when African Americans were actually part of the political fabric. The story takes place in 1898, and focuses on a little known incident in Wilmington, North Carolina. Eleven-year old Moses, who is just one generation from slavery, finds himself between his father--a progressive, college-educated journalist--and his beloved grandmother, aka Boo Nanny, who lived a good portion of her life as a slav...more
Definitely a book for higher level 5th graders, but might be a good choice for a class read-aloud. A fictious account (told through the eyes of 6th grade Moses) of the Wilmington Massacre of 1898.
"The summer of 1898 is filled with ups and downs for 11-year-old Moses. He's growing apart from his best friend, his superstitious Boo-Nanny butts heads constantly with his pragmatic, educated father, and his mother is reeling from the discovery of a family secret. Yet there are good times, too. He's te...more
"The summer of 1898 is filled with ups and downs for 11-year-old Moses. He's growing apart from his best friend, his superstitious Boo-Nanny butts heads constantly with his pragmatic, educated father, and his mother is reeling from the discovery of a family secret. Yet there are good times, too. He's te...more
A bookseller friend recommended this middle-grade book of historical fiction, and when I glanced at the flap copy, I was startled by the reference to the Wilmington (NC) Massacre of 1898. My husband is a North Carolina native and, while he knew about this dramatic bit of history, I did not. Barbara Wright brings the era and true events to life by telling the story through the eyes of an African-American boy, Moses Thomas. HIs gritty and superstitious grandmother, Boo Nanny, adds texture to the n...more
A troubling book without easy answers, but I'm not sure of its audience and/or whether it's hitting that audience. I feel like the best reader would be older than the eleven-year-old protagonist. In particular, I'm not sure how many kids would understand the implication (or facts) about who Moses's grandfather is and what that means. I was surprised that this plot point wasn't revisited.
For the first half or so I kept getting confused about when this book was set, but that may be my own fault--s...more
For the first half or so I kept getting confused about when this book was set, but that may be my own fault--s...more
I just finished reading this book and am still caught in its spell. I thought the first part of the book was a bit slow-going, but the author was establishing the setting so important to this novel of historical fiction based on the racial uprising in Wilmington, NC in 1898. I don't remember ever hearing about this frightening breach of justice and decency, and that is exactly why the author wrote this novel, after much research to ensure accuracy. She also wanted the reader to get to know the T...more
Recommended Age:
12+
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Overall Review:
I grew up just a few hours west of Wilmington, North Carolina. However, until reading Crow, I'd never realized how ignorant I was of a crucial point in North Carolina history! I found the story fascinating (and sad), the characters engaging and inspiring, and the research extensive and well-done. I quickly fell in love with Moses and his wonderful family, and was on the edge of my seat all through the book's heartbreaking climax. Crow h...more
12+
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Overall Review:
I grew up just a few hours west of Wilmington, North Carolina. However, until reading Crow, I'd never realized how ignorant I was of a crucial point in North Carolina history! I found the story fascinating (and sad), the characters engaging and inspiring, and the research extensive and well-done. I quickly fell in love with Moses and his wonderful family, and was on the edge of my seat all through the book's heartbreaking climax. Crow h...more
Set in 1898 North Carolina, only a generation after the end of slavery and before the Grandfather clause was used. 11 yr old Moses dad is an elected official and a proud Republican, supporting the party of the president that ended slavery. Moses looks up to his dad who works at the only Black newspaper. Moses is also very close this grandmother, Boo Nanny who never learned to read or write but she still as a lot to teach Moses. When Boo Nanny and the dad butt heads Moses as learned to stay out o...more
Book #66 Read in 2012
Crow (YA) by Barbara Wright
This was a great young adult historical fiction read. Moses is a young African-American boy. He has been taught by his value that education is valuable. He is taught legends and superstitions by Boo Nanny, his grandmother, who was a former slave. Along with these influences, it is a time of strained race relations, white supremacy and lynchings. Moses is forced to grow up quickly in this environment.
This book is disturbing to read, as it is a hars...more
Crow (YA) by Barbara Wright
This was a great young adult historical fiction read. Moses is a young African-American boy. He has been taught by his value that education is valuable. He is taught legends and superstitions by Boo Nanny, his grandmother, who was a former slave. Along with these influences, it is a time of strained race relations, white supremacy and lynchings. Moses is forced to grow up quickly in this environment.
