Let the Circle Be Unbroken (Mass Market Paperback)

by Mildred D. Taylor (Author) "Ain't that Worldell?..." (more)
Key Phrases: second crossroads, Little Man, Uncle Hammer, Lee Annie (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Readers will be moved by the intense drama."

Product Description
The year is 1935. The young Logan family watches as their friend is charged with murder and tried by an all-white jury. "A profoundly affecting novel."--Publishers Weekly. Coretta Scott King Award.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• 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: 8.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #352,116 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Let the Circle be Unbroken: A story about the Logans, April 26, 2001

By A Customer

Let The Circle Be Unbroken is story about a family named the Logans and how they must survive during the great depression. The Logans encouner many conflicts including their close friends. Stacy Logan's old friend T.J. faced the death penalty after being stuck with the blame of murdering a white man. Cousin Suzella visited with the Logans much later in the book. Mean while farmers and their families were losing their homes and being put of their land. Suzella had tried to act white seeing that she had very light skin, but when she was caught in the act her father had to face a complete humiliation. The powerful Whites in the community taught old Mrs. Lee Annie a lesson when she tried to vote and threw her off her land also. Stacy Logan felt he had to find a job and left the family for more than 10 weeks. There was much relief when he returned. Although they were joyful on Stacy's return they knew that the much bigger problem of prejudice still lingered over the skies. Read this book if you're into history based fiction. A good book about racism in the South and how black citizens survived.

8 of 8 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

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!

17 of 20 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

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!