Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Amazon.com

In all Mildred D. Taylor's unforgettable novels she recounts "not only the joy of growing up in a large and supportive family, but my own feelings of being faced with segregation and bigotry." Her Newbery Medal-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry tells the story of one African American family, fighting to stay together and strong in the face of brutal racist attacks, illness, poverty, and betrayal in the Deep South of the 1930s. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan, growing up protected by her loving family, has never had reason to suspect that any white person could consider her inferior or wish her harm. But during the course of one devastating year when her community begins to be ripped apart by angry night riders threatening African Americans, she and her three brothers come to understand why the land they own means so much to their Papa. "Look out there, Cassie girl. All that belongs to you. You ain't never had to live on nobody's place but your own and long as I live and the family survives, you'll never have to. That's important. You may not understand that now but one day you will. Then you'll see."

Twenty-five years after it was first published, this special anniversary edition of the classic strikes as deep and powerful a note as ever. Taylor's vivid portrayal of ugly racism and the poignancy of Cassie's bewilderment and gradual toughening against social injustice and the men and women who perpetuate it, will remain with readers forever. Two award-winning sequels, Let the Circle Be Unbroken and The Road to Memphis, and a long-awaited prequel, The Land, continue the profoundly moving tale of the Logan family. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Unabridged. Six cassettes, nine hours.

Winner of the 1977 Newberry Medal, this is a remarkably moving novel—one that has impressed the hearts and minds of millions of readers.

Read by Lynne Thigpen

Customer Reviews:

My new favorite book--great for kids AND adults.......2007-09-14

I'm sad to say that I just now read this book for the first time (at age 30). I ordered it for my 5th-grade classroom and, of course, wanted to preview it first. I ended up reading it all in one night. I literally could not put it down.

It was a hard book to read, due to its unflinchingly honest nature. Although the official suggested target audience for this book is 9-12, I often found myself wondering if my students could handle this almost brutal look at racism in the 1930s. Heck, MY stomach turned at certain points. Still, I suppose that my students NEED to know what life was like for blacks in the 1930s--and the fact that the story is told from the point of view of a little girl about their age will make for an even stronger impact, I think.

I do give a heads-up to parents and teachers due to the repeated use of the "n" word; however, this book captivated me from start to finish and truly took my breath away. I think it's a story that every child and adult NEEDS to read.

This was an excellent book.......2007-08-31

I liked this book very much, because it had a good plot, explained a lot about blacks after the Civil War, and was very interesting. It was touching, and was hard to put down. I would recommend this book to anybody over 11.

perfect condition.......2007-08-23

the book arrived quickly and in perfect condition.
no problems at all.

Beautifully Narrated.......2007-05-09

Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is a masterpiece in its harshness of theme in family and heritage. Lynne Thigpen's narration of this story gives the listener a sense of the time period and culture that only a minority woman who lived during this period can understand. Great for classroom use!!!

Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry.......2007-04-17

Roll of Thunder hear my Cry is a great book with heart touching parts. The narrator in the book is Cassie Logan. She tells the stories on horrible things some boys do in her neighborhood. The is the time of segregation. Cassie tells how her family is losing some of the land and how one of her brother's friends is in a whole lot of trouble.

Average customer rating:

Thunder Cake
Thundercake
Thundercake
Ariella Saltzman
Mom's best friend

Thunder Cake
Patricia Polacco
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0698115813

Customer Reviews:

Thunder Cake.......2007-05-12

This is a wonderful book ! My grandaughter's teacher had the kids read it in class. I made a thunder cake and took it in for the class when they were done. The receipe is in the back of the book. They loved it and it was a lot of fun. Also, a good book for children afraid of thunder storms. I highly recommend it.

Thundercake.......2006-04-23

I Love This Book! I read it to my Toddler daycare class and they were so into this book. It held their attention. Now when they hear thunder they want to make a thundercake.

