Black Like Kyra, White Like Me [Library Binding]

Judith Vigna (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

When a black family moves to an all-white neighborhood, prejudice rears its ugly head as the white adults behave rudely and children's friendships break up.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The narrator of this predictable but worthwhile story is thrilled when her best friend Kyra Kirk's family moves in next door. Unfortunately, some of the neighbors are not at all pleased to be joined by African Americans. Even the girl's mother expresses hesitation, remarking that she is going to wait to get to know Kyra's mother better before inviting her for coffee. One family after another leaves the neighborhood picnic in quick succession when the Kirks arrive, but someone returns to overturn the food tables and let the air out of the tires on the Kirks' van. In the end, one of the prejudiced families moves away, and the friendship between the narrator and Kyra--effectively portrayed in Vigna's soft, evocative watercolors--deepens. Though her writing is occasionally labored and prosaic, the author ( Boot Weather ; Nobody Wants a Nuclear War ) puts across an important message. Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-- Kyra Kirk is one of Christy's best friends, but when Kyra's family moves in next door to Christy, trouble begins. Kyra is African-American, and the neighborhood is all white. Racists make the Kirks feel unwelcome, and let the air out of their tires. Even Christy's parents show reluctance about getting to know the new family. Vigna is not up to the challenge of this difficult subject. She makes sweeping generalizations, implying black neighborhoods are dangerous and white ones are safe, just the types of stereotypes that need dispelling, not reinforcing. Poverty is not discussed as a factor in crime or dangerous neighborhoods. The ending jumps curiously ahead from summer to winter; the Kirks are still trying to settle in, while one of the white families is moving away. Kyra and Christy are shown playing happily together, as if white-flight were the solution. As evidenced by the title, the story's point of view is white; Christy's parents are more concerned with their standing in the neighborhood than they are with the injustice they witness, and even try to justify a neighbor's actions. An insincere and insensitive book. --George Delalis, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Library Binding: 1 pages
• Publisher: Concept Books (September 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807507784
• ISBN-13: 978-0807507780
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,219,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars TERRIBLE, October 11, 2011

By 

SBrown - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black Like Kyra, White Like Me (An Albert Whitman Prairie Book) (Paperback)

I purchased this book in hopes of reading it to my daughter so that she would be comfortable in her brown skin. I was hoping for a funny book that explained friendship is color blind. The author describes Kyra's neighborhood as a dangerous place and suggest moving to another neighborhood is better. The story describes racism faced by the African American family when moving to the new neighborhood but doesn't give a clear explanation of the racism. Overall, this book does nothing to encourage love of self, diversity and inclusion or friendship between cultures/races. I do not recommend this book and STRONGLY discourage anyone from buying it!!

1.0 out of 5 stars Is this a child's book????, September 18, 2011

By 

Jenn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Like Kyra, White Like Me (An Albert Whitman Prairie Book) (Paperback)

This book was terrible. Clearly the author did not have a child's perspective in mind. This does nothing to better understand a culture or race it simply validates ignorace. I am really surprised that the publishers actually published this book thinking it was appropriate for children. It is racially and culturally biased. Simply, a waste of money.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, January 31, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Black Like Kyra, White Like Me (An Albert Whitman Prairie Book) (Paperback)

This book is awesome! It takes a fair and critical look at the social circumstances many African American's find themselves in when they move into a predominately white neighborhood.

My only disappointment is that the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity agency didn't start an investigation into the Kirk's plight. It would have been an open and shut case.