This book consists of ten eerie tales of the supernatural--begging to be read Alone on "a dark and stormy night," or retold around a friendly campfire. These tales present Black protagonists from the slave era, throughout American history, right up to the present. The title refers to the half hour of semi-darkness which precedes true nightful--when all tales seem spookier because of the shadows and rustling of nocturnal creatures.

The stories vary greatly in subject and style: slaves atempt to escape rather than be sold off, or they invoke ancient voodoo rituals to punish a cruel master. A callous bus driver gets a ghostly brand of justice; an old pullman porter tries to cheat death aboard the 11:59; a man uses ESP to try to
save his family. A distraught mother encounters a sasquatch; a little girl has an unreasonable terror of a monster in the chicken coop, and more.

My personal favorite presentsa Nigerian legend about the Dark Women who tried to cheat a goddess; they exist solely to trick unwary moderns into inviting them into their homes, where they wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting tenants who naively think they are safe in the 90's. Only the Gingi can protect these hapless souls from such vindictive spirits. Like Dracula lore, which insists that the victim must cross the threshhold of his own free will, the evil visitor must receive an invitation before entering. An entertaining and chilling anthology--for those with a premonition of disaster. There are no references to Halloween, yet this book makes for perfect October reading. Are you brave enough to finish it? BOO!

I am a middle school reading teacher who was given a copy of this book when it was first released. I fell in love with the stories as did my students! Each school year I start by reading "The Chicken Coop Monster" with every emotional fiber in my body. I require my students to write down the 10 rules randomly disclosed in the through out the story. This school year the book is completely worn out and I purchased another! No story will disappoint you in this book. This book leaves my students in awe as I read the stories each year! Equally pleasing is the art work by Brian Pinkney.

The Dark-Thirty was great because of how McKissack told stories that were based true happenings in the world with racisim. I strongly suggest that any type of reader read this book. The pictures by Pinkney were brilliant, so dramatic. I loved it. The Legend of Pin Oak is the best story in it.

'Tar Beach" by Faith Ringgold is a book that a child of any age could enjoy. Any child could relate to Cassie Louise Lightfoot. Every child has dreams and this book supports the need for children to escape into their own world of imagination. Ringgold is a talented author and illustrator. I feel that children can truly relate to her stories and paintings.

In Faith Ringgold's Tar Beach, eight-year-old Cassie Louise Lightfoot expresses her wishes and dreams. The story takes place in 1939 on the tarred flat roof of her family's Harlem apartment building where her family and friends gather in the warm summer night air. While Cassie enjoys and appreciates her family, her boundless imagination transcends debilitating socioeconomic boundaries and allows her to feel self-confident and capable of anything. Through both the inspirational text and illustrations, Ringgold urges that life's circumstances, no matter how hurtful, should not be taken at face value. Instead, one's attitude can overcome and triumph over anything.

Ringgold's depiction of an African American female greatly furthers the effectiveness of Tar Beach. Cassie is a strong young lady who will not rely on a prejudiced society to determine her future. Rather, she constantly creates her own ambitions, regardless of how radical or impractical they may seem. For instance, Cassie dreams of her father being rich, having a more respected job, and even owning The Union Building. The character of Cassie encourages limitless dreams, especially for young African American readers.

Cassie's model attitude is conveyed through her imagery-rich narrative that faces adversity head on. Her father is a blue-collar construction worker who must search for jobs in the winter. Society also excludes him from the privileges of union membership because he is "colored" and considered a "half-breed Indian." In addition, Cassie's family doesn't have much money.

Yet despite all this, Cassie says she feels "rich" from "lying on the roof in the night, with stars and skyscraper buildings all around [her]." She appreciates the surrounding beauty and fancifully talks of flying to those places she admires. She talks about the imaginative flights she takes, leaving the roof much like Peter Pan. This creative way that Cassie addresses her situations adds an unparalleled beauty to her life. For instance, she talks of flying over the George Washington Bridge and wearing it "like a giant diamond necklace." Ringgold uses Cassie's narrative to inspire by first explaining the potential beauty that can be experienced, and then explaining, "it's very easy, anyone can fly. All you need is somewhere to go that you can't get to any other way."

