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The Barnes & Noble Review
In a tale written for young adults, Mildred D. Taylor combines her personal family history with that of a country divided by racism, prejudice, and slavery. The events in
The Land unfold through the eyes of Paul Logan, the son of a onetime slave and the white man who owned her. Paul's father treats him fairly and with kindness most of the time, frequently allowing him the same privileges he gives his legitimate sons. But as Paul grows older, certain harsh realities make him realize that he will never be considered a true equal to his white brothers -- or any white man, for that matter -- even if his skin is so light that he might be able to "pass."
Because of his ancestry, Paul feels that he is caught between two worlds, destined to be shunned by black folk as well as whites. The only person he can relate to at all is Mitchell, a black boy who used to torment Paul but who has now become a trusted friend. When the two run away together to escape their past and find their fortune -- which for Paul means realizing his dream of one day owning his own piece of land -- they encounter a world filled with heartbreaking betrayal, backbreaking labor, and rampant prejudice. As they come to trust only each other, their friendship grows ever stronger, until it seems that nothing -- not even a shared affection for the same woman -- can break the bond between them. But for two black men struggling to make something of themselves in a white-run world, life holds some tragic surprises in store.
In an author's note, Taylor explains that the character of Paul is based on one of her own descendants. The hardships he encounters in his struggle to become a landowner offer up a bittersweet lesson on the rewards of hard work and the destructive power of racism, providing Taylor's readers with an unforgettable look at the best, and worst, of humanity. (Beth Amos)
Publishers Weekly
Taylor's gift for combining history and storytelling are as evident here as in her other stories about the Logan family. This prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry focuses on Cassies's grandfather, Paul-Edward Logan, and explains how the seeds were planted for feuds between the Logans and other families, as well as certain loyalties. Here, the author deftly explores double standards in the South during the years following the Civil War. She lays the groundwork for these issues to be examined through two key relationships in the childhood of Paul-Edward, a boy of mixed race: the strong bond he shares with Robert, his white half-brother, and a tenuous friendship with Mitchell, whose parents were born into slavery and whose father works for Paul-Edward's father. Through them, the hero becomes painfully aware of the indelible line dividing black and white society. Though it is acceptable that his father, plantation-owner Edward, keeps an African-American mistress and helps rear her children, Paul-Edward and his sister, Cassie, are not allowed the same privileges as their half-brothers. An incident of family betrayal and a broken promise prompts Paul-Edward to run away from home and pursue his dream to farm his own piece of land. After arriving in Mississippi and setting his sights on the acreage he wants to buy, he soon discovers that becoming a landowner of color is more complicated and dangerous than expected. Like any good historian, Taylor extracts truth from past events without sugarcoating issues. Although her depiction of the 19th-century South is anything but pretty, her tone is more uplifting than bitter. Rather than dismissing hypocrisies, she digs beneath the surface ofPaul-Edward's friends and foes, showing how their values have been shaped by social norms. Here, villains are as much victims as heroes, but only those as courageous as the protagonist challenge the traditions that promote inequality. Even during the book's most wrenching scenes, the determination, wisdom and resiliency-which become the legacy of the Logan family-will be strongly felt. Taylor fans should hasten to read this latest contribution to the Logan family history, and newcomers will eagerly lap this up and plunge into the author's other titles. Ages 12-up. (Step.) Taylor's gift for combining history and storytelling are as evident here as in her other stories about the Logan family. This prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry focuses on Cassies's grandfather, Paul-Edward Logan, and explains how the seeds were planted for feuds between the Logans and other families, as well as certain loyalties. Here, the author deftly explores double standards in the South during the years following the Civil War. She lays the groundwork for these issues to be examined through two key relationships in the childhood of Paul-Edward, a boy of mixed race: the strong bond he shares with Robert, his white half-brother, and a tenuous friendship with Mitchell, whose parents were born into slavery and whose father works for Paul-Edward's father. Through them, the hero becomes painfully aware of the indelible line dividing black and white society. Though it is acceptable that his father, plantation-owner Edward, keeps an African-American mistress and helps rear her children, Paul-Edward and his sister, Cassie, are not allowed the same privileges as their half-brothers. An incident of family betrayal and a broken promise prompts Paul-Edward to run away from home and pursue his dream to farm his own piece of land. After arriving in Mississippi and setting his sights on the acreage he wants to buy, he soon discovers that becoming a landowner of color is more complicated and dangerous than expected. Like any good historian, Taylor extracts truth from past events without sugarcoating issues. Although her depiction of the 19th-century South is anything but pretty, her tone is more uplifting than bitter. Rather than dismissing hypocrisies, she digs beneath the surface of Paul-Edward's friends and foes, showing how their values have been shaped by social norms. Here, villains are as much victims as heroes, but only those as courageous as the protagonist challenge the traditions that promote inequality. Even during the book's most wrenching scenes, the determination, wisdom and resiliency-which become the legacy of the Logan family-will be strongly felt. Taylor fans should hasten to read this latest contribution to the Logan family history, and newcomers will eagerly lap this up and plunge into the author's other titles. Ages 12-up. (Step.)
