Loretta Little Looks Back

Starred review from July 1, 2020
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* The Pinkneys' latest collaboration (Martin Rising, 2018) comprises a series of dramatic monologues spotlighting three fictional members of the Little family whose experiences are based on the collective voices of African Americans living in the American South from the 1920s to the late 1960s. Twelve-year-old Loretta recounts growing up as a sharecropper's daughter in the 1920s: watching her father be disrespected by their landowner, being sprayed with insecticide while picking cotton, and losing her beloved father to cancer. Foundling Roland (Roly), raised as a much younger sibling by Loretta, recalls having his livestock poisoned, the difficulties of adhering to Jim Crow laws, and his night-deep vigils to protect his land. Daughter Aggie's soliloquies, set in the 1960s, highlight her participation in voter registration drives, her membership in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, and the group's eventual recognition at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. As always, Pinkney's writing sings, rich with metaphor, lyricism, and touches of magic realism. The choice of oral storytelling is inspired, both for its cultural significance and because it allows readers to empathize with these events. Stage notes, free verse poems, and black-and-white spot art introduce most monologues, effectively representing the characters and emphasizing their resilience. Generous back matter concludes this timely and important read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from August 15, 2020
Three members of the Little family, as preteens and teens, tell their personal and family stories. First, Loretta Little speaks, from 1927 to 1930, about her life picking cotton as a sharecropper, watching her father endure degradation under conditions that are less than completely free. Next, 'Retta's little brother, Roly, speaks from 1942 to 1950. The family now has their own small plot of land, but terrorists poison their animals to keep them in check. After this heartbreak, Roly finds love, marries, and has a child, Aggie B., the final narrator, who brings readers from 1962 to 1968. Aggie is the youngest volunteer in her town's voter-registration effort, helping Aunt 'Retta to study for the unfair test and then to save up pennies to pay the poll tax. She is beaten savagely by racists and attends the Democratic National Convention twice, giving readers a front-row seat to history. Author Pinkney's writing is alive with imagery; the unusual monologue format works ideally read aloud in pieces and offers rich opportunities for readers' theater. Each character presents an engaging contrast to the others, and the slow progress from Jim Crow days to the 1960s illuminates a little-examined piece of U.S. history while making it deeply personal. Illustrator Pinkney's grayscale paintings open and close chapters with rounded frames and expressive features, memorably connecting and highlighting the story's themes of family and land. Readers will hear the history come alive. (author's notes, illustrator's notes, photos, further reading) (Historical fiction. 9-14)

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Starred review from August 24, 2020
“Inspired by the collective voices of many,” the married cocreators incisively invoke oral tradition in fictionalized accounts of a Black family enduring
political and economic oppression under Jim Crow. In Mississippi, three dynamically rendered family members tell the stories of a changing society on the brink of change. Through a narrative running from 1927 to 1930, Loretta, the youngest daughter of sharecroppers, relates the casually
dehumanizing effect of an intentionally mispronounced name in stories about her hardworking father. In the 1940s, Loretta’s brother Roly, a foundling infant taken in by the Littles, grows up to be a sharecropper and landowner facing limitations similar to those that ruled his father’s life. And in the 1960s, Aggie B., Roly’s stubbornly independent daughter, takes up the cause of Black suffrage at the height of the civil rights era, detailing the dampening effect of hand-to-mouth poverty on political involvement. Selective incorporation of real-life historical figures (Emmett Till, Fannie Lou Hamer) and events (voter registration drives, Democratic National Conventions) lends authenticity to each narrator’s story, an ideal accompaniment to the lyricism woven throughout. Art adds elegant portraits of land and family to these vivid tales, and end notes offer historical context and further reading recommendations. Ages 8–12. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

Starred review from September 1, 2020

Gr 5 Up-Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B., members of the Little family, recount their lives through original first-person narratives, poetry, and spiritual hymns. The first to tell her story is Loretta Little, who is as strong as any adult and can box cotton with the best of them. Her life as a sharecropper's daughter imbues her with great strength, but is not without sacrifice. Next up is Roly, whose story begins when Loretta and her sisters find him abandoned in a field as a baby and raise him. He grows up with an affinity for nature and an intuition for what the farm animals and crops need. The last to tell her story is Aggie B., Roly's daughter, and the B stands for "bold." Even though she is young, she stands by her beliefs and feels it is her duty to help African Americans exercise their right to vote. Every character has a unique voice and an engaging presence. From the first page, readers are invested in these characters' journeys as they navigate fantastic triumphs and devastating lows. The members of the Little family meld well with each other and realistically portray a close-knit family dynamic. This creatively written monologue novel uses the style of stage performance, allowing readers to visualize every monologue or poem performed. The pleasing artwork punctuates each chapter with added depth. VERDICT The combination of elements drawing on oral tradition and folklore set this book apart, making it an unforgettable reading experience. Perfect for every library.-Myiesha Speight, Towson Univ., Baltimore

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