Customer Reviews

Circle Unbroken (Booklist Editor's Choice. Books for Youth (Awards))

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I were making a very short list of books to remember Charleston by, this would be on it. The language is lyrical and wonderful to read aloud. The illustrations are gorgeous. Both Raven and Lewis do a superb job of sharing the meaning of family ties across generations, as well as sharing the Gullah culture. I'm a newcomer to the Low Country, and I don't have any African heritage, but still, something in this story really resonated with me. Highly recommended!

We love the South Carolina Low Country, and are proud to own a number of sweetgrass baskets, most made by the same lady. This book was a wonderful find to share with my daughter, who is almost 4. The pictures are lovely, and the history is honest without being too brutal for younger listeners. Older readers will certainly get the depth of the slave history, while it serves as a good introduction for the younger. I found it to be a poetic and lyrical read, and a good explanation of how the art of Low Country coil basket weaving (also known as Charleston sweetgrass basket weaving) has been passed down.

The book's illustrations were very interesting and creative. The story line was an accurate dipiction of slavery and the history behind it. It connected strong family ties from generation to generation with the beautiful basket weaves and family customs. Those who are associated with the geography of the book can make a strong personal connection to the atmosphere of the book. For teaching purposes, it relates the importance of family history and bonds throught the generations. It also shows how far we've developed as a society. It would be part of our text set for slavery in our classroom.

This is a great way for young and old to lean about sweet grass basket making! Perfect for late elementary school students.

The illustrations and lyrical qualities to the prose are absolutely stunning. This is a heartfelt, honest, and moving depiction of the south that I was proud to share with my son. We are from SC and even though our family (white) cant relate directly to the experiences related in this book, I want to impart to him a love and care for ALL the parts and people of his state. As an amateur historian I did have trouble with two minopr details. The book completely glosses over the central role of Africans in the capture of slaves. It seems to suggest that Europeans just showed up and started nabbing natives. It was far, far more common to buy a group of captured slaves from a rival tribe or chiefdom. I also find it hard to believe that a person captured in adolescence in Africa (which would have to be prior to the ban on the atlantic trade in 1807. Probably even earlier since "seasoned" slaves were actually preferred.) could lead a life of hard labor on a lowcountry rice plantation and live long enough to see the end of the War Between the States. That would make them close to 80. Not impossible, just unlikely.

I live near the land of Charleston baskets and have collected them for years. I am so happy to have this book about the history of this art form. Highway 17 north of Charleston SC is lined with lovely people who have had the tradition of basket sewing passed down through their families for generations. A lovely and educational book about an exclusive art form for all ages.

A very nice story about the culture of Gullah basket weaving in Charleston, NC. The learning of basket weaving is traced back to a skill learned on the continent of Africa and brought over with enslaved peoples. The descendants of the slaves continue the basket weaving process and sell their products to tourists and interested persons. Interesting.

This is a lovely well written storybook, I read it in one setting because I just couldn't put it down. This would be a great gift for anyone who loves stories with a heart and a history.

This book was very nice: lovely pictures, gentle storyline that was also informative. I enjoyed it very much.