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What Members Thought

Rebekah
I read this on vacation when I was about fourteen, and absolutely loved it. It stuck in my memory so vividly that when I received my Kindle I immediately went searching for it again to buy. It was actually the first book that I PURCHASED for my Kindle. The second read at age 27 did not disappoint in the slightest. It was just as good as I remembered it, and I was surprised how much of the book I still recalled. A wonderful story with realistic child characters, an intense study of brother relati ...more
Tanya
I love that Levar Burton narrated this one as it really adds to the story. I was a little unsure if I had the right book at first because I had the impression this would be about stories of a family on a road trip. It started off in the Winter in Flint, Michigan and laid the background of the various characters in the family. I felt the strength of the novel was when they were in Alabama - I wish there had been more dealing with the church bombing and how the middle child, Kenny, worked his way ...more
Jean-Marie
Wow! This is a fantastic, well-written book that tells the story of a middle class African American family who takes a trip from their home in Flint, Michigan to visit their grandma in Birmingham, Alabama during the Civil Rights movement. An emotionally-engaging story. Interesting characters. Laugh out loud humor. This a must-read for all middle grade students on up. Looking forward to seeing the made for TV movie on the Hallmark Channel on Sept. 20, 2013.
Astrid Lim
It's funny and quirky in some parts, but I felt the plot and some of the dialogues are just too dragging. The historical part was insufficient for me, felt only like a small patch at the end of the book. But Kenny the narrator is the best part of this book :) ...more
Vicky
Aug 05, 2007 rated it really liked it
Charlene Oleah
Jul 28, 2008 rated it liked it
Shelves: children-s
Davida "Davi"
Jun 07, 2009 marked it as to-read
Meghan
Jul 29, 2009 rated it it was amazing
Tammy AZ
Feb 24, 2022 rated it liked it
Martha
Jun 09, 2010 rated it liked it
Amy 💖
Oct 22, 2011 marked it as to-read
Shelves: kids
Martha
Aug 31, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Shanna
Nov 12, 2012 rated it really liked it
Christi
Nov 28, 2012 marked it as to-read
Beverly
Dec 15, 2013 rated it really liked it
Jen
Sep 09, 2015 marked it as to-read
O'Rissa
May 22, 2016 rated it it was amazing
Stephanie
Aug 22, 2016 marked it as to-read
Rebecca
Apr 21, 2017 rated it it was ok
Cindy
May 27, 2018 rated it it was amazing
superawesomekt
Jul 20, 2019 marked it as bibliocurious
Shelves: wccls
Ann
Dec 29, 2019 added it
T.ScottReviews
Jun 20, 2020 marked it as 3maybe-fiction  ·  review of another edition
Jocelyn
Feb 11, 2021 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: award-newbery
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