good

A short story presented as a novel. And not a very satisfying short story. The main characters are the children, but they are all just observers to the action, not part of it.
In the early 1900s a white man tries to trick the black Logan family into selling him all the trees he wants off of their land, while David Logan, the patriarch is out of town. When David comes back he threatens to blow up the whole forest with dynamite if the white man and his lumberjacks don't leave, so they do. The end.
Taylor says in a preface that this is a true story that has been handed down in her family over the years. To be fair, if you're going to tell a true story, you can't just change anything you want willy-nilly to make it an even better story... at least not if you're claiming it's true. But some stories that can be wonderful tales to the people involved just aren't really worth telling to the world. ( )

What a great story. Vivid, resonant. The scene of the father conquering the white men really stands out. I love how she depicts kids. I really prefer the Nelson illustrations to the Pinckney ones. I'm so glad she write more about this family. ( )

Very short. Mildred Taylor is a good storyteller. This one ends happily, but I'm sure it is not the end of the story. One has to wonder what comes next. Lovely illustrations. ( )

This story is simpler (and shorter) than [b:The Well|19409350|The Well (Logans #2)|Mildred D. Taylor|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386919017s/19409350.jpg|354694] but is told in the same unassumingly poetic prose, with the same deep feeling. When financial hardship worsens for the Logan family, nine-year-old Cassie discovers that Big Ma might be forced to sell the trees on their property to a white lumberman.

I'm slowly collecting all the Logan Family books, and every one I read is stirring and beautiful. The final paragraph of this one brings a bittersweet little story full circle and proves once more the author's skill. And I love the Logans. I love each of their hearts as they hold onto family and dignity, as the adults teach the children to respect themselves despite the racism around them that tries to undermine their self-respect. These books are deep, an important challenge for the middle-grade reader's mind and heart (and worthwhile for adults as well). ( )