Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade historical
• Originally Published: 1976
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 920L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 12 chapters; approximately 288 pages; approximately 7 hours, 28 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is set in the racially segregated American South during the Great Depression. The central conflict revolves around Cassie Logan, a nine-year-old Black girl, and her family as they confront racism, injustice, and economic hardship in their community. As they face various challenges including discrimination and violence, Cassie and her family draw strength from their unity and resilience. The novel demonstrates the effects of racial prejudice and social injustice and the power of family bonds.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Dated, insensitive, and racist language; racism, discrimination, and violence

Mildred D. Taylor, Author

• Bio: Born in 1943; American author known for her contributions to children’s and young adult literature, particularly for her exploration of African American history and experiences; celebrated for her many works, including the series of novels that revolve around the Logan family and their experiences in the American South
• Other Works: Song of the Trees (1975); Let the Circle Be Unbroken (1981); The Land (2001)
• Awards: Newbery Medal (1977); Coretta Scott King Honor Award (1977)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Racism and Violence in the United States
• Land and Power
• Family and Loyalty

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the economic and social contexts of land ownership that incite the Logan family conflict.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Racism and Violence in the United States, Land and Power, and Family and Loyalty.
• Conduct a close reading of an excerpt of the novel to analyze the author’s methods of characterization based on textual details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in essay responses regarding Cassie’s coming-of-age, relationships among characters, and other topics.