Thundercake.......2006-01-12

Patricia Polacco did a wonderful job on this book! The illustrations were very helpful to teach the setting of a story. This was also an educational link to teach along with weather. My students loved this book and comprehended it very well because each student was very interested in the story line. I would suggest to any elementary teacher to integrate this book within their literature or science lesson in some sort of way.

Ariella Saltzman.......2005-11-15

I love Patricia Polacco's books, especially this one. I enjoyed this book immensely. She writes about herself as a little girl, visiting her grandmother in Michigan. As a little girl, Polacco was terrified of thunderstorms. In this book, she recalls her times with her grandmother, Babushka. Through her detailed description of her time spent with her Babushka, the reader feels as if he/she is walking along side Polacco as a little girl and her grandmother, right before a storm. The reader is cheering Polacco on, as her grandmother helps her get over her fears of the storm.
Through Polacco's strong vocabulary, she describes the extent of the thunderstorm. She uses words such as bellowed and sultry, which are great words to teach children. Polacco shows the reader a loving relationship between granddaughter and grandmother. Children can relate to both being afraid of something and have a close relationship with a grandmother. This loving book is made even better with Polacco's fun illustrations. The faces of the characters are so detailed, that it is easy for a reader to see how the character is feeling without even reading the words.
I would recommend all of Patricia Polacco's books, but this one is one of my favorites. Many kids are afraid of thunderstorms and this book is a great book to help children overcome their fears of thunder, or any other fear.

Mom's best friend.......2005-11-10

Our daughter was petrified of all loud noises, especially thunder. We found this book and it became her favorite. Every approaching storm she would go get her book. We even made the cake several times. It was delicious! This book helped her thru some very scary stuff and she always smiled when we finished. For parents of thunder-scared children, I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Brava ,Thunder Bunny!
a beautiful story for children and grown-ups
"Oh my."
My granddaughter loved it!
Peek-a-blue courage, imagination and well being.

Thunder Bunny

Manufacturer: Philomel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0399220356
Release Date: 2007-02-01

Book Description

Thunder Bunny was a surprise. She was the last and littlest one. But there was something about her . . . just something.

Thunder Bunny is a poetic and stunningly simple story of one most unusual bunny who comes out of the blue—and discovers who she is.

In exquisite collage, Barbara Helen Berger brings life to this remarkable and original story that celebrates the spirit and courage of even the smallest. Like Berger's classic Grandfather Twilight, a story to remember.

Customer Reviews:

Brava ,Thunder Bunny!.......2007-04-21

Babara Helen Berger, author of the beloved GRANDFATHER TWILIGHT, A LOT OF OTTERS,ALL THE WAY TO LHASA and five other picture books, has done it again. This simply told story of a small blue bunny is a celebration of adventure, courage and discovery. After her journey into the dark storm clouds, Thunder Bunny recognizes that she is part of the blue "that is always there, no matter what." And, it is, oh, so satisfying that this change in her is lovingly appreciated by her entire family. Using a technique of cut and torn paper refined with acrylic, the illustrations of this amazing bunny and her vividly colored world surrounds the reader with warmth, beauty and a sense of wonder. Lovely!

a beautiful story for children and grown-ups.......2007-04-19

Like all of Ms Berger's books, the illustrations are exquisite, gentle and enthralling to children and adults of any age. This lovely book is about an awareness that each of us experience being different, and yet prevailing, in a sometimes harsh world, through trial and persistence to an understanding that we are fine because we can identify with the unseen and unspoken sacredness in all life. Thunder Bunny knew she came from the sky - even if her siblings did not - "I am the blue, and the blue is me!" Her inner strength guided her with courage and purpose.
When Thunder Bunny's Mama looks at her, completely without judgment, and says "Oh My" - she recognizes something precious here, as we do with all our children.
My 3 ½ year old grandson and I read this book over and over during a recent visit... he loved it as much as I did!

