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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor

Summary

Set in Mississippi at the height of the Depression, this is the story of one family's struggle to maintain their integrity, pride, and independence in the face of racism and social injustice. And, too, it is Cassie's story-Cassie Logan, an independent girl who discovers over the course of an important year why having land of their own is so crucial to the Logan family, even as she learns to draw strength from her own sense of dignity and self-respect.

276 pages, 5 grade and up

Discussion questions:

Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. How are the lives of the white and black children different in this novel? Make a list.
  2. When Cassie and her brothers are teased by the white children riding on a schoolbus, how do they feel?
  3. Why is it important when Cassie's mother changes the front of the books at school? How would it feel to have everything at your school be secondhand?
  4. How do Cassie and her family feel about having to "know their place"?
  5. Why is it dangerous to boycott the local store? Is it worth it?
  6. Why is land so important to the Logans?
  7. How does it make Cassie feel to have to wait in Barnett's store until after the white children are helped?
  8. Why do the adults, particularly the women fear the white 'night men'? Why do they react to trouble the way they do? Why was Mama so afraid when Hammer left the house?
  9. Why does Stacy continue being friends with TJ?
  10. Why did Papa tell the children it is not wise to have much to do with white people?
  11. How does Uncle Hammer's visit effect the family?
  12. Do you have hope for Cassie and her family in the end?
  13. After reading this book, do you want to read the other books in the Logan family series?

Activities

Research the origins of the Ku Klux Klan and "nightriders" and share with the group.

Portions of this discussion guide are credited to 100 Books for Girls to Grow On by Shireen Dodson. HarperCollins, 1998.

Created in part with funds granted by the Oregon State Library under the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library. Send feedback to Katie O'Dell, School-age Services Manager