Crossing Jordan [Hardcover]

Adrian Fogelin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

A moving, coming-of-age story of a young white girl who overcomes family prejudice and cultural differences when she befriends a black girl in a small working-class town.

Twelve-year-old Cassie narrates the dramatic events that unfold when Jemmie, an African-American girl, and her family move in next door. Despite their parents' deeply held prejudice against each other's family-exemplified by the fence Cassie's father builds between their two houses-the girls find they share more similarities than differences. Mutual interests in reading and running draw them together, and their wariness of each other disappears. But when their parents find out about the burgeoning friendship, each girl is forbidden to see the other. A family crisis and celebration provide opportunities for the families to reach an understanding.

Author Adrian Fogelin addresses the complex issues of bigotry and tolerance with sensitivity and intelligence. Readers will find her story of how two adolescent girls, through their own example, teach racial tolerance to the adults in a small Florida town powerful and compelling.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A contemporary story set in Tallahassee, FL, of interracial friendship despite parental opposition, with a clear purpose and predictable outcome. Twelve-year-old Cass befriends African-American Jemmie when her family moves into the house next door. The girls both love to run and become instant friends, racing each morning. They also read Jane Eyre together, analyzing and alternating chapters. Calling themselves "Chocolate Milk," the girls derive inspiration from Jemmie's wise, gospel-singing grandmother and set an example of understanding for both families. Cass, however, must keep their friendship a secret from her racist father until her baby sister's heatstroke compels Jemmie's indignant mother to volunteer her nursing skills. From then on, Cass's grateful parents are solicitous of their new neighbors and both families cheer the girls to a dramatic finish in a fund-raiser race. Jemmie is wisecracking and confident, challenging her responsible and reflective friend to be the first in her family to aspire to a college degree. Some of the parental reasons for racial mistrust are exposed, civil rights history is touched on, and an upbeat ending results. Although several clich?d remarks and reactions seem contrived, Jemmie and Cass are likable, lively characters, and readers will enjoy the repartee between them.
Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"In this sensitive portrait of black-white relations in a changing neighborhood, Fogelin offers a tactful, evenhanded look at prejudice." --- USA Today

"Fogelin creates Cass and Jemmie as complex characters with the same differences of approach and personality that mark the interactions of other best friends, whatever their skin color. Cass' straightforward voice never falters, even when she questions her father's beliefs and her own decisions. Readers will appreciate the honesty of Fogelin's approach and applaud the two girls in their fast friendship." --- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"...Jemmie and Cass are likable, lively characters, and readers will enjoy the repartee between them." --- School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561452157
• ISBN-13: 978-1561452156
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,825,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Adrian Fogelin is the daughter of fiction writer, Maria Bontempi Fogelin, and grew up in a house littered with manuscripts. A slow early reader Fogelin took in stories as her mother read aloud, and in the lively exchange of family tales, giving her writing the freshness of the spoken word.

She is the author of seven novels for middle-grade and young adult readers, including the hugely popular "Crossing Jordan," and has won numerous awards including two Florida Book Award gold medals.

Although she might not pass the "Are you really a grownup?" test, Fogelin definitely gets kids, from the way they talk to the things they yearn for. She is a frequent visitor to schools and libraries all over the counry where she shares her love of writing and story.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, July 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Crossing Jordan (Paperback)

I read this book, I loved it. My great aunt wrote it, so we have all her other books. I think this is great for people who want a good book to settle into. It is very bittersweet, and the characters are loveable and funny. This book is great!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!, June 28, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Crossing Jordan (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have ever read!! It is about a girl named Cass living in Tallahase, Florida. When a African American family moves in next door, Cass' father builds a fence to separate the families since his family is white. Cass becomes friends with Jemmie, the new girl. This is a story about how Cass and her new friend Jemmie become friends, run races and ultimately make their families see that the color of their skin shouldn't affect their relationship's.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Friends, November 15, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Crossing Jordan (Paperback)

In the book Crossing Jordan, an Afriacan American family moves next to a white family. The white family are racists and build a fence to avoid them. The white family has a daughter named Cassie and she looks through a knothole at the family as they move in. The other families daughter, Jemmie, sees her and Cassie challenges her to race at a nearby track. They quickly become friends and relize that they have a lot in common. Their families find out that they are friends, but that is not going to stop them. They make thier families realize that it doesn't matter what color you are, we are all the same. In the end the families are friends and have dinners together occasionally.