"Oh my.".......2007-04-05

In the first place, the age suggested for this book is wrong. It should be 2-15 years, being a perfect read-aloud for very small children - "I am a rumble bunny ... a Thun-Thun -THUNDER Bunny!" - and the kind of book that older children take out and look at reminiscently in secret for its lovely inspiration.
Berger's brief stories and pictures follow the direct line of children's associations, which makes them seem skewed to adult minds complicated by much data. If the smallest bunny in a toast-colored litter "came out of the blue" and is blue, it is a logical progression for her to be The Blue, as little Thunder Bunny discovers, to her glowing delight.
The illustrations are a departure for Berger, being mainly torn paper collage, with a little paint as appropriate here and there, instead of the watercolors and acrylics of her earlier books. The effect is as fresh and original as the story itself, entirely charming.

My granddaughter loved it!.......2007-04-05

Thunder Bunny is a big hit with my 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story is sweet and imaginative. We had fun imitating the rumbling of the thunder together!

Peek-a-blue courage, imagination and well being. .......2007-03-31

Barbara Helen Berger creates a magical world where a blue bunny, the same color as the sky into which she flies, leaves the security and safety of that which she knows, rides the wind into and through dark clouds, reaches the glorious blue sky and then returns to the love and warmth of her family.

Ms. Berger's words and lovely images paint a picture of what it means to live an active, hopeful, courageous life, willing to ride on the wind to and through darkness to a place where one's life, one's very being, glows.

A Teaching Guide to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Discovering Literature)

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Great
Study Guide "Roll of Thunder,Hear My Cry"
A Teaching Guide to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Discovering Literature)
Excellent Teacher Source

A Teaching Guide to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Discovering Literature)
Jeanette Machoian
Manufacturer: Garlic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reading | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0931993946

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2007-03-08

This book helped my immensely when I taught Roll of Thunder in middle school.

Study Guide "Roll of Thunder,Hear My Cry".......2006-03-21

Very helpful and useful guide for this novel.

A Teaching Guide to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Discovering Literature).......2006-03-03

Excellent resource. I have many resource booklets, but this one is my favorite. It has many activities that follow my curriculum guidelines and creative ideas for exteding the lessons.

Excellent Teacher Source.......2001-06-18

I love the DISCOVERING LITERATURE SERIES! There are questions for every chapter, a chapter synopsis ...tests (multiple choice, vocabulary, essay), and several student worksheets.

Average customer rating:

Joe Anderson's review
Not Very Good
LONG UNDESCRIPTIVE BOOK
Early Thunder -Jean Fritz
It's okay, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Early Thunder
Jean Fritz
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140322590

Book Description

In this engrossing novel set in Salem in 1774, a young boy must learn to make the decisions of a man. Daniel West is faced with questions of patriotic loyalty; follow his journey from loyalty to the king, to dangerous confrontations with British troops, to proud support for his new country.

Customer Reviews:

Joe Anderson's review .......2006-10-13

I liked this book very much because it was about the Revolutionary War and I'm very interested in that

Danial West has trouble figuring out whether he is a whig ( unloyal to the king ) or a Tory ( loyal to the king ). He is so sick of those liberty gifts,rotten eggs and anything nasty, the liberty boys puts on his porch. "It's the eve of the revolution and Danial must make the most crucial decision of his life."

This book would only be liked by people who love American history, like me. It's not really whether you're a boy or girl, but this story is about a boy so boys might like it better. If I were to rate this book 1 to 10 on its difficulty level with1 being the easiest and 10 being the hardest book I've ever read, Id rate it a 7.

Not Very Good.......2003-12-10

I did not like this book. It was terrible. It was very very boring. I would not recommend it. Do not waste your money on it.

LONG UNDESCRIPTIVE BOOK.......2003-11-06

I thought the book moved very, very slowly. I like action, adventure, and/or survival books. This was not any. I don't read much and this is the kind of book that makes me not want to read. I read the back, looked at the cover, and thought it had to be one of those. I thought Daniel would run into trouble more than he did. I thought there would be more action and excitement. The book isn't even a good for telling you what it was like in the 1800's. The book didn't go into enough detail in anything (except that new governor.) I would suggest pick it up from the library, and if you really do like it then buy it.