To compliment the text, Ringgold created amazing illustrations using acrylic on canvas paper, which were designed to resemble a quilt. The creative and colorful illustrations further this idea of overcoming life's obstacles by beautifully depicting Cassie's flights over her home, surrounding skyscrapers, and the beloved bridge. Ringgold also uses a two-dimensional style to depict Cassie when she is flying. This adds a visual separation between real-life images and Cassie's surreal fantasies. Overall, the illustrations are bright and include many patterns and geometric shapes. These intricacies communicate the cheerful complexity of life.

By transcending reality, Cassie is able to rise above her problems and feel triumphant and empowered. Tar Beach is an appealing and creative work which offers hope and encourages the continual search for beauty and self-empowerment.

This short children's book is about a young African-American girl living in Harlem in the 1930s who dreams she is flying over the city when relaxing on the roof of her apartment building (the "tar beach"). It is a beautiful book about dreams and children should enjoy it. The book was a 1992 Caldecott Honor book (i.e., a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

After reading this book, my respect for the great leader Dr. King, as well as his phenomenal wife grew. I never knew she was a such a success story apart from Dr. King. I also admire her for literally laying down her life to be a support to her husband. The courage she demonstrated encouraged me so. I am also the wife of a Black Baptist preacher and I now know that there are no limits for me and any strong Black male leader must have a strong Black woman standing behind him.

This review is about the book My life with Martin Luther King Jr. By Coretta Scott King. This book touched me because my grandpa used to know Dr.King and this book tells me all the stuff my grandpa never told me. Like when Martin protested to all the whites, the Ku Klux Klan, or [KKK] told Dr.King to stop protesting or he would never see his family again, but Martin was not afraid,and with that the KKK bombed his house as a warning, luckally no one was hurt. The "I have a dream speech". Won Dr.King the noble peace prize, That angered the KKK and in his hotel The KKK guned him down in front of his family, and after the funeral the Mayor made it a law to treat blacks equally. Martin Luther King had one but had lost his life in the process.
I reccomend this book to all people [Blacks & Whites alike] that had a goal in life and did not stop until they achevied it.

I thought the book was wonderful!!! It gave me insight to what life was like living with MLK Jr. You felt the pain when things went wrong. You felt the happiness when things went right. Coretta Scott King did a great job of letting everyone know the imtimate details of her and her husbands life. If you haven't read it , check it out. Trust me, as a teen, it was a book that grasped my interest. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!!!!

Here is another fantastic anthology from Virginia Hamilton, the award-winning author of "House of Dies Drear" and "The People Could Fly". This volume, also featuring the wonderful illustrations of Leo & Diane Dillon, is an eye-opener for those only familiar with European folktales.

Hamilton's book is divided into five sections: (1) Her Animal Tales, (2) Her Fairy Tales, (3) Her Supernatural, (4) Her Folkways and Legends, and (5) Her True Tales. Each section contains an average of four stories, accompanied by informative and entertaining background historical data.

Young readers will love the author's prose and the illustrators' beautiful paintings. Older readers and parents will gain a greater appreciation for a culture that has been too long ignored.

These stories are as valid and fanciful as any of their more familiar European counterparts.

The book ends with a list of valuable resources where one can find other examples of African-American folklore.

I don't care if you're African American or Caucasian, 6, 16, or 60; if you are female, you should read this book. Not only are the folktales, fairy tales, and true tales here wonderfully spun, but the illustrations are so masterfully rendered that they will take your breath away too.

Stories like these are the foundation of culture. All too often we overlook them as low brow and common when what we should be doing is revering them for the treasure that they are.

When you are finished reading "Her Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True Tales" you should buy a copy for someone you know.

In "Her Stories," African American women tell their tales of magic, supernatural and real life, while emphasizing their strength and imaginations. The Cleverness and determination of African American women is shown.

In this book the Logan children experience a lot of things that get them ready for the real world. At the beginning, life is going pretty well. Life changes when Cassie's big brother, Stacey buys a new car that is very nice for an African American. It all starts in Strawberry when some white boys are making fun of Moe. They say things that really make him mad. He explodes and hits them with a crow bar. He then jumps into a truck that belongs to Jeremy Simms, a long time friend of the Logans. Jeremy is related to the people Moe just beat up. Being the good friend, Jeremy jumps in the truck and drives off. The Logans take off and pick up Moe in another town so they can take him to Memphis so he can catch a train to Chicago. On their way to Memphis they run into a lot of trouble with white people and they have a lot of car trouble. When the get near Memphis, Clarence gets really sick and has to go to an old lady's house to get better. The Logans finally get to Memphis and they get their car fixed so they can make it home. They finally get Moe on a train ticket. When he is getting ready to leave he expresses his love for Cassie. She is very disappointed because she knows she might not ever see him again. The ending of the book amazed me so to find out you need to read it.