KLIATT
At the end of this novel, Taylor has a five-page Author's Note that explains her own family's history and how closely it parallels the events and characters in The Land. This is important, because the story of Paul-Edward Logan is one that many of today's YA readers might have trouble believing—race relations in the deep South just after the Civil War were just that: unbelievable. Paul's father is a white man, the former owner of Paul's mother, and Paul and his sister have been raised on their daddy's land as almost-equals to their all-white brothers. Paul can pass for white in his appearance, and this fact brings him only trouble from whites and blacks alike. When Paul is a teenager, many things change: his father whips him in public when Paul talks back to some white boys—explaining to him later that this humiliation will save him from being lynched. Paul and his friend from home, Mitchell, take to the road sometime after this incident, trying to find their own way in the world, away from Paul's white family. The long story details their adventures, their hard work, the outrageous bigotry from white people they face everywhere, their success and tragedy. Paul learns to be a skilled carpenter, yet yearns to purchase land of his own. His success training horses and his abilities making furniture win respect from some in the white community, but he has learned not to trust white people. These skills, however, combined with his willingness to take calculated risks, enable him to buy the land he dreams of owning. Another story that parallels this is Paul's long-suffering love for Caroline, who first chooses Mitchell, Paul's best friend, as her husband. Paul and Carolineare to be the grandparents of Cassie from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The cover that pictures two young men, one who looks white (Paul) and his clearly black friend (Mitchell), is a good introduction to the story, their clothes signaling a 19th-century tale. Taylor's writing has the power of a riveting story told well; and her understated, often matter-of-fact accounts of the dreadful injustices that Paul and Mitchell endure contribute to the strong impact the story has on readers. (Prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2001, Penguin Putnam, 373p. 00-039329., $17.99. Ages 13 to 18. Reviewer: Claire Rosser; KLIATT , July 2001 (Vol. 35, No. 4)
From The Critics
Mildred Taylor's The Land ranks with William Armstrong's Sounder (Harper & Row, 1969) as an exceptional and inspirational example of fine writing. It is the prequel to the Newbery award winning, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Dial, 1976). The insights into the life of Paul-Edward Logan are chronological and abundant. Paul-Edward Logan was Taylor's great-grandfather. These stories were told to her as far back as she can remember. Yet, this is not a biography. Rather it is a kaleidoscopic probe into the personal growth, tenacity, and fulfillment of a dream of a young Negro sired by a white man as he struggles through the post-Civil War era in the deep South. Through superb dialogue, Paul-Edward reconstructs in a careful self-study his awareness and acceptance of the pain and injustice rendered. The emotional resonance of the personal histories, along with the detailed information about these times, make the story a rich resource. Truly, the Logan family legacy is a powerful force that indeed worked to destroy the racial barriers as much as any organized civil rights movement. I did have a white daddy. He was a prosperous man, or at least he had been before the war. He owned a lot of land, and until a few years back he had owned his share of slaves, too. My mama had been one of those slaves. There are so many facets of Paul-Edward's story as he relates his feelings and dreams in this first-person narrative. He is hated by the other boys on his father's plantation. He was a colored boy whose mixed look caused most folks to think he was white. Cassie and Paul-Edward were Edward Logan's children with Deborah, his slave. Both of the children were born into slavery. There were many such children.Some white men took care of their colored children; most didn't. Cassie and Paul-Edward's daddy acknowledged that they were his, and he raised them pretty much the same as his three white sons. Because my daddy was who he was, I had some of the privileges of a white boy, privileges denied to Mitchell and other colored folks on the place. Cassie and I sat right alongside Hammond, George, and Robert at our daddy's table. We wore good clothes, and our daddy educated us. He'd taught us himself how to read and write and figure...and he made Hammond and George and Robert share their books and all their school learning. Paul-Edward loved and feared his father, but he loved the land unconditionally. His dream was to own land every bit as good as his daddy's one day. And that is one of many of the major themes in this powerful story. He begins to realize the impact of true friendship as he and his friend Mitchell set out on the journey of pursuing Paul-Edward's dream of having land to call his own. When Paul-Edward was fourteen, he and Mitchell ran away, fearing the whipping his father promised Paul-Edward for riding another man's horse. The boys escaped onto a train, where they were hidden by several white women who allowed their skirts to act as curtains while the boys hid under the seats of the train. Thus the focus on this young man's dream begins. The pride and strength of the struggle is filled with words that engage the eye, mind, and heart of the reader. Through the eloquence of the prose, through infamy and suffering, joy and love, Paul-Edward Logan displays the hope and perseverance required for dreams to be fulfilled. Taylor courageously states in "A Note to the Reader" she has attempted to be true to the stories and the history told her by her family. She had included characters, incidents, and the language of that time. "Although there are those who wish to ban my books because I have used language that is painful; I have chosen to use the language that was spoken during the period, for I refuse to white-wash history. The language was painful and life was painful for many African Americans, including my family. I remember the pain." Mildred Taylor should be admired for her determination, her bravery, and being true to her heritage. Her truth in speech will impact generations of readers regardless of race. 2001, Phyllis Fogelman, 392 pages, Clodfelter
VOYA
