Jubilee Journey

by Carolyn Meyer

Emily Rose has always felt comfortable growing up in Connecticut with her African American mother and her "French American" father, but when they spend some time with her great-grandmother in Texas, Emily Rose learns about her black heritage and uncovers some new and exciting parts of her own identity.Emily Rose has always felt comfortable living in Connecticut with her African American mother and her "French American" father, but when they spend some time with her great-grandmother in Texas, Emily Rose learns about her Black heritage

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Juvenile, Historical

271 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Carolyn Meyer is as versatile a writer as you will find. Along with historical fiction and realistic novels for young adults she has written nonfiction for young adults and books for younger readers on topics as diverse as the Amish, the Irish, Japanese, Yup'ik Eskimos, a rock band, rock tumbling, bread baking, and coconuts. And ten of her books have been chosen as Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. In her most recent historical novels she has dealt with the young lives of Mary Tudor, Princess Elizabeth, Anastasia, and Isabel of Castilla, Spain.

Reviews

[Yu · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Jubilee Journey" is about a 13 year old girl named Emily who is half African American and white, who finds more about the tragic racist past of the American south while visiting her family. I really wanted to like this book, especially after reading another book, "Black Boy" by Richard Wright which shared the same topic. Being frank, I might consider this one of the most boring books I have ever read thus far. What was supposed to seem like someone uncovering their dark past, ended up just feeling like you were listening to your grandmother's story that she tells every single Thanksgiving: painfully slow, almost no interesting dialogue and everyone in the story is bland. Literally, the only character who the author focuses on, is the protagonist Emily. Emily is also the only character who shows any sign of development and only because of the fact she didn't know how bad the south was during Jim Crow laws until her incredibly uninteresting grandmother tells her, mind you, excruciating slowly. I would have liked this book more if the author would just step away from Emily and focus on another character, like her mother, who clearly has dark feelings about the whole trip and yet the reader gets barely any movement towards her, unless Emily is specifically there. It is not until 72 pages in, the author allows the reader and Emily finally get some context for her mother who has cried at least once every five pages. Speaking of Emily's mother, it made me incredibly uncomfortable the way the author described her because technically the book is told through Emily's eyes, so reading how "attractive" she is through her daughter made me just cringe. For such a topic I would've really hoped there would be some sort of part that covers some more controversial things, but to be honest it was incredibly light and there was nothing that was telling me to keep reading, it also felt like it was avoiding the elephant in the room (racism). The only good thing I have to say about this book is that I do appreciate having more representation for mixed kids who struggle to fit in. If you want to read something for black history month, I would not recommend this waste of time book.

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner story by Carolyn Meyer. I don't know how I ever missed her books back when I was a children's librarian. I have some catching up to do!

[Elmina · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, this book wasnt bad but it wasn't great either. This book had too many details just to get to the main part and it didn't even make sense in the beginning as it did in the end. I wouldn't suggest reading this book.

This book is about a French American African American girl who is known as being ''double'' in her home town Connecticut. She gets a letter from her grandmother that she has never met before, inviting her family to Texas. In Texas where her grandmother, Mother Rose, lives there are many black people and very racist people in that town. This book has a lot of racist comments to show how she's treated differently in Connecticut then in Texas.

[Goldie Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jubilee Journey" is the sequel and a "must read" if you liked "White Lilacs." It's the story of Emily Rose, a bi-racial teenage girl who has never met her black relatives in Texas. Her great-grandmother, Rose Lee Jefferson invites her to Dillon, Texas to attend the Freedomtown Juneteenth Diamond Jubilee. On her journey, Emily Rose connects with family she didn't know she had and learns the story of the struggle her ancestors faced seventy-five years earlier when they were forced to literally pick up their houses and move. It's a heartwarming story, suitable for readers both young and old.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never read the first book. After finishing this book, I realize I read it once before. I liked it just as well the second time. I love the way the history of the town is interwoven with the present. A fantastically written book. I really enjoyed the history and the story.

[Andrea Wall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this one, as usual Meyer picks lovely interesting topics that delight me.

Racism is so icky. But I feel like this book is more about moving on. lIke it's going to get better. It has but we've still got a way to go.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it gave a very realistic portrayal of the experience of a 13 yr. old biracial young woman who makes her first visit to the South (Texas) from her home in Connecticut. The characters are well drawn.

[Mishae]

i love this book to the best regaurds

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic way to get a way.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very repetitive of White Lilacs.....

[Jerianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spent the first half trying to figure out where I'd heard the story before--it's a companion book to White Lilies. Sheesh.
I liked both books.

[Bag Lady]

This book is a sequel to White Lilac. I picked up some free books and surprisingly I was not aware that they were of the same author until after I began reading. Both very interesting.