I really enjoyed this book because it showed what black people had to put up with everyday. Also because it taught a very good lesson which was that even if things go bad they can turn out well.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the first book of this series.
Let the Circle Be Unbroken is the second book in this series.

I thought The Road To Memphis was a very dramatic,compelling book. This is the third novel in the series written about the Logan family. This book takes place in 1941, right before the outbreak of World WarII. Cassie is 17 years old and a senior in high school dreaming of going onto law school. Stacey is working in Jackson and is driving his first car. A sequence of tragic events, incuding pregnancy and death, threatens to seperate the family, possibly forever. In Jackson Moe lashes out at his white tormentors, an act unheard of in Mississippi back then, almost killing them. Cassie, Stacey and their friends must try to get Moe to Memphis and safety. At the end of the book it doesn't tell you what happens to Jeremy, Stacey, Moe or Cassie. I found myself asking what happened to them? Mildred D. Taylor is and excellent writer. In reading this book I found she depicted the magnitude of racism in the 1940's very well. It really gave me an idea of what life was like in that era. It also made me realize how times have changed and how ucky I am to live in this day and age. I would suggest this book to readers who are old enough to comprehend the realism of it. This is a great book that I think all people should read at sometime in their life.

I love The Road To Memphis. I started reading Mildred D. Taylor's book at the beginning last year at school as a class reading but right away I loved it by the time my teacher stared I was at the end of chapter 1 in Roll of Thunder,Hear My Cry. After that I couldn't stop reading, and I got in trouble for reading it so quickly, but then I read Let the Circle be Unbroken, then found myself reading The Road To Memphis. The main charcters of this book is Cassie,Stacey,Moe,Claudia,Little man,Christopher-John. When Moe gets tired of the whites treating him like dirt,he beats up 3 white boys,almost killing them. Then has to make a run for a train in Memphis to get to Stacey's uncle Hammer, But on the way somebody dies (i'm not saying who).In the end even a white's life messes up.Before I read this book I knew slaves had a hard time, but after slavery I didn't know how they were treated, and I think all whites (including me) are well respected of blacks even without reading theese books.! And I recomend you reading her other books to!

This book follows a black cat on his way throughout a city. The book is dedicated to all children of the city - a group the author apparently associates him-self with. The format is appealing and interesting, especially the artwork which was created by using pastels and collage techniques over actual photographs of Harlem and Brooklyn, New York. The text is a poem that describes the cat's journey. So many books today are set in a middle-class neighborhood; this one shows images of more diverse settings that are most likely from a lower socio-economic class. Some slang words are used as well. For instance, "tag" is a term for graffiti gang symbols, and "projects" when speaking of housing projects and "bodega" are all words that appear.

The words and images of the book may appeal to some, but could leave others wondering. Children, and teachers, who have never lived in the city, may not be familiar with housing projects or playground cages. The book may help others to understand how city-life is different, but at the same time, it may drive a wedge between them. I did not see how this book would help people to integrate these societies in any way. If anything, it just showed what the differences between urban and rural or suburban living are without attempting to show any similarities between the areas.

Why 3 stars?:
The illustrations were interesting and the poem well written. However, this book, when compared with other children's literature on the market, simply does not stand up to its competition. It has a target audience and I don't feel that it would really apply to students who were not in an inner-city school. Therefore it loses appeal for me as a teacher.

We checked this book out at the library for my 2 year old son who loves cats and at first read, I was blown away by the incredible artwork and the jazzy text. Although the book is intended for slightly older kids, my son enjoyed it the more we read it and loves to point out where the cat is in each picture. I really appreciated the way that my son is able to see another way of life in America, that is the "urban life," and to see it through the positive lense of this lovable cat. We need more authors to celebrate and make positive the experience of kids growing up in the city which also helps suburban kids (and parents) to see another way of life. Isn't that what Sesame Street was all about? GET this book, it's truly an excellent piece of children's literature!

I first saw this book when I was visiting the Art Institute of Chicago where it was being featured. The entire book is visually intriguing! I've never seen a book quite like it. Although the book is classified as a children's book, I think that anyone would enjoy it. Myers' book is a poem that takes you through Brooklyn by following a seemingly mysterious cat accompanied by wonderful and colorful collages. The book has become a favorite of mine, so I would strongly recommend it!

