Overview

Illustrated by Gregory Christie. A telling of the true story of the renowned black American writer and his determination to borrow books from the public library that turned him away because of the colour of his skin. Illustrated throughout in full colour. Ages 3-9.

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9781880000885

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Reviews

This fictionalized version of an incident of the life of the African American author is a moving account of a scene recounted in Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy. Written simply and powerfully, and accompanied by quiet but emotionally charged illustrations, this book makes the story of a young black man's struggle for the right to read in a southern city during the early decades of this century easily accessible for young readers. -- Booklinks Miller focuses his story on the stirring final chapters of Wright's autobiography Black Boy (1945), in which he describes his struggle to get books from the whites-only library in Memphis. Christie's powerful impressionistic paintings in acrylic and colored pencil show the harsh racism in the Jim Crow South... There are also strong portraits of Wright reading avidly through the night, lost in the world of books. -- Booklist An episode from the autobiography of Richard Wright is skillfully fictionalized, resulting in a suspenseful and gratifying story about the power of reading... A challenging endeavor, and an accomplished one. -- Kirkus Reviews In 1920s Memphis, the young man who would become a great American writer could not borrow books from the whites-only library. Ultimately, Wright forged his own passage to Dickens and Tolstoy: Miller's transcendent account of this moment is memorable indeed. -- Smithsonian Magazine Richard Wright and the Library Card is the perfect book for teachers, librarians, and even parents to read to their children and discuss the wonderful opportunities that come with having a library card... I love historical fiction, and this book did not leave me disappointed. Mr. Miller tells Richard's story in such a way that it is enjoyable and entertaining for children. As I read it, I found myself feeling sorry for Richard; no one should be deprived of the joy of reading, especially when it is a great personal desire... This book is well written and would open up a lot of great discussion in the classroom and at home. -- Write for a Reader

Miller focuses his story on the stirring final chapters of Wright's autobiography Black Boy (1945), in which he describes his struggle to get books from the whites-only library in Memphis. Christie's powerful impressionistic paintings in acrylic and colored pencil show the harsh racism in the Jim Crow South... There are also strong portraits of Wright reading avidly through the night, lost in the world of books. -- Booklist An episode from the autobiography of Richard Wright is skillfully fictionalized, resulting in a suspenseful and gratifying story about the power of reading... A challenging endeavor, and an accomplished one. -- Kirkus Reviews This fictionalized version of an incident of the life of the African American author is a moving account of a scene recounted in Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy. Written simply and powerfully, and accompanied by quiet but emotionally charged illustrations, this book makes the story of a young black man's struggle for the right to read in a southern city during the early decades of this century easily accessible for young readers. -- Booklinks In 1920s Memphis, the young man who would become a great American writer could not borrow books from the whites-only library. Ultimately, Wright forged his own passage to Dickens and Tolstoy: Miller's transcendent account of this moment is memorable indeed. -- Smithsonian Magazine Richard Wright and the Library Card is the perfect book for teachers, librarians, and even parents to read to their children and discuss the wonderful opportunities that come with having a library card... I love historical fiction, and this book did not leave me disappointed. Mr. Miller tells Richard's story in such a way that it is enjoyable and entertaining for children. As I read it, I found myself feeling sorry for Richard; no one should be deprived of the joy of reading, especially when it is a great personal desire... This book is well written and would open up a lot of great discussion in the classroom and at home. -- Write for a Reader Honor Book Award, Society of School Librarians International Outstanding Title, Parent Council

