Let the Circle Be Unbroken [Mass Market Paperback]

Mildred D. Taylor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1991 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

"This dramatic sequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a powerful novel . . .capable of touching readers of any age." --The Christian Science Monitor

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mildred D. Taylor was born in Mississippi and grew up in Ohio. She worked in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps before enrolling at the School of Journalism at the University of Colorado, where she helped develop a Black Studies programme. She is best-known for her Newbery Medal winner, ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY. Mildred D. Taylor still lives in Colorado. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140348921
• ISBN-13: 978-0140348927
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Prejudice & Racism
  • #63 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Prejudice & Racism
  • #84 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > African-American

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" sequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry!, July 10, 1999

By 

Angela Bunn ([e-mail]) (Winchester, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Mass Market Paperback)

Our love for the Logan Family began when I read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry aloud to my children, ages 7 and 10. My husband, intrigued by the story, began to sit in on the readings. The Logans became a part of our family, so naturally, we continued reading their story in Let the Circle Be Unbroken. This continuation of their story is even better than the first book. Let the Circle Be Unbroken is a meatier story than Roll of Thunder, intertwining more historical events into the storyline than the first book. The reader gets a better overall feeling for the hardships and government programs of the Depression Era, the cruel treatment of farm laborers, the fledgling agricultural labor unions, and the disparities between North and South in their treatment of Black citizens. Yet this history never eclipses the narrative of the Logan Family. Author, Mildred Taylor, does a marvelous job of weaving history into a storyline which still keeps the reader emotionally invested in the Logans. We are looking forward to the continuation of the Logan saga in The Road to Memphis!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the Circle Be Unbroken: Head and Shoulders Above Others, March 8, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Mass Market Paperback)

Stacey, Cassie, Little Man, Christopher-John, Mama, Papa, Hammer, Mr. Morrison, Bud and his daughter. Wait, back up, Bud and his daughter, were they in the first book? No, and they cause quite a stir, but that's usual for them. Why do you ask is that usual? You'll just have to read on to find out.

The book starts out a little slow. It heats up when Bud, Mama's cousin, shows up. Bud had gotten Married TO A WHITE WOMAN! They had had a daughter who stays with the Logans for a while. While she is there, she learns what it means to be black. Also while she is there, Stacey goes to find work (without telling them) and worries the Logans. A lot of the book is spent looking for him. Oh yeah, you're probably wondering what happened to T.J. Well, you find out before Bud comes, but I'm not telling you either way.

I would defiantly rate this book a five. It is a lot better than Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, in my opinion anyways. The action starts sooner than in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Let The Circle Be Unbroken has an overall better plot. While reading, I couldn't put the book down. I first decided to read it to find out what happened to T.J., however, by the end of the book that was in the back of my mind. The addition of Bud and Suzella (Bud's Daughter) defiantly improved the book, but not even that is what I was thinking about. I was thinking about Stacey.

Cassie is the protagonist in this book, as she was in the first. In the beginning of the book, Cassie is upset at Stacey because he is acting all grown up and ignoring her. Then when Suzella comes and Stacey talks to her, Cassie becomes jealous of Suzella. Cassie is an intelligent girl and she loves and cares for everyone, even the people others find strange. Something did happen to Cassie that caught me off guard but I don't want to give too much away. Cassie is very nice, however, she easily gets upset.

One very important scene comes about 2/3 into the book. It begins when Stacey kisses everyone goodnight and everyone is shocked because he hasn't done that in a long time. As Cassie is getting into bed Stacey calls Cassie onto the porch. Stacey gives her his knife which she had been wanting for a long time. Then Stacey kisses her and goes to bed. The next morning the house was full of panic and tears. Stacey had left to find work and left a note in his place.

Another "big" scene happens at the very end of the book. Stacey had been found and they were driving home. As they pulled up the driveway the dogs started barking and lights in the house came on. Big Ma, Little Man and, Christopher-John (who hadn't gone to get Stacey) come out of the house.
"David, ya'll bring that boy?" Big Ma asks
"Yes Ma'am, Big Ma. They sure did," answers T.J.

All in all, Let the Circle Be Unbroken is head and shoulders above Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. As I said before the book starts out a little slow, but the plot is great. Cassie, again, is the protagonist and narrator. Bud and Suzella bring much conflict and Stacey brings much sadness. This book again shows the hardships blacks had to deal with and does it better than in the first. How can a book get any better? Is the question I asked myself after finishing. Maybe the next in the series will be I thought. I seriously doubt it. This book was amazing!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let the Circle Be Unbroken Review by Kristy, March 21, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Mass Market Paperback)

Let the Circle Be Unbroken
By: Mildred D. Taylor

The book Let the Circle be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor is the sequel to Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. Let the Circle be Unbroken is a story about a young black girl named Cassie Logan and her Mama, Papa, Big Ma, and three brothers. Stacey, Christopher-John, and Little Man. This story takes place somewhere in the deep south in 1934. Cassie's adventure starts when her friend TJ is going to be killed for something he didn't do. Then her Cousin Suzella tries to make people think she is a white when she really isn't. Later when one of Cassie's dearest friends, Mrs. Lee Annie, tries to vote she gets kicked out of her home because she is also black. While all this is happening Mr. Granger, an important white man who owns a lot of land, is trying to get the Logans to sell their land. This is a story of spirit and the truth of how families should stick together no matter how rough their life gets.

I thought that Let the Circle Be Unbroken was a great book for people of all ages because it has a lot of adventure and fighting for boys and for girls it has Cassie the main character and narrator of the story. I liked this book because I could picture the whole story in my head and that made me understand it better then I would with a different book.