



The Rock and the River
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4.3 • 38 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award winner
In this “taut, eloquent first novel” (Booklist, starred review), a young Black boy wrestles with conflicting notions of revolution and family loyalty as he becomes involved with the Black Panthers in 1968 Chicago.
The Time: 1968
The Place: Chicago
For thirteen-year-old Sam, it’s not easy being the son of known civil rights activist Roland Childs. Especially when his older (and best friend), Stick, begins to drift away from him for no apparent reason. And then it happens: Sam finds something that changes everything forever.
Sam has always had faith in his father, but when he finds literature about the Black Panthers under Stick’s bed, he’s not sure who to believe: his father or his best friend. Suddenly, nothing feels certain anymore.
Sam wants to believe that his father is right: You can effect change without using violence. But as time goes on, Sam grows weary of standing by and watching as his friends and family suffer at the hands of racism in their own community. Sam beings to explore the Panthers with Stick, but soon he’s involved in something far more serious—and more dangerous—than he could have ever predicted. Sam is faced with a difficult decision. Will he follow his father or his brother? His mind or his heart? The rock or the river?
Customer Reviews
So amazing!
I think this is Kekla Magoon’s best novel ever! The whole story made me so thankful we don’t have as much as a divide between white and African American people any more! The book is beautifully written and is definitely far up there on my list of favorite literature!
Amazing'
Amazing book but that ending oh good grief....
best
this book is 1 of the best books i have ever read