This book is disturbing to read, as it is a hars...more
While I've given them both 4 stars, I must say I think Crow is a better book than The Lions of Little Rock. Both books are middle grade novels published this spring and cover black/white relations during highly combustible historical events. What sets Crow ahead in the race, in my opinion are the following:
1. An African American family at the center (too often, the whites are center stage, even if there are well drawn black characters close by)
2. An even MORE unknown historical event (race riots...more
1. An African American family at the center (too often, the whites are center stage, even if there are well drawn black characters close by)
2. An even MORE unknown historical event (race riots...more
Originally posted here.
Who out there knew there was a race riot in Wilmington, NC in 1898? If you did not know this and you have never set foot in NC then that is understandable. I however lived in NC for 10 years and didn't know. I took a class on NC history in college and IT NEVER CAME UP. I want my money back. My husband was born and raised in NC and he didn't know either. Thankfully Barbara Writght wrote Crow so hopefully more people will be aware of this interesting event in the history of...more
Who out there knew there was a race riot in Wilmington, NC in 1898? If you did not know this and you have never set foot in NC then that is understandable. I however lived in NC for 10 years and didn't know. I took a class on NC history in college and IT NEVER CAME UP. I want my money back. My husband was born and raised in NC and he didn't know either. Thankfully Barbara Writght wrote Crow so hopefully more people will be aware of this interesting event in the history of...more
Sep 11, 2011
Amy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
advanced readers of 8 - 12 age
Shelves:
kiddie-lit
Crow is an historical novel of the events in 1898 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Four of the ten alderman of the city were black. The father of Moses, the fifth grader in the story, is one of them. This richly written book depicts the race riots of 1898 which was a pivotal event in the south. Leading to disenfranchisement of many black citizens who did not even get the right to vote until 1870.
Moses' father was an educated black man and quiet spoken leader in the city so his death in the end is...more
Moses' father was an educated black man and quiet spoken leader in the city so his death in the end is...more
Mar 31, 2013
Sarah
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
schoolage-african-american,
schoolage-family,
schoolage,
schoolage-boy,
schoolage-social-culture,
schoolage-realistic,
schoolage-historical-fiction,
schoolage-friendship,
schoolage-loss,
tween,
tween-african-american,
tween-coming-of-age-boy,
tween-family,
tween-friends,
tween-historical-fiction,
tween-realistic,
tween-social-cultural
Though fictional, Crow follows the under explored time between the emancipation proclamation and the beginning of formal Jim Crow laws in North Carolina. Few Americans probably realize the prosperous, African-American middle class growing at that time or that North Carolina elected 4 African-American congressmen between 1892 and 1898, before passage of discriminatory laws that disenfranchised black voters. Barbara Wright's story follows eleven year old Moses during a tumultuous year in Wilmingto...more
Kudos for bringing to light a little-known portion of American history, but the novel as a whole didn't feel as cohesive to me as it could have been. There were lots of subplots beyond the political turmoil of the time, and the story wasn't able to explore them all fully.
Definitely felt like it was jumping from one thing to another, and there was not enough cohesion between the chapters for me to keep wanting to go further. Once we get to the part about the race riots, it is a good read, but I...more
Definitely felt like it was jumping from one thing to another, and there was not enough cohesion between the chapters for me to keep wanting to go further. Once we get to the part about the race riots, it is a good read, but I...more
I had never heard of the coupe d'etat that happened in North Carolina, so the historical aspects of the book were fascinating to me. I thought Moses was very naive for his age and time, even taking into account his father's rose-colored-glasses approach to the world. One thing I liked about the book is that it makes the reader do a lot of the heavy lifting work of making connections and drawing conclusions. Things are often not spelled out, or comments are made that are clearly prejudiced by the...more
I chose this book because it got so many 5 star reviews on amazon.com, plus starred reviews in all the major journals, but I found it pretty slow going until the last couple of chapters, which I admit were quite exciting. It's the story of an African American boy Moses and the prejudicial treatment he and his family receive in a North Carolina town in 1898--very important stuff to hear and the writing was fine, but I really don't see the story keeping 8-12 year olds interested enough to get to t...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YA Reads for Teac...: October 2012 - Hot Off the Press - Crow by Barbara Wright | 8 | 20 | Nov 28, 2012 08:19pm |
Barbara Wright grew up in North Carolina and has lived in France, Korea, and El Salvador. Her novels include Crow (Random House) Easy Money (Algonquin) and Plain Language (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster), which won a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. She has worked as a fact checker for Esquire Magazine and as a screenwriter. She lives in Denver with her husband and plays tennis and...more
More about Barbara Wright...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
May 21, 2012 05:46pm