Customer Reviews

Pink and Say

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Pink and Say is appropriate for all readers, children and adults. I read it to my third graders and cry every time. It is a true story of a beautiful interracial friendship which is considered to be too complex and harshly realistic for young readers by some people. However, it is much more appropriate than what many children view on television and, in this day and age, I feel the emotions it evokes are extremely valuable as is the civil war/slavery history lesson it contains. Congratulations to Patricia Polacco for telling the story like it is. It's a shameful history but it happened and kids of all ages need to understand just how aweful it was. I say it's about time we stop sweeping these shameful parts of our history events under the rug. Thank you Ms. Polacco for giving it to us honestly. Every teacher should have this book on his/her shelf.

I read this book to my children when they were young. Now I enjoy reading it alone. Patricia Polacco tells a very personal Civil War story that will grab grade-school-age children. Two young men from opposite sides of the war meet, and we see how in their shared youth, they realize war is something dreamed up by the "big guys" who don't suffer on the battlefield. I can never read the end of the book out loud without crying. I didn't give the book a full five stars, because I believe one of the side characters is a bit stereotyped. But it's a minor flaw that the rest of the book rises above. Highly recommended for ages 6 to 106. A great, easy book to supplement grade school history class discussions of the Civil War.

I am a student at a university in Michigan, this book was one of many that our teacher had told us we must have in our classrooms. Needless to say by the end of the book all the girls were crying and all the boys were in disbelief, of the incredible recount of a true story passed on from generation to generation. This book is to say the very least the best book I have ever come across, that described some of the lives, effected by the civil war. Patrica Polacco is a wonderfully gifted author, who has written and illustrated a wonderful book.

Pink and Say, is a poignant and disturbing tale of two young Union soldiers, one black, called Pink, and one white, known as Say, whose life paths cross on a civil war battlefield. Pink finds Say in deep pain with a broken leg, and though wounded himself, somehow carries the boy home to his mother, Moe Moe Bay, who cares for Say as her own. While healing, the two boys become true friends, sharing memories and secrets: that Pink can read and hopes never to be "owned" again, and that Say, though a deserter, once shook Lincoln's hand at Bull Run. Neither had ever had such a close (amicable) encounter with someone of the `other' race, and for Pink especially this required great compassion. But their arrival had jeopardized dear Moe Moe's safety, and she is murdered by marauders as the boys lay hidden in the root cellar below. After laying her to rest, the grief stricken son and his demoralized companion soon fall into Confederate hands and are sent to Andersonville, the notorious prison camp. Say eventually recovers to tell the tale, but Pink never had a chance -- he was hung only hours after arriving.

The tale is told in Polacco's version of casual boy talk for that era, region and race, at times, perhaps stereotypical, as may be the portrayal of Say's "sweet Moe Moe". Simple emotive colored pencil and gouache sketches characteristic of Polacco's hand take over the pages in somber blues, grays and browns with spots of pattern and colorful detail, their immediacy providing more than half the tale. The story was handed down through several generations on Say's side to author Polacco, who dedicates her rendition to Pinkus Aylee, "because he has no living descendants to do this for him." A parting plea, "when you read this...say [Pink's] name out loud and vow to remember him always,"asks readers to spread the word, preserve his memory and right the wrongs this terrible war was fought for.

Neither the picture book format nor heartwarming cover image of the two boys reading together hint at the mature content within. Part of an emerging genre of powerful picture stories for older readers, Pink and Say may be easily mistaken for a simple, happy tale of wartime friendship, which it is not. It is a page from our shameful past that begs to be read aloud and properly discussed. The universal friendship theme is intertwined with vivid insights into the horrors of war, racism and inequality, but also reveals a charitable spirit and a promise to keep the truth alive.

