The Land (Logan Family Saga, 1)

I first read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry in middle school and the story stayed with me into my twenties. i reread it this last summer, and discovered that it was the fifth book in a series that followed the Logan family along their journey thorugh post-war Mississippi. It's a beautiful tale of family love and compassion, surprising acts of kindness in the face of random acts of cruelty, and the roots of long-needed and long-coming reconciliation. The story challenges readers to look at the idea of racial reconciliation as a generations-long process made by one choice at a time, to be patient and honest, that trust takes time, and that freedom and independence are two different concepts, equally important. I really can't wait to read the next few books in the series!Taylor's narrative style is personal yet picturesque, appropriate to the times, yet comprehensible to the modern reader. The language and content are acceptable for high school or mature middle schoolers under parental advisement, but the story is layered enough to capture the imagination of adults of all ages.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, because it was interesting as as thought provoking. I read two of Ms. Taylor's novels some years ago so I thought that I would enjoy dipping into the past once more through a fictional narrative. The author is very skillful in drawing the reader into the experiences of the main characters. Ms. Taylor almost effortlessly generates emotional responses in the reader. The reader can sympathize and empathize with the focus family as they navigate the treacherous waters of race relations in the post Civil War South. Even though this is a work of fiction, readers can glean some information about the social mores of the time. We learn about the stigma of color and the treatment of Blacks and mixed race people by others. Prejudice and injustice abound. The major characters are well drawn. The main character's objective is very clear, and he never loses sight of it. Belonging is one of the themes in The. Land. I consider this novel to be extremely well written.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry gets much deserved attention. We have a copy and love it. But in looking for more books for my kids to read this summer I came across The Land, and it is even better than Roll of Thunder. Such a great story, so well written, heartbreaking and hopeful. The characters were vivid and complex. Great lesson in American history and the scourge of racism.I feel like the recommended ages are a little low for this book, it's definitely more advanced and has more adult content than Roll of Thunder. I would put Roll of Thunder at 4-6th grade and this book at 7th and up.

I love this book. I’m of Native American ancestry and I found myself completely enthralled by this story. There are so many similarities between the characters of this book and their hardships and the maltreatment and setbacks that my own family endured. Even the geography is nearly the same as my great-grandparents, who were indentured servants at the time, were able to purchase their own land. Little by little they were able to purchase land in Mississippi where most of it is still owned by their descendants. Whether you’ve heard stories similar to these all you life like I have or whether you have never been enlightened to the prejudices of minorities, in any age, but, especially during this time in American history, please, do yourself a favor and read this book. You will not be sorry.

Several occurrences within this story upset me. Life was very hard for Paul Edward. I would like to think that people who lie and cheat won’t prosper, but that isn’t true either. This story is real or realistic and those times were upsetting.

As a children's literature professional, I have read all of Mildred Taylor's books, and I would say that her skill as a writer just keeps getting better. If you fell in love with the Logan family in any of the sequence (Roll of Thunder; Let the Circle Be Unbroken; Road to Memphis) you can wonder as a reader how the Logans got their land and where they got their indomitable spirits from. THE LAND answers those questions in a compelling novel that depicts the first generation of African-Americans following the Civil War and the horrid injustices in the South.I would recommend this to teachers as a good read-aloud for about 5th grade and up, especially paired with completing the study of the Civil War. Students will respond to this book and have lots of opinions about what takes place. Happy reading!Wendy C. Kasten, Ph.D., Professor (Curriculum & Instruction - Literacy)Kent State UniversityCo-Author, LIVING LITERATURE (with Kristo and McCLure, 2005, Pearson Education).

Set in the latter half of the nineteenth century, we follow from childhood to maturity Paul-Edward, the son of a Southern white landowner and a black former slave girl. Edward Logan had three sons with by his legal wife along with Paul and his sister by the slave girl, but treated all as equal and taught all his children to respect one another. But while they grew up together as equals it was gradually made clear that as they grew older and went out into the world things would be different for Paul and his sister, and even though Paul looked to be white he would always be regarded as a man of colour, and could not expect equal treatment.Paul loved his father's land and initially imagined one day it would be his, after all of all his father's children he was the only one with any affinity with the soil, and he was a natural with animals able to pacify and ride the wildest of horses. But as he grew it became apparent that he would never come into possession of this land and so he longed to have land of his own.Living on his father's land were other freed black slaves. Mitchell, the son of one of these and about Paul's age was a constant tormentor of Paul in his childhood, taunting him and often hitting him. But as they grew older their relationship slowly changed, first to a grudging respect and then to friendship. Paul knew the only way he would get to own land of his own was to leave his father, and this happened sooner than expected and under less than ideal circumstances when both he and Mitchell found themselves on the run. So began their adventures together, and while Paul was always looking to the time he could achieve his goal, Mitchell was happy to go along with him content with whatever each day would bring. During this time they leaned trust and even rely upon each other as their friendship grew and they came to regard themselves as brother.Much was yet to happen before Paul stood any hope, if ever, of owning land; good fortune interspersed with disaster and tragedy; long ours of labouring for unfair bosses; success racing horses; dealings with dishonest businessmen who thought nothing of cheating a man of colour. But there were also those who recognised Paul and Mitchell's good qualities and would help them. Paul-Edward gives his own account of these early years of his life, and concludes with a brief summary of the years that followed.Mildred D Taylor writes with honesty and with no apology, highlighting the dreadful inequalities suffered by blacks following the abolition of slavery, thankfully and quite rightly giving no quarter to political correctness. Having based much of The Land on stories told to her by family members about her own family's history it has an air of authenticity and provides an insight on a past way of life. But it is above all a story about friendship, love and loyalty; and a compelling read. My one regret is that it somehow glossed over the details of then transition in the relationship between Paul and Mitchell and their bonding.

What a brilliant book. My friend told me to read it years ago after he had to read "roll of thunder hear my cry" for school. I'm a big reader and was a bit unsure as I hadn't had to read the same books. I read it and loved it but since moving 3 times and once to a different country, it was one of the last things on my mind to buy, but it popped up one day and I had to buy it. And because its kindle I have it forever---- This is a book that grips you from the beginning, no matter what your ethnicity is. For me, reading this book as an adult 11 years after the first time, I found myself gripped and didn't wanna put it down. It's the kind of book that's pure, coming from the heart and whether or not it's true, it makes u wish it is. You start reading this book the same as any other and find yourself inside the story, losing time as if you're there yourself. By far the best of hundreds I've read, sorry Miss Taylor "Rolling Thunder Hear My Cry" has to be second. This is the best

Gripping story line which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm just sorry I can't get an e-version of 'Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry' by the same author. Mildred D Taylor ensures that the reader really feels the times and attitudes regarding predudice. A cracking read.

Grandson loves it

GOOD READ