From: HANSNELS at aol.com <HANSNELS>
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 16:36:17 EST

Greetings everyone,
    Events in the world touch you deeply when you are only thirteen years old. The image of Emmett Till as he lay in his coffin, face disfigured and swollen remains fixed in my brain. I saw the picture in Jet Magazine--and never forgot it because he was a child, and so was I. I kept thinking why would someone do this to a kid? Only a fine poet like Marilyn Nelson could find the words that give voice to this young boy's short life.

I loved Maritcha, another wonderful work of non-fiction from Tonya Bolden. This biography of a free black girl growing up in a prominent black family before and after the Civil War is inspirational and informative.

Katie Kaminski asked whether A Day of Tears could be described as religious. I've just started reading it and am intrigued by the way Julius Lester is telling his story. Anytime you delve into the deep feelings and emotions of enslaved people in America, you will find a sustaining spirituality that enabled them to survive. In the very first chapter a character says, "This ain't rain. This is God's tears." Beautiful. Joyce Hansen
Received on Fri 17 Mar 2006 03:36:17 PM CST