This book wonderfully encompasses a vast wealth of knowledge. Archaeology, history, current events, and modern day issues are just a few things. This book is extremely well written from the introduction, to the archeological dig, to an epilogue that summarized the issues behind the dig. I found it very informative about the history of African Americans during colonial times. I also thought that it was informative on the procedures followed for archeological digs. I really got a feel for the climate, attitudes, and living of African Americans during their first years in America. I would definitely use this book in a classroom study of the early Americans. It presents an alternate view than the pioneering white male view commonly seen during these times. The many pictures are graphic, well-taken and very interesting.

Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence was perhaps not one of the most interesting books I have ever read, but it is definitely one of the most haunting. When the book first starts out, the reader has no idea that what is beneath centuries of asphalt are people long ago and long forgotten. The most wonderful thing about the book was the way researchers were able to construct the lives of those found. I thought going back in the past and intricately constructing their journeys and lives was incredible. I also enjoyed, for lack of a better word, the photographs. Perhaps the most haunting was the one of mother and child. I felt sorrow and pity for those who had to endure such hardships, but who willed something better for themselves and those who followed. Their lives should be recorded and the place where they were buried should be sacred. I don't know how many students will enjoy this as pleasure reading, unless they enjoy finding artifacts, but I am positive no media center should be without this resource. Kids should have at least exposure with this book to know it is out there. It would be a fantastic reference and addition to any collection. These lives should be celebrated and honored. They, I feel, deserve at least that as a payment for a price so dearly paid by many ancestors.

Great book! Yes, archaeology in NYC! Although this book is listed as a young readers book, I found it a facinating read for adults interested in this subject area of archaeology and black history. I have never found such a great book that combines both the history of a people that few books are written on with a modern day archaeological dig.

Great resource for teachers, black history month and just for those of us out there who are facinated with archaeology.

Francie is a story about a young girl living in Noble, Alabama, with a lot more on her mind than boys or school. She goes to an all black school where she met Jessie, a heavyset boy who's almost 16 and can't read. So Francie tutors Jessie after school. They become friends when one day his father comes and pulls Jessie out of school to work. A little bit after, Jessie's dad ran off, without leaving a note or a reason. Jesse's mother had died earlier and he had no other relatives so he was all alone. And when he gets falsely accused of attempting the murder of his white boss, he's running for his life.
I disliked the book mostly because parts were hard to understand. The book also had it's moments when nothing much was happening. But the book was also good in ways. It portrayed a strong message to stand up for what you believe in. Francie was a strong hearted girl who's life was certainly not easy and this book showed what life was like for girls in that time period and how easy we have it now. Some related books would include Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry because that book also deals with segregation and life in that era.

Francie was a girl who belived she could do anything. Her teacher asked her to tutor a 16 year old who had never read before. When he is accused of attacking a white man, Francie jumps to his defence without knowing that she is putting her family in danger .
The author told the story in a way that could be easily understood. I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, so when I liked this book, I was really suprised.The book was written very well.
I would reccommend this book to someone who likes historical fiction. Not only is it historical fiction, it also has a little bit of action. Action, history what more could anyone want in a book.

This book is about a girl named Francie who wants to get to Chicago to be with her dad.Her dad writes her letters so now Francie is getting her hopes up to much. then she meets a boy named Jesse who is in her class but can't read so know francie teaches him until Francie sees a sign that says if you see this boy then you need to call the police as soon as possible. and the boy is Jesse! then jesse is hiding in the woods and francie finds him then for a day she lets him stay in her shed and gives him a blanket and food but then francie's mom can't find some food that she needs and so francie has to make something up to stay out of trouble finally at the end Francies dad sends the family train tickets to get to Chicago but the rest your going to have to find out your self enjoy!!!!!

Are you looking to buy a new book? Well, you shouldn't choose Money Hungry! I'm here to tell you why.

This story is slow like Molasses! It's almost like reading about a dead cow with NO details. Most stories start off slow but speed up,but this Sharon G. Flake book does not. It goes from main character Rassberry (13) wanting money, but being broke to Rassberry wanting money but having some.

A friend told me I would be reading a humorous book. Well she WAS right, it was soooooo bad it was funny!!! The real genre is realistic fiction. But not just any realistic fiction. BORING realistic fiction.

Money Hungry is anything but exciting! The most exciting part would be when Rassberry steals money from her best friend, half way to her home she goes back and returns it. No Suspense, no humor, no action! Soooooooo boring.

