Wednesday, August 28, 2013

50th Anniversary!

This is one we both liked!
That's right, it is the 50th anniversary of  the 1963 civil rights March with Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.  According to the Associated Press article, "March to Focus on Continued Fight for Civil Rights," "Churches and groups have been asked to ring bells at 3 p.m. Wednesday, marking the exact time King spoke."

The Clock of Life would be a good one to read this week because it is a good historical coming of age novel that shows the racial tensions of the south.  The boy, Jason Lee, learns about his dad's bravery and courage to do the right thing bit by bit.  His dad died in the Vietnam war before he was born but is eager to learn all about him.  Jason Lee finds his dad's journal one day mixed in with a bunch of old books given to him by a friend of his dad's.  The journal relates the dad's experience in participating in the 1963 march even though he was white!

Here's a teaser from the book:
     "It's a tough thing to do in these parts, but you be friends with anyone you want, Jason Lee.  Don't let nobody tell you different, you hear?"  Her tone sounded like a scolding. 
     "I won't."
     "Your daddy got himself forty-seven stitches across the back of his shoulder.  And they threw him in jail to boot, just so you and boys like Samson could be friends."
From page 8 of The Clock of Life by Nancy Klann-Moren.

We are offering this first to my friends and blogging buddies (that's you!) before releasing this book "into the wild."  Just let me know if you would like to have it.  It's too good to just sit in our bookcase--it needs to be read!

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2 comments:

Sandee said...

I would love to read this book Karen. I would love it. I'm in.

Have a terrific day. Scritches to all the babies. ☺

BeadedTail said...

It does sound like a great book! It's good this anniversary is being recognized since his speech is still relevant today in so many ways.

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