White Lilacs

by Carolyn Meyer

Overview

Young Rose Lee Jefferson is shocked to learn that the white residents of Dillon, Texas, want to raze the city’s black enclave, Freedomtown, and build a park in its place. Rose Lee and the other residents of Freedomtown cannot bear the thought of losing their homes. But fighting the city’s plans could be costly—or even life threatening. Will the families of Freedomtown be able to save their thriving community?
    
Includes a reader's guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780152058517
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	01/01/2007
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	265,725
Product dimensions:	4.50(w) x 7.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	990L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Carolyn Meyer  is the acclaimed author of more than fifty books for young people. Her many award-winning novels include Mary, Bloody Mary, an ABA Pick of the Lists, an NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Anastasia: The Last Grand Duchess, a New York Times bestseller; White Lilacs, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an NYPL Best Book for the Teen Age, and an IRA Young Adults' Choice; and Marie, Dancing, a BookSense Pick. Ms. Meyer lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Visit her website at www.readcarolyn.com.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Meyer's writing style is accessible and engaging, making this a good read or an easy curriculum connection to the multicultural mainstream."—Booklist

Editorial Reviews

"Meyer's writing style is accessible and engaging, making this a good read or an easy curriculum connection to the multicultural mainstream."—Booklist

From the Publisher

Carolyn Meyer has taken a kernel of history and imagined a most moving elaboration and yet another memorable female protagonist. Rose Lee Jefferson draws each house in Freedomtown, including her grandfather's, which contains the extraordinary garden where the rare white lilacs grow, to create an illustrated historical record before the town is literally moved away. During the 1920s, the residents of Denton, Texas-the white, voting residents, that is-actually did move an African-American community to make room for a city park. The novel contrasts the lives of Rose Lee and her relatives with those of the white family for whom they work. This is a realistic portrayal of the precarious existence of African-Americans in the South and how their sense of community and faith helps them survive. Varying attitudes towards segregation are reflected in the actions of both segments of the town, and unlikely heroes emerge. Meyer gives us believable characters and a good story which will give middle school and high school readers a greater understanding of the human drama in American history.

The ALAN Review - Michaeline Chance-Reay