Customer Reviews

The Red Rose Box

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Brenda Woods' novel, The Red Rose Box, tells the story of 10 year-old Leah Hopper from a small Louisiana town. The book begins when Leah recieves a mysterious package from her Aunt Olivia in Los Angeles. Inside is a traveling case filled with items Leah could never imaging owning, a silk bed jacket, costume jewelry among other things. Also in the package is a letter for Leah's mother Rita, who hasn't spoken to Olivia in years. The letter invites Leah, her mother, her sister Ruth, and her grandmother to visit her in Los Angeles. During thier visit the Hoppers find Aunt Olivia's life very different from thier own. Olivia is not subject to Jim Crow laws, is married to a wealthy man and lives in a fine house. Leah finds this life exciting and desirable. She calls L.A. freedom, but will she be happier there than Louisiana? Leah finds that she must answer this question after tragic events force her and Ruth to go live with Aunt Olivia.
Overall, an excellant book. The characters are believable and children will be able to identify with Leah's struggle to belong, and her feelings of doubt. The book explores on an elementary level, the difference between life for African Americans in the North and South in the years before the Civil Rights movement. However, very few actual historical events are included in the book. Additionally, the book tries to cover two years of Leah's life, which results in little character development and brief explainations of many events. Still, the Red Rose Box is an excellant addition to children's literature

Brenda Woods' book The Red Rose Box is outstanding. This book takes you through many emotions as you read this book. It makes you angry as you read about how life in Louisiana was for African American people. The characters make you too feel afraid when whites spit on them and call them names. Woods does and excellent job of portraying the emotions of her characters through the vivid language and descriptions. The book is about Leah and Ruth Hopper who are living in Louisiana with their parents who are hard working African American people. Leah dreams of being a teacher one day and leaving her little town in Louisiana. Leah receives a package from her Aunt Olivia on her birthday it is an overnight case covered in red roses. Leah opens to finds what her aunt considers her femininity. Also on that day Leah's mother Rita receives and apology letter from her sister. This sets the wheels in motion for an amazing adventure for Leah and Ruth. They visit with Olivia and her husband in California. They also experience a trip to New York. All the while realizing that African American people are treaded different in the south, then in the other places they have visited. When tragedy strikes and Leah and Ruth go to California to live with their Aunt Olivia they experience the finer things in life, but terribly miss home.
I like this book because the setting is during the depression. Historical settings are always interesting to me and make the book more believable. I recommend the book for older elementary age children.

Set in the 1950's when the South was still segregated; Woods takes a unique approach at portraying 10-year-old Leah Hopper's life and the struggles she has to deal with. After Leah's family visits her Aunt Olivia in Las Angeles, Leah feels like she has discovered the true meaning of freedom. She is amazed by this other part of the world and knows she will become someone special someday. However, her hopes and dreams are challenged when a tragic event occurs. Leah and her younger sister, Ruth, are left confused about how to continue with their lives. Leah's perspective of freedom and life are radically altered. Throughout the rest of the story, readers join in Leah's journey to find comfort in her new situation. Because of Leah's continuous maturation and strive to survive in this new world, it is easy for readers to feel connected to her character. What seems clear one day can turn into confusion the next. It is the recovery process that causes an individual to mature. Therefore, Leah is a perfect example for young readers to learn from. Grades 4-6.

The Red Rose Box


The main character is LEAH she was happy because she got a present from aunt for her tenth birthday. What she got was a red traveling case .And inside was jewelry, silk and expensive soap. And a lot more things .She gets tickets to California. But her and her sister find them self's in Hollywood. And a terrible strike hits there home. The mom and dad die in a horrible hurricane. Will freedom every fell like they imagine. Read the book to find out more about the red rose books