"""Miller focuses his story on the stirring final chapters of Wright's autobiography Black Boy (1945), in which he describes his struggle to get books from the whites-only library in Memphis. Christie's powerful impressionistic paintings in acrylic and colored pencil show the harsh racism in the Jim Crow South. . . There are also strong portraits of Wright reading avidly through the night, lost in the world of books."" -- Booklist ""An episode from the autobiography of Richard Wright is skillfully fictionalized, resulting in a suspenseful and gratifying story about the power of reading. . . A challenging endeavor, and an accomplished one."" -- Kirkus Reviews ""This fictionalized version of an incident of the life of the African American author is a moving account of a scene recounted in Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy. Written simply and powerfully, and accompanied by quiet but emotionally charged illustrations, this book makes the story of a young black man's struggle for the right to read in a southern city during the early decades of this century easily accessible for young readers."" -- Book Links ""In 1920s Memphis, the young man who would become a great American writer could not borrow books from the whites-only library. Ultimately, Wright forged his own passage to Dickens and Tolstoy: Miller's transcendent account of this moment is memorable indeed."" -- Smithsonian Magazine ""Richard Wright and the Library Card is the perfect book for teachers, librarians, and even parents to read to their children and discuss the wonderful opportunities that come with having a library card... I love historical fiction, and this book did not leave me disappointed. Mr. Miller tells Richard's story in such a way that it is enjoyable and entertaining for children. As I read it, I found myself feeling sorry for Richard; no one should be deprived of the joy of reading, especially when it is a great personal desire... This book is well written and would open up a lot of great discussion in the classroom and at home."" -- Write for a Reader Outstanding Title - Parent Council, Ltd."

An episode from the autobiography of Richard Wright is skillfully fictionalized, resulting in a suspenseful and gratifying story about the power of reading. Growing up in the South in the 1920s, Wright was eager to learn to read, but barred from using libraries because of his race. When he was 17, he went alone to Memphis, where he convinced a white man, Jim Falk, to lend him his library card (so that he could check out books by pretending to get them for Falk). There is a perceptible sense of danger as the librarian (a caricature) quizzes him, and triumph when a whole new world is opened to Wright, who is shown reading all night. While background details are softened and colored boy is the worst epithet in the book, the book is true to the essence of the events described. Christie's illustrations complement the text; he concentrates on the characters' faces and allows other details to remain less distinct. Readers see Wright's expression change, from when he is alone and most himself, to when he must put on a mask to be safe, to avoid confronting white people. A challenging endeavor, and an accomplished one. (Kirkus Reviews)

Miller focuses his story on the stirring final chapters of Wright's autobiography Black Boy (1945), in which he describes his struggle to get books from the whites-only library in Memphis. Christie's powerful impressionistic paintings in acrylic and colored pencil show the harsh racism in the Jim Crow South... There are also strong portraits of Wright reading avidly through the night, lost in the world of books. -- Booklist An episode from the autobiography of Richard Wright is skillfully fictionalized, resulting in a suspenseful and gratifying story about the power of reading... A challenging endeavor, and an accomplished one. -- Kirkus Reviews This fictionalized version of an incident of the life of the African American author is a moving account of a scene recounted in Richard Wright's autobiography, Black Boy. Written simply and powerfully, and accompanied by quiet but emotionally charged illustrations, this book makes the story of a young black man's struggle for the right to read in a southern city during the early decades of this century easily accessible for young readers. -- Booklinks In 1920s Memphis, the young man who would become a great American writer could not borrow books from the whites-only library. Ultimately, Wright forged his own passage to Dickens and Tolstoy: Miller's transcendent account of this moment is memorable indeed. -- Smithsonian Magazine Richard Wright and the Library Card is the perfect book for teachers, librarians, and even parents to read to their children and discuss the wonderful opportunities that come with having a library card... I love historical fiction, and this book did not leave me disappointed. Mr. Miller tells Richard's story in such a way that it is enjoyable and entertaining for children. As I read it, I found myself feeling sorry for Richard; no one should be deprived of the joy of reading, especially when it is a great personal desire... This book is well written and would open up a lot of great discussion in the classroom and at home. -- Write for a Reader Honor Book Award, Society of School Librarians International Outstanding Title, Parent Council

Author Information

William Miller is the award-winning author of numerous books for children for Lee & Low. Mr. Miller lives in York, Pennsylvania, where he teaches African American literature and creative writing at York College. R. Gregory Christie is the recipient of numerous awards including a Caldecott Honor and six Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honors, and his books have been recognized by The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books list three times. He currently paints in the evenings while traveling around the country doing school visits. You can visit him online at gas-art.com.

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