Early Thunder -Jean Fritz.......2003-10-24

This book is about a 13 year old boy named daniel who must make the choice of a lifetime.He must decide between whig and tory ,tory meaning loyalist to britian and whig meaning patriot.This book is a very good historic-fiction book it includes many good facts and many made up interesting parts,so if you like historical fiction than this is the book for you.

It's okay, but I wouldn't recommend it........2002-12-09

Early Thunder is about a boy, Daniel West, who is caught in the middle of the battle between Tories and Whigs during the American Revolution. It wasn't the best book I ever read, and as another reviewer mentioned, it has a slow start. The book is mostly centered on Daniel's personal conflict, so if you are looking for action, you won't find it here.

Customer Reviews:

A Fun Read.......2007-04-14

Although I'm in high school, I recently reread the book and found it refreshing. It's not very sophisticated, but it is a nice and informative read about a field biologist's work. Also, Jacob's reactions to events in his life were quite... intriguing, to say the least.

One of my favorites.......2007-01-21

I met the author, Roland Smith, when he visited my elementary school years ago, and he made such an impact on me that I have never forgotten him or this book. I have re-read it at least half a dozen times, and the imagery and fantastic plot and message make this one of my all-time favorite books from my childhood. The great thing is that he really knows his stuff- he's worked with animals for years and traveled around the world, so his stories have an authentic feel rather than I'm-pretending-to-know-what-I'm-talking-about-but-really-don't. I would easily recommend this to any kid interested in a well written adventure and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Thunder Cave.......2006-12-21

What would you do if your mom died, and your Dad did not even know about it? Then your step Dad was going to send you away to your closest relatives really far away. Thunder Cave is the first book in a three book series, about a young teenager who was in a similar situation. The boy had a lot of courage, love and friendship that was beautifully written by Ronald Smith.
Thunder Cave is an emotional book about a boy named Jacob Lansa who is14 years old and from New York. His parents are separated and he lives with his Mom and her husband, Sam. His Dad is in Kenya helping the elephants survive the major drought. After his mother dies from a car accident Jacob has nowhere else to go because Sam is leaving. Sam tries to send Jacob to Nebraska to his closest relatives. But Jacob decided he wanted to be with his Dad. His Dad couldn't be reached, so he went on a courageous journey to Kenya on his own. He went through tough times. He got mugged, he runs low on money and he almost dies. But all of a sudden a remarkable friend came along and helped him. His friend was like rope that he held on to forever. Together they encountered elephant poachers who wanted to kill them. They also had to perform a rain dance to make it rain because of the drought.
Thunder Cave is one of the best books I have ever read. I liked it because no matter what happened to Jake he never gave up. I would recommend it to anybody who likes action and adventure books because it takes Jacob on an adventure that he and you will never forget.

the best book ever.......2006-09-18

this is a great book! this storey took place in kenya africa. a boy named jacoob lansa is looking for his father dr. robert lansa a feild biologist trying to save the african elephants. when jacoob nearly dies an african native man named supeet finds jacoob and helps jacoob find his dad! great book!!!

Eye Opener.......2006-02-14

This book is a total eye opener. I recommend it to all readers my age. It's a total surprise. You'll be glued to the book as you turn each page. This exciting book will be one of your favorites. I read his other Crypted Book Sasquatch and it was amazing.

Average customer rating:

Take a Trip With River Thunder
The Great River
river thunder
river thunder
River Thunder Book Review

River Thunder
Will Hobbs
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0440226813
Release Date: 1999-02-09

Book Description

Jessie, Troy, and the rest of the crew from Downriver have returned to the Grand Canyon for adventure down the Colorado River. In the year since they last were together, each has changed; each feels more mature. But how will they interact now that they are facing new challenges--challenges greater than anything they've had to deal with at home?

For Troy, it is a chance to prove he can be a team player, someone worthy of friendship and love. For Jessie, the river is the ultimate test. Does she have what it takes to row down the mighty Colorado? The only way to find out is to get into the raft and set off to face the thundering rapids and the powerful emotions that the river unleashes.

