Mayfield Crossing

Mayfield Crossing #1

by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

All the kids from Mayfield Crossing are excited about going to the new school at Parkview. It'sbigger and newer than their old school and, best of all, it has a first-rate basball field. It never occured to any of them that they wouldn't even be allowed to played on the Parkview field. At Mayfield, nobody ever thought about who was white and who was black. They were all just friends. But it's 1960, and the Parkview kids aren't ready to accept newcommers---especially if they're a different color. t's the first time any of the Mayfield kids have experienced the real pain of prejedice, but by sticking together they all become outsiders...and discover that overcoming trouble can be the strenght that makes a winning team.

Genres: Historical Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 4, 1993

About the author

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson loves bringing books and children together and feels lucky to have two careers that foster this. The children's librarian and author says, "It was destined from the day I was born. My mother found my name in a novel she was reading."

Vaunda's first book, Always Gramma, was selected by the Children's Book Council as a Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies. Mayfield Crossing won the Georgia Children's Book in 1995, and Beyond Mayfield received a 1999 Parents' Choice Gold Award. Almost to Freedom, her most recent title, received a Coretta Scott King Honor for illustration in 2004. In addition, Vaunda's poetry has been published in Cricket and Cicada magazines.

Vaunda has been a teacher, newspaper reporter, bookseller, school librarian, and twice a member of the Newbery Award Committee. She holds master's degrees from The Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College, Vermont, and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Library and Information Science. Her memberships include the SCBWI, the American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children. The Pennsylvania native is currently the young adult librarian at a public library in New Mexico, where she lives with her husband, Drew, and two cats.

Reviews

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

The school in Mayfield Crossing is closing, and Meg and her friends are all going to Parkview. They look forward to playing on Parkview's lush baseball field. Their excitement wanes in the face of prejudice. In Mayfield, everyone, black and white, were friends. Now Meg and her brother, Billie, and the Sherman twins, Fitch and Owen find out some people don't likes black people. The students shun them. Billie's teacher warns him that he won't be an "A" student at Parkview. The other Mayfield children band together in support and are ostracized. A boy named Clayton accuses Meg of cheating on a geography test. Meg wrote all 50 states correctly and in alphabetical order because of a song she'd learned at Mayfield. Her teacher, Mr. Stanley believes her, but Clayton dares her to prove it. Meg takes the dare and sings for her class. At recess Clayton pushes Meg to the ground. Billie jumps him and a fight ensues. When Clayton lies, Meg breaks Mayfield's code of honor (not to tell on each other) and tells what happened. The principal paddles all three children, but Clayton gets hit the hardest. Owen Sherman gets the top score on a spelling test. His teacher checks his paper 3 times and even asks him to spell two of the hardest words out loud. She can't believe that a black boy can spell so well. Then Billie challenges the Parkview children to a baseball game. If Mayfield wins at least they'll earn Parkview's respect if not their friendship. Ten minutes before the game, Clayton tells Billie that he needs a full team of 8, or Mayfield must forfeit. Meg asks Ivy, a Parkview girl, to play, and she consents. Meg has sensed that Ivy really wants to be friends. When Clayton protests, saying that Ivy is a Parkview student, Ivy replies, "Mayfield kids are Parkview kids." No matter who wins Meg knows they've scored a victory in Ivy.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach as a lit group at the fourth grade level. It has civil rights history, and it is a great jumping off point for discussions about race and acceptance.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shows difficulties of kids integrating through a storyline about a new school and baseball. I had a bit of trouble keeping track of the characters, and I'm not a baseball enthusiast, but the story was good, the writing was good, the unfairness of discrimination was tempered by caring adults.

[Ayanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was about almost over and first have to be woth each other to be together.

[Jamijones]

i love this book because its a bout a girl in a new invirement.....

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think an important lesson is taught here