This realistic fiction book is about Maya's life as a child and the hardships that she often faced. At a very young age Maya and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in a small town located in Arkansas. While growing up in Arkansas, Maya spends a lot of time in the general store that is owned by her grandmother. Maya faces racism and terrifying lynch mobs while living in Arkansas. For instance, when Maya was ten years old she gets a job and works for a white woman. The white woman decided that she didn't like the name "Maya" and calls her "Mary" instead. Another time that Maya faces racism is when she goes to the dentist for a rotten tooth. The dentist was very rude and insulting to Maya. He quotes, " I'd rather place my hand in a dog's mouth." Maya's grandmother fears for her grandchildren's safety and decides to send them to live with their mother who lives in California. Maya faces more pain and danger when moving in with her mother and her mother's boyfriend.
This book is one of the saddest books I have ever read because the situations that Maya faces are so devastating. She learns at such a young age that the world is full of nice people as well as people who are cruel and selfish. Although Maya goes through many struggles, she remains strong and has a strong faith in God. This book is a good book for middle school when students learn more about civil rights during history courses. The book will help students learn about the time period when segregation and lynching occurred. It will help them realize the pain and suffering that happened. It will also help students realize that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. She had a lot of bad things happen to her but she still followed her dream despite what others thought. She became focused in her studies, learned to love herself, and became a wonderful book author and poet. My big question for students would be...."Have you ever experienced yourself in a negative situation but had the strength to pull yourself out of it? How did the negative situation turn into a positive situation? How did your life change for the better?"
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