Customer Reviews:

Take a Trip With River Thunder.......2007-06-14

"They are calling it a flood, some of the highest water anyone's ever seen." This was a quote at a very on the edge of your set. They were just about to go down the river when they hired one of the other groups talking about the river level.
River thunder is a book that will keep you on the edge of your set. There are 6 teenage kids that are going down the Grand Canyon. Jessie, Troy, Adam, Star, Rita, and Pug were the kids that were the main characters in this book. Jessie was one of the people that was rowing one of the boats, Troy was the other person that was rowing the other boat. Rita was kind of like the tuff girl. Pug was the trouble maker of the group. Adam was a karate person. Then there was Star that was the down to earth girl that was a hippy.
This book was mainly about trust and friendship. In The River Thunder it shows that trust is one of the most important things is because you have to trust each other in order to make it down the river in one peace.
The reason that I like this book is because that it always keeps you on the edge of your set you will never won't to put the book down. This is one of the best books that I have read, it is the only book that I have read this year. If you are a person that likes adventure then this book is for you. I don't like to read but when I started to read this book I could not put it down.

The Great River.......2006-04-24

I read the book River Thunder by Will Hobbs. It's about a girl named Jessie, her friends and she took a trip on down to Lee's Ferry to ride the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Her friends and she went down about a year ago and never got to ride the river, so this time they can't wait. They took off on down the river and everything was calm. About two days later down the river is where they ran into trouble. You are going to have to read the rest of this book to find out what happens.
The part that was one of my favorite parts was when they started down river with all their supplies because I was amazed how much stuff they took with them.
I would recommend this book to somebody that likes the outdoors and have read other books by Will Hobbs. You should like this book if you liked the other books Will Hobbs has written. This book at the beginning is a little boring.

river thunder.......2006-01-30

River Thunder by will hobbs is written as as a realistic fiction. Its about some friends that go white water rafting in the calorado river. Jessie is the main character and has to overcome her fears of flipping over in her raft.
The plot of the story is to try to liver going through the big rapids at record levels. If one of them were to get flipped over they would iether die or get siriuosly hurt.
I liked this book and think it would be good for 5-7th graders. I liked it because i always thought it would be cool to go white water rafting and beacause it is an action adventure book.

river thunder.......2006-01-11

If you are one of those people who do not like adventure books, I would suggest you stop reading my review. But if you like those kinds of books keep reading-I have a wonderful surprise.

This is a great book about teamwork. Six kids want to go to the Grand Canyon to go white water rafting. They want to run the big rapids: Granite, Hermit, Crystal and Lava Falls on the Colorado River. Jessie (the main character) has always dreamed of this adventure. In the end the river will be very challenging.

In this book there is much suspense, whether they will survive or DIE. I think will Hobbs is my favorite author now that I have read so many of his books. I think the end of the book is great and nothing could be changed from my standpoint. But if you are craving some adventure you should read this book.

Will Hobbs does not look like a very adventurous man. But I can tell you one thing he writes a GREAT adventure book. He has a whole series of great books some greater than others, but I like them all. He also wrote Downriver the companion for River Thunder. If you like this book you definitely need to read more of his books.