In conclusion, in my opinion this isn't the greatest book in the world, more like the worst. Rassberry's lesson of hard work pays off, doesn't catch you at all. Take it from me, don't waste your money on Money Hungry!

Money Makes the World Go 'Round

Raspberry Hill is a young girl on a mission. After she and her mother left her crack-addicted father, they find themselves living on the streets. Raspberry is determined to make enough money so that she and her mother will never be forced to be homeless or hungry again. She enlists the help of her friends Ja'nae, Mai, and Zorro to make money by any legal means necessary.

Raspberry finds herself making a great deal of money and becomes obsessed with stashing enough money away that nothing else seems to matter. When one of her friend begins to borrow money without paying it back, Raspberry is faced with a dilemma, having to decide what she values more-money or friendship.

Sharon Flake has done an excellent job with this book. It is entertaining and shows the devastating affects of poverty. Flake also introduces several sub-plots through Raspberry's friends. Issues of abandonment, divorce, and being biracial are also discussed within the book. I highly recommend this novel to children and young adults as an eye opener about homelessness and poverty. I look forward to more works from this author, and would love to see a sequel or a separate book about each of Raspberry's friends.

Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy...

I love how she relates everything to how kids are today. I read this book in 1 day, (the first time ever) because I couldn't get enough of it. Don't let other people say how its boring, I belive its the best.

I found mircales boys written by Jacqueline Woodson to be an enchantingly epic drama. It is the tale of three underprivliged African American brothers living in a poor New York City apartnment. the brothers are struggling with the tramitic death of both there parents. Lafayette the youngest brother found his mother laying lifeless in her bed and since that day the middle brother Charlie has blamed him for not doing anything. Now it is Tyree the oldest brother who must support his two brothers by not going to college and working full time in a mail room. charlie was in a correctional facility at the time of his mothers death and has never been the same since he got out. Now he is a problem child and if he gets in trouble again Lafayette and himself will be forced to live in a foster home. the inevitable happens in the end and charlie is caught in a stolen car and Tyree has to go down to the police station and bail him out the cop let him off because it wasnt his fault. the next day seemed like the first day that the broters started to return to normal.

In the book Miracle's Boys Lafayette, Charlie, and Ty'ree are three brothers living together. Two years ago Lafayette was watching TV on the couch when he saw his mother collapse to the ground. She later died in the hospital. When this happened Charlie was in a place called Rahway. It's where people go if they are too young for jail. Before he went to Rahway he was happy and really emotional. Ever since he got back him and Laffayette can't get along at all. Also, now Lafayette calls him New Charlie because he has changed so much. He's out at night now and isn't emotional at all anymore.
Ty'ree is pretty much the father figure for Charlie and Lafayette. He pays the rent and buys the food for them. Their father died earlier before their mother. Though when he died Lafayette was still in his mother's stomach. She hadn't had him yet. In the book Lafayette is trying to find his spot in the family.
I think Jacqueline Woodson did a wonderful job describing and getting inside the characters thoughts and points of views. He made each chapter about someone else, which I liked. He could have told about Charlie a little more, though. I needed to know more about his backround. Jacqueline Woodson and the Miracle's Boys are in my top ten favorite books!

Three brothers, Ty'ree, 23, Charlie, 15 and LaFayette (Laf) 13 have become even more closely bound after the death of their mother. Laf, then 11 was with their mother, Milagro (Spanish for Miracle) when she died from complications from diabetes. He does not disclose what took place during that agonizing last day they had together.

Laf's middle brother, Charlie, has become more distant and angry. He burns all but two pictures of their mother. He joins a street gang and ends up serving time in jail. Once released, Charlie has become harder and meaner. The brother Laf remembered as having cared about animals and their mother has been replaced by this hostile stranger.

Ty'ree has turned down a chance to attend M.I.T. in order to raise his brothers. He and Laf are closely bonded and they share a common loss -- Ty'ree was present when the boys' father died and his experience is a sad parallel to Laf's experience when Milagro (Miracle) died.

Miracle's Boys each find their own voice and way of coping. The boys discuss their rich racial heritage and how others interact with them based on this. The boys' mother was from Puerto Rico and their father was black. Early in the book, Charlie discusses the racial hierchy of street gangs in their New York neighborhood.

This is a gritty, loving and very seious book that will leave an indelible impression on all who read it. Parts of it might make you cry. I highly recommend this one.