26 February 2001 THE LAND, by Mildred D. Taylor, Phyllis Fogelman Books, September 2001

Shortly after I set out walking toward Fern Place School for my first day of kindergarten, a boy my age whom I'd never seen before crossed the road, stopped on the sidewalk in front of me, and declared "I hate you!" That boy became my best friend for the next few years, until my parents eventually moved us to a different town.

I recalled this incident this morning after staying up all night reading the exciting surprise that UPS delivered yesterday: an advance copy of THE LAND, by Mildred D. Taylor, a prequel to her beloved Newbery Medal winner, ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY. Thousands of teachers across the country who teach ROLL OF THUNDER (many of whom grew up reading it), along with today's young fans of Mildred Taylor, will be bowled over by this new addition to the Logan legacy. I found it to be the most powerful book of the series.

In ROLL OF THUNDER Big Ma briefly tells Cassie the story of how the family came to own the land on which Cassie lives. Both Caroline and Cassie's father, David, pass on to her the importance of the land, and, indeed, in the last lines of ROLL OF THUNDER Cassie states: "I cried for T.J. For T.J. and the land."

THE LAND is the story of Paul Edward Logan, the paternal grandfather of Cassie. It is also the story of Caroline Logan (whom we know as Big Ma). This is a tale of the harshness of life in the South during Reconstruction, particularly when you're considered neither black enough nor white enough. It is a celebration of hard work and family and setting your sights on a goal. It is also a powerful story of friendship, which is why I'm sitting here quietly thinking about the friendships I've had in my life.

The last third of THE LAND recounts Paul Edward's discovery of the perfect piece of land and his determination, in the face of the ugly white hatred of that time, to acquire it.

But above all THE LAND is the story of two very different young men, born at the end of slavery, who have grown up on the same plantation and have slowly crafted a friendship which becomes closer than the bond between brothers.

This is one of those times that I'll say no more so as not to spoil the opportunity for you which I just had--to spend all night reading one of the best stories you'll get your hands on this year.

Richie Partington

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