The Liberation of Gabriel King [Audio Cassette]

K. L. Going (Author), Robert Keefe (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2005 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Two unlikely friends help each other face their fears in the summer of 1976.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–In 1976 during a languid Georgia summer, fourth grade best friends, fearful Gabe, who is white, and strong-willed Frita, who is African American, set out to face their individual fears together in this novel by K. L. Going (Putnam, 2005). Gabe is afraid of moving up to the fifth grade where he will be one of the smallest children and easily preyed upon by the bullies. The novel confronts racism, the bonds of friendship, and the importance of family. Robert Keefe narrates with a dry, humorous, yet upbeat tone, making for a relaxing ambiance reflecting the setting of a summer's day. However, he doesn't create distinctive voices for the characters, adding only a very subtle southern lilt for Frita and her family. This audiobook doesn't enhance the print version, but does offer a variation for those who prefer to hear a good story.–Tina Hudak, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DC
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. "Could a chicken become a warrior and fight oppression?" Small for his age, Gabriel, 10, is scared of the bullies in his all-white trailer park in small-town Georgia in 1976. His tough best friend, Frita, the only black kid in his class, helps him to overcome his fear, and he's able to stand with her when the Klan threatens. As in Going's Printz Honor Book Fat Kid Rules the World (2003), which was written for an older audience, the characters here are funny and brave and drawn with candor and immediacy. At first Frita is a bit too perfect, too strong and wise, and Going's message sometimes overwhelms the story, as when Frita makes Gabe list his fears, which he overcomes one by one. But there is lots of farce and fun, too--until the quietly building tension peaks with the terror of racist confrontation and the courage of people, adults and kids, who stand up together. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Listening Library (December 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307246159
• ISBN-13: 978-0307246158
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,949,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

K.L. Going is the award-winning author of books for children and teens. Her first novel, Fat Kid Rules the World was a Michael Printz Honor Book, listed with YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults and their Best Books for the Past Decade. Her books have been Booksense picks, Scholastic Book Club choices, Junior Library Guild selections, NY Public Library Best Books for the Teenage, and winners of state book awards. Her work has been published in Korea, Italy, Japan, Germany, and the UK, and Fat Kid Rules the World will soon be a movie!

K.L. began her career working at one of the oldest literary agencies in New York City. She used this inner knowledge of publishing to write Writing and Selling the Young Adult Novel -- a how-to book for aspiring writers, published by Writer's Digest. She has also written short stories for several anthologies and currently has multiple picture books under contract. She lives in Glen Spey, NY where she both writes and runs a business critiquing manuscripts. She's also an adoring mom.

To visit KL on-line go to www.klgoing.com, www.facebook.com/KLGoing, or find her on Twitter!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Liberation of Gabriel King, June 27, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Liberation of Gabriel King (Hardcover)

I loved reading this book. I read all the time and have lots of favorites, now the Liberation of Gabriel King will join them. I had to read a book for 5th grade that was set in the same time period and covered the same topics but it was definately not as interesting. I'm going to tell my teacher she should have her class read this book instead. The characters determination and perseverance was amazing. It was funny reading about the ways Frita conquered Gabriel's fears. I liked it so much I read it in one sitting. I highly recomend this book to anyone 9-13. I think adults would even enjoy it.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among our most favorites, June 30, 2005

By 

Gae Polisner "The Pull of Gravity, fsg." (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Liberation of Gabriel King (Hardcover)

I read this to my 7 and 9 year old boys. We couldn't put it down. It now ranks among our favorites with Tale of Desperaux and Ida B. A true treasure of a book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for all ages, June 21, 2005

By 

Lynn D. Hoffmann - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Liberation of Gabriel King (Hardcover)

Although this book is targeted at young people in the 10-14 age bracket, I enjoyed it very much as an adult. I purchased it for my grandson and he has called me up to tell me "what happened next" two nights in a row. Engaging characters and an important life lessons are neatly woven into an adventure tale of two young people in a little town over a hot summer. If you buy it for your children or grandchildren, read it first. You'll enjoy it.