River Thunder Book Review.......2005-11-26

The Grand Canyons, known for its thrashing waters, outrageous falls, and destructive obstacles, will put two young, yet skilled rafters and their friends on the ultimate test for survival. River Thunder, written by Will Hobbs, is probably one of the most thrilling and adventurous tales ever told. Jessie, the narrator and also one of the main characters, tells an amazing story about when she receives an invitation from a good friend from the past, Al. Knowing that she would never reject this chance of a lifetime, he sent a letter requesting her to participate in a breath-talking boat trip through the Great Canyon. But little do they know, this whole trip was a set up. What will happen next?
After receiving the invite, Jessie quickly packs up her personal belongings and ruches over to the Grand Canyon. Soon after her arrival, she finds all of her friends from the last trip there too, Pug, Star, and Rita. As they were chatting away, one of them suddenly spot Troy, the disastrous cause of their last trip, walking towards them, everyone turned quiet. Troy later reveals that he had sent the letters provoking them to come because he wanted to make it up to them because of the last trip. Everyone agreed on one condition, he had to change his snobby attitude. Later joined by Adam, another one of last trip's members, the crew has to pull together, cooperate, and complete the task as one.
Along their trip, they meet a tourist group let by a few professional rafters called the Canyon Magic. After, Jessie becomes friends with Kate, the leader of Canyon Magic. Kate says that they should look out for each other and if Jessie and her friends have any problems, just tell them. Jessie learned a lot of new techniques from Canyon Magic, new moves, new facts, and lots of other important things.
Although Jessie has a few bails, she still keeps her spirit high but to complete the course will not only take that, they will all need courage. Jessie once said that, if sound of the river thunder could kill, they would already be dead. The story grows more intense, things change, and secrets reveal themselves.
I would recommend River Thunder to the people who like stories that are full of action and adventures. I finished this book in a very short period of time because every chapter ends in an intense moment and it is impossible to put that bookmark into the book. In my spare time, I would always take out this book and read, although television is my main entertainment resource. Everybody knows River Thunder, because this book is truly amazing.

10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENT WORK - WELL PRESENTED
In short, everything a young researcher needs to know about the war
Richie's Picks: 10,000 DAYS OF THUNDER

10,000 Days of Thunder: A History of the Vietnam War
Philip Caputo
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Military & Wars | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0689862318

Book Description

It was the war that lasted ten thousand days. The war that inspired scores of songs. The war that sparked dozens of riots. And in this stirring chronicle, Pulitzer Prize- winning journalist Philip Caputo writes about our country's most controversial war -- the Vietnam War -- for young readers. From the first stirrings of unrest in Vietnam under French colonial rule, to American intervention, to the battle at Hamburger Hill, to the Tet Offensive, to the fall of Saigon, 10,000 Days of Thunder explores the war that changed the lives of a generation of Americans and that still reverberates with us today.

Included within 10,000 Days of Thunder are personal anecdotes from soldiers and civilians, as well as profiles and accounts of the actions of many historical luminaries, both American and Vietnamese, involved in the Vietnam War, such as Richard M. Nixon, General William C. Westmoreland, Ho Chi Minh, Joe Galloway, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lyndon B. Johnson, and General Vo Nguyen Giap. Caputo also explores the rise of Communism in Vietnam, the roles that women played on the battlefield, the antiwar movement at home, the participation of Vietnamese villagers in the war, as well as the far-reaching impact of the war's aftermath.

Caputo's dynamic narrative is highlighted by stunning photographs and key campaign and battlefield maps, making 10,000 Days of Thunder THE consummate book on the Vietnam War for kids.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT WORK - WELL PRESENTED.......2006-09-07

This work is a quick view of the Vietnam War. The photography is excellent and the author has done an great job explaining several different aspects of this particular war. Our children (in my case grandchildren) need to know of this conflict and what this country went through during those times. War is bad and our children should know this. Each generation seems to have it's own war and perhaps if we start teaching our children early enough, they may, lets hope, be able to avoid thier own someday in the future. Having been in this particular one, I did feel the author treated the material rather well, and tried, with the limited space here, to give a fare account of what happend, when it happened, and why. Recommend this one highly.

In short, everything a young researcher needs to know about the war.......2005-12-14

Kids in grades 5-7 will find 10,000 Days Of Thunder to be a readily accessible survey of the Vietnam War which explores a war which lasted ten thousand days, sparking riots and controversy across America. Here are anecdotes from soldier and civilians, profiles of the actions of leaders, antiwar movements, and sidebars of quick facts paired with full-page maps, black and white and some color photos, and a dynamic coverage of key campaigns and battles: in short, everything a young researcher needs to know about the war.

Richie's Picks: 10,000 DAYS OF THUNDER.......2005-12-05

"Last electric Sunday morning,
Waiting in the Park for the dawn."
--Paul Kantner (1970)

I arrived at the Park a little while past dawn on Sunday, greeted by vendors who were still setting up, and long lines of blue Porta-Potties that were standing shoulder to shoulder at attention. The morning prayer ritual was just about to commence.

