Our storyteller is Gabriel.  He’s a nice boy from a small southern town.  The year is 1946.  Being 12, Gabriel is out on his first adventure on his new bicycle and next thing he knows, Meriwether is saving his life.  Starting a friendship that will perhaps change his life, Meriwether teaches him a few life lessons like seeing life through two sets of eyes (more if possible), don’t judge a person by the color of their skin but by their character, and sometimes it’s ok to just keep quiet.  Meriwether is an African American man and Gabriel is Caucasian so their friendship is an unusual thing for the time but Gabriel’s parents have taught him to respect all people.  Dealing with segregation isn’t a gentle topic; however, the author has dealt with it in a way that opens the eyes of the reader to the emotions of it rather than just the bold ugliness of it.

Brenda Woods has written a sweet book that’s hard to put down.  Taking the reader through a gambit of emotions like cheering kindness, anger at racism, and applauding hard work, this story is full of foundational life lessons that could make us better people if we take a moment to learn from them.  One of the most beautiful things brought to life is the need for respect for the African American soldiers who fought for their country in WWII.  Unfortunately, there was also hostility and cruelty toward the same men who lost life and limb for the country they loved.  The characters are well-developed and the pacing flows like a gentle creek.  Perhaps, before the reader realizes it, the story will have ended.  The setting is well described throughout the entire book but there is more emphasis on the people and their interactions than the places they live.  The author, Brenda Woods, has written seven additional books.  If the other seven are like this book, they will also be worth checking out. 

Review of an Advance Reading Copy

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Nancy Paulsen Books

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None 

Violence/Gore:  A 12-yr-old boy almost gets in a wreck with a car, he was banged up a little but no blood or broken bones; a Caucasian man spits on the shoe of an African American man; a Momma tells the story of her African American son who was in the Navy, he was killed in an explosion getting other soldiers to safety; mention of a soldier who returned home and evil men gouged his eyes out because he was an African American soldier; somebody put a diamondback rattlesnake in a gift wrapped box and left it for an African American child; one man threatens another man with a pipe; a man drops dead of a heart attack.

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

The KKK, WWII, death of soldiers during WWII, racial discrimination.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

None