Week Twenty Book Fifteen--The Rock and the River

Yes, I am very behind in my reading challenge. But hey, the challenge doesn't end until May, so I am still confident that I will catch up!

Over the holiday break I read The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon. What a great surprise! I couldn't believe how addicted I was to the story, especially since I didn't care for the cover.

The book follows young Sam and his family. They are an African American family living during the civil rights of the 1960s. In fact, Sam's father is a good friend of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, which means that Sam and his family are used to practicing peaceful protesting in the midst of the fight for equality.

But then Sam's older brother, Stick, decides he's tired of being peaceful. So he joins the Black Panthers, a group known for their violent (if necessary) tactics. This greatly upsets Sam's parents, and Sam is also left to question what he believes. Does he want to continue waiting patiently for peace to come, or does he also want to join the Panthers? And when he witnesses his friend, Bucky, get beaten by the police for no reason, Sam knows he can no longer stay silent.

A WONDERFUL historical fiction book! Even if you don't know much about the civil rights, you will become intrigued by the story. What would you do if put to the test? Would you take more peaceful or violent action to protect your equality?