Fifteen-year-old Sheldon Curtis has been left for dead on a civil war battlefield somewhere in Georgia. He's got a bullet in his leg, but he's still alive. Pinkus Aylee, A black soldier, also about fifteen, who has been separated from his unit, comes across Sheldon and carries, coaxes and drags him home, where Pinkus' mother, Moe Moe Bay, nurses him back to health.

During his stay with Pink and his mother, Sheldon, who is called Say for short, confesses that he was deserting when he was shot and Pink talks him into rejoining the war when he heals. Pink has no choice, because the war is about his freedom. Also during his recovery, Say is surprised to see that Pink can read. He cannot, but he tells Pink and Moe Moe Bay that he once shook hands with Abe Lincoln and in a brilliant piece of artwork, Ms. Polacco shows us the two African Americans touching the had that once touched the hand of Abe Lincoln.

Say recovers, but just before they're about to leave to rejoin the war, Mauraders come. Moe Moe Bay hides the two boys in her root celler, telling them that they won't want anything to do with an old black woman, then she leads them away from the cabin. Sadly then kill her.

After burying her, Pink and Say start out to find their units, but are captured by the Confederates. They are sent to Andersonville, a horrid prison built to house ten thousand, but which held thirty thousand. Pink and Say are separated after they're imprisoned and in a touching drawing Ms. Polacco shows us Pink touching the hand that touched the hand of Abe Lincoln one last time.

When Sheldon is released several months later he weighs only seventy-eight pounds. Pinkus was hanged and his body thrown into a lime pit. Sheldon lived to die an old man, as Moe Moe Bay said he would.

This is a most important and sad story, but the most touching part was the afterward where Ms. Polacco states that since Pinkus died alone, without children that this book is a way to carry on his name and she says " When you read this, before you put this book down, say his name out loud and vow to remember him always." So I'll say it here, "Pinkus Alyee," and I will, I will remember his name always.

I'm a new elementary librarian and have only just learned about "Pink and Say" while teaching students about Historical Fiction. I read this story to a group of 5th graders and completly broke down crying while reading it. It is touching on so many levels - the relationship between Pink and Say, between Say and Moe Moe Bay, and between Pink and Moe Moe Bay. We also have a realistic glimpse of what it was like during that time - about it being illegal to teach slaves to read, about how the smells are the same in each house and about how humans require love and affection. I'm sure that my 5th graders felt this book on a deeper level since I was crying while reading it. I think they understood the horror of the time and not one child trivilized the story (which is easy to do if you are in 5th grade!). I loved the story and hope that I don't break down again with the other 5th graders I have to read it to!

I first read "Pink and Say" many years ago, but each time I read it, tears come to my eyes. Patricia Polacco tells the wonderful story of two young boys that have different skin colors but are very much alike. The story of their friendship is very touching and makes you think about life in a new light. I think it's a great book for young readers since it explains the struggle of African Americans and the Civil War without sounding like a text book. The wonderful illustrations really add to the true story. This is a wonderfulbook.

Patricia Polacco's "Pink and Say", an exquisitely written, true account of the civil war friendship between a poor black soldier and the white one he rescues, beautifully illustrates love in its purest form. Through her masterful storytelling, Polacco teaches us the evil of prejudice in a way all hearts can truly understand. Her characters are richly developed and her message is conveyed without preaching. Polacco's use of authentic language adds flavor and realism to this charming story, enjoyed by children and adults alike. "Pink and Say" is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!!

This book is about Pink and Say who are two boys. They fight in the Civil War. They also become very good friends and they are fighting on the same side. When the white boy gets hurt, the black guy takes him to his family. They get there and the white boy becomes friends with the black family. But the mom will not let them go back and fight again. If you want to find out some more read it.

Pink and Say is a great book. Our social studies teacher read it to us one day and every one was disturbed. I'm pretty sure every one felt so horrible for Say. Patricia Polacco is so very talented. The illustrations are so good. You can make them real in your mind. This book brings out the joyous moments and the sad ones. If I was her, I would be so proud of this book. Anyone who would read this would want to read this book again.