Mayor Gavin Newsom had declared it "Chet Helms Day." We streamed into Speedway Meadows by the thousands to spend the day ingesting sights, smells, and musical sets provided by scores of aging musicians who'd played at Helms' Avalon Ballroom back in the Sixties. For me, having been slightly too young and on the wrong coast to have experienced those days first-hand, having snuck into a Long Island drive-in theater in high school (None of us had a car!) to see many of these same musicians (and some of the same audience members) captured in the Woodstock and Fillmore: The Last Days movies, Sunday served as community get-together, musical history lesson, dream fulfillment experience, and peace rally.

"Give me an F!" "F!"
"Give me a U!" "U!"
"Give me a C!" "C!"
"Give me an K!" "K!"
"What's that spell?"
"What's that spell?"
"What's that spell?"
"What's that spell?"
--Country Joe McDonald leading "The Fish Cheer," 10/30/2005

On the long crack-of-dawn bus ride down to San Franciso Sunday morning, I experienced Philip Caputo's 10,000 DAYS OF THUNDER: A HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR, a powerful record of the sights and significance of those days. As with the San Francisco music scene of the Sixties, I was just a couple of years too young to have needed to make any life-altering decisions regarding The Draft. But just as surely as I grew up listening to that music on the radio and seeing those movies at the drive-in and my first Dead show at the Nassau Coliseum, I also grew up experiencing the War.

But suddenly that War is so far in the past.

"Every year they say we're going to get right up to the present, but we always get stuck in the Industrial Revolution. We got to World War I in seventh grade--who knew there had been a war with the whole world."
--main character Melinda Sordino in Laurie Halse Anderson's, SPEAK

10,000 DAYS OF THUNDER is an incredibly timely book for adolescents who could well be looking war in the face in a few years. As a tenth-grade World History student standing in protest on the Capitol steps, listening to Phil Ochs and Coretta Scott King, I looked back at World War II which had ended a quarter-century earlier as if it were ancient history. For today's tenth-grade World History students, as the 2,000th American soldier falls in Iraq and Scooter Libby gets indicted as part of a tangled web of lies about the current War, the fall of Saigon is even further back into the past for them than Hiroshima was for me.

"The Vietnam War has three dubious distinctions: It was the longest and the most unpopular war in American history and the only war America ever lost."

Is it possible for a book about war to be beautiful? If so, this is that book. Designed with a large trim size, every right-hand page throughout the book contains a vivid close-up from the past of the children and adults who found themselves at the epicenter of this defining chapter in world and U.S. history. On the left-facing pages there is a combination of text, "Quick Facts," and smaller illustrations and graphics. The tale told by the text begins all the way back at the beginnings of Communism so that readers are provided with a real understanding of how it came to be that those of my generation watched filmed battle scenes and flag-draped coffins from halfway around the world on our childhood dinnertime news broadcasts.

Some of Caputo's "Quick Facts":

In 1954, following the French departure from Vietnam, President Eisenhower asked the army's chief of staff, General Matthew Ridgeway, to conduct a study of what American military aid would be needed to help the South Vietnamese defeat the Communists in Vietnam. Ridgeway reported that the United States would have to commit between 500,000 and 1 million men. President Eisenhower decided this was an impossible option, so instead chose to send minimal aid in the form of weapons, supplies, economic aid, and military and political advisors.

--Most troops arrived in Vietnam in airplanes. For many, the first memory of Vietnam was the 'wall' of intense heat combined with the pungent smells of sweat, dung, rotting vegetation, food, and smoke that would hit them the moment they stepped out of an airplane's cabin.

--A reliable evaluation of the number of Vietnamese people affected by Agent Orange is almost impossible. But a team of Canadian experts conducted an independent study of the contaminated regions in the Alvoi Valley in 1999. Their findings revealed that children born in sprayed areas were more than 8 times as likely to suffer hernias and more than 3 times as likely to have cleft palates, be mentally retarded, and have extra fingers and toes.

