Mayfield Crossing [Paperback]

Vaunda Micheaux Nelson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

All the kids from Mayfield Crossing are excited about going to the new school at Parkview. It'sbigger and newer than their old school and, best of all, it has a first-rate basball field. It never occured to any of them that they wouldn't even be allowed to played on the Parkview field.

At Mayfield, nobody ever thought about who was white and who was black. They were all justfriends. But it's 1960, and the Parkview kids aren't ready to accept newcommers---especially if they're a different color.

t's the first time any of the Mayfield kids have experienced the real pain of prejedice, but by sticking together they all become outsiders...and discover that overcoming trouble can be the strenght that makes a winning team.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Meg, an African American, encounters racial prejudice for the first time when she attends a formerly all-white school. "Stressing that prejudice is chiefly the product of ignorance," PW said, "Nelson demonstrates the importance of family values and the power of nonviolent resolutions." Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- The old rural school at Mayfield has been closed, and Meg, her brother, and her friends are being sent to the larger Parkview school. It is 1960, and racial integration in schools is a tender issue. Parents gently warn the country kids that they may encounter discrimination in the new school, and sure enough, it happens. Meg is the only black child in her class. When it is time to pick teams for baseball (an important event for Mayfield kids), they are ignored. A subplot involves a shell-shocked war veteran the kids call Old Hairy and who eventually becomes their protector. Meg and Billie are unwillingly drawn into a playground fight, but all ends well with a good baseball game. The racial tension inherent in this story is diluted: all of the children from the old school are picked on, black and white alike. The author attempts to portray prejudice without using pejorative language, but it just doesn't sound scary, only inappropriate. The power to make the story zing is not here. --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380721791
• ISBN-13: 978-0380721795
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,496,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mayfield CRossing, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mayfield Crossing (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

This book is very helpful beacuse many people don't care what type of person you are on the inside. Moving schools is hard but moving homes is the worst thing you have to do when you are young.

My favorite part of the book was when Meg was living in Mayfield and thay played softball. Softball was their favorite thing to do. The worst part was when Meg and her brother moved to Parkview.

I would like my brother to read this book because I don't like the way he treats some people. Maybe this could help him change.

4.0 out of 5 stars Mayfield Crossing, June 8, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Mayfield Crossing (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

Mayfield Crossing was mostly about how you shouldn't judge somebody like you judge a book by its cover. The author also wanted to make you feel what it is like when somebody doesn't want to give you a chance or doesn't even want to get to know you. Like in Meg's case and also her brother's. They both tried to be friends with the white students but they wouldn't give them a chance just because of their skin.

What I liked about the book was that at the end Mayfield Elememntary played against eachother. Finally the white students did accept Meg and ger brother. I also liked the fact that on the front cover, there's a picture of the four kids and they are hugging like real friends.

I recommend this book for the kids who still judge people by their appearances. They don't even care about feelings. Maybe after reading this book they will stop being this way.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mayfield Crossing, June 4, 2004

By 

Megan (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mayfield Crossing (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

The story is about a girl that changes schools.There she meets two kids and they become friends. The only problem is that the kids in her new school are treating her really bad just because of the color of her skin. And to figure out the end of the book you'll have to read this book.

The things I liked about the book is that the author changes the moodof the story every time. Another is how the book is illustrated. The Illustration has one or two sentences to describe what is happening. The last thing that I liked in the book is that the book itself because I thought it was perfect.

I will recommend this book to kids and all ages, even adults because at the end of the book you can get a good message for life. Also, never judge people by the color of their skin or their language.