--The Selective Service System was composed of almost 4,000 local draft boards and staffed by unpaid volunteers, most of whom were white males who were veterans of earlier wars. A 1966 survey of 16,638 board members of the draft revealed that only 1.3 percent were African American.

--During the Vietnam War, U.S. Air Force bombers and fighter-bombers dropped an estimated 6.2 million tons of bombs. This amount, which does not include bombs dropped by U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and South Vietnamese aircraft, was almost 3 times the 2.2 million tons of bombs dropped in World War II.

As a kid I learned about those small lakes called kettle-holes that were created when a chunk of ice from one of the Ice Age glaciers that formed Long Island got stuck in the dirt and melted, leaving a round lake that still exists thousands of years later. There are areas on Long Island's South Fork where you see multiple kettle-holes near one another. One of the small-sized photographs included in Caputo's book shows an arial view of what appears to be a similar but much more intensive phenomenon in Vietnam. Only it was U.S. bombing that did the work of the epic glaciers.

There are so many of those "a-ha!" moments throughout 10,000 DAYS OF THUNDER.

"You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command"
--"Get Together," by the late Dino Valenti, as sung by his son and former bandmates, 10/30/2005

Philip Caputo's background as both a Pulitzer-winning journalist and a Vietnam Vet is consistently evidenced by the combination of wisdom, factual matter, and supporting materials that make 10,000 DAYS OF THUNDER both a great read and a great and essential teaching resource.

Thunder Rose (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)

Average customer rating:

Girls rule!
Wonderfully Written, A Classic!
a fun tall tale
Rave Review of Thunder Rose
Worth a second look

Thunder Rose (Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books)
Jerdine Nolen
Manufacturer: Silver Whistle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0152164723

Book Description

On a dark night of howling rain and booming thunder, Jackson and Millicent MacGruder welcome a new baby girl into their lives. Imagine their surprise when she sits up, thanks them for bringing her into the world, and informs them that she's quite partial to the name Rose.
So begins the story of Thunder Rose, who drinks her milk straight from the cow and prefers the company of her bull, Tater, to any kitten or puppy. Rose is capturing outlaws by the time she's a teenager, but she always has time to find joy in a song. Jerdine Nolen and Kadir Nelson have created a tall tale--and a powerful new African American heroine--to delight readers of all ages.

Customer Reviews:

Girls rule!.......2007-10-04

Everyone knows Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill.......now here comes a hero from literature's Tall Tales for the girls in your life. Thunder Rose is fun, funny and exhibits true "girl power".

Wonderfully Written, A Classic!.......2007-09-23

My son and I really enjoyed this book. We were lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book a couple of years ago at a NCTE conference. My son took it to class for "Book Day" and all the students enjoyed it too. What makes this book unique is that this is a tall tale about a young African American girl. It's a lesson to all children that heroes/heroines come in all sizes and colors!!

a fun tall tale.......2005-06-30

This is a good book for young children- especially young black girls. A strong heroine to breath fresh inspiration and courage to young minds. OK, and it's just fun to read and look at too!

Rave Review of Thunder Rose.......2005-02-10

Thunder Rose is a story of a young girl who displays characteristics that are bigger than life. The story starts with the reader finding out that Rose is born with the power of thunder and lightning coursing through her veins. This power gives her the ability to perform unimaginable tasks. For example, she is able to talk at the time of her birth, lift a cow my herself, twist scraps of metal with her bare hands, and stop a powerful tornado. Throughout the book there are on-going clues that allow the reader to see beyond the powers she displays on the outside to the person she is on the inside. The descriptive language and detailed illustrations keep the reader engaged and excited to reach the powerful ending.

Worth a second look.......2004-12-01

I disagree with E.Bird ... Thunder Rose is a gem! The story rises, falls and builds lyrically when read aloud to a young one (I think that actually reading the story out loud makes the difference). The strength of lightning and thunder in this young African-American cowgirl is inspiring, as are the illustrations. An excellent tall tale!

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