Paul Logan has a fine life for a boy of color in late 1860s Georgia. His white father, Edward Logan, was a munificent and powerful man who taught his biracial children, Paul and his sister Cassie, to read and write alongside his three white sons. Edward required that all his children care for each other, although Paul and Cassie live with their African-Indian mother in a cottage on the property. Paul's seemingly idyllic life changes dramatically when he disobeys his father by racing horses for someone else. He and his friend, Mitchell, run away to escape certain punishment for taking money that rightfully belonged to Paul for winning the race. Because of this rash act at the age of fourteen, Paul severs all ties with his family and the land he loves. While he and Mitchell move and work around the South, Paul never loses sight of his dream of owning his own land. He experiences firsthand the harsh treatment Mitchell and other blacks endure. Sometimes he is treated even more cruelly because of his light skin. After several years of back-breaking work, Paul buys the land in Vicksburg, Mississippi, that becomes the Logan legacy. Taylor fashions an engrossing and heartwarming story that is a more-than-fitting prequel to her Newbery Award-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Dial, 1976). Taylor uses stories from her own family's past to create a fascinating and honest look at life's struggles and joys for many African American families after the Civil War. Although this book will be a welcome addition to many middle and junior high school libraries, the fascinating, free-flowing tale will be received warmly by readers of all ages. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J (Hard to imagine it being any betterwritten; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2001, Phyllis Fogelman Books/Penguin, 392p, $17.99. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Brenda Moses-Allen
Children's Literature
For young Paul Logan, life in the post-Civil War South is complicated. Born to a slave mother and her owner, Paul is seen by outsiders as a social blemish. While his father has accepted Paul, many other people hate him because of his mixed racial heritage. The elder Logan allows Paul to come to his home, to eat with his three white brothers and to receive an education. Unfortunately, society in the South during Reconstruction will not tolerate any further acceptance by a white father for his "colored" children. Paul is also a gifted horseman and woodworker but he struggles against the limited horizons open to him. A neighbor boy, Mitchell, emerges first as Paul's primary tormenter and then his long-term friend. Eventually, Paul can no longer tolerate his partial acceptance by his white father. Fleeing the family home in Georgia, Paul travels to Mississippi where he begins a series of backbreaking jobs in lumber camps. His heartfelt goal is to earn enough money to purchase land of his own and rear a family. He and Mitchell settle on a forty-acre farm that they strive to purchase. Ultimately, Paul must overcome betrayals, intolerance and prejudice to achieve his dream. Written by the author as a prequel to the Newbery Award winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, this moving story is based upon the experiences of the writer's great grandparents. Written with great care, accuracy and emotion, The Land is a wonderful novel, telling a family story that will move and enrich its readers. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of what life in the South was like for African-Americans struggling to make their way in a society grounded upon prejudice. 2001, Phyllis Fogelman Books, $17.99.Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck
School Library Journal
Gr 7-10-The Land by Mildred Taylor (Putnam, 2001) is a wonderful novel of close friendship, harsh prejudices, and deep yearning. Fans of the author's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Dial, 1976) saga will enjoy learning how the love of the land was instilled into the family through the story of Paul-Edward Logan, Cassie's grandfather. His mother was a slave freed by the Civil War. Usually acknowledged by his white father, he has more education and training than most blacks of the time. However, frustrated by the inequalities caused by his mixed heritage, he leaves home to find work in order to earn land of his own. Experienced actor Ruben Santiago-Hudson is a wonderful reader for this story. Told in the first person, he becomes Paul-Edward and reads believably with a soft Southern accent. He moves easily from correct English to the uneducated speech full of grammar errors of other characters. When repeating dialogue, the narrator changes tone to differentiate the sexes. He uses pauses effectively, and knows exactly when to emphasize a word to enhance the realism. This historical novel brings this period of American history to life.-Claudia Moore, W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
"Some white men took care of their colored children; most didn't. My daddy was one who did." This is the central conflict of Paul-Edward Logan's life: his daddy and white brothers love him, but he can never be their equal. His parentage sets him apart from the "colored" population as well, until he is virtually isolated in a society almost totally defined by color. This sprawling tale explores the history of the Logan family and the consequences of the miscegenation that caused diarist Mary Chesnut to call slavery the "monstrous institution." Pride causes Paul-Edward to leave his father's land in Georgia and make his way with his best friend to Mississippi. It is here, of course, that he finds and struggles to buy the land that will sustain the Logan family for generations to come. Readers have come to expect Taylor (The Well) to deliver a powerful story marked by defining moments that crystallize for the reader the unique cruelty of the post-Reconstruction South, and she continues to do so here. Paul-Edward encounters betrayal and brutality at every turn, from the brother who turns away as his white friends taunt Paul-Edward, to the lumber-camp boss who works him almost beyond endurance, to the landowner who reneges on a land deal. His narration has a tendency, however, to overexplain these events rather than letting them speak directly to the reader. This somewhat dilutes the power of the story; the narrator's mature distance from the events also saps the story of some of the immediacy found in other installments in the Logan saga. Still, readers who know the Logans will enjoy meeting the youthful avatars of familiar characters, especially the resolute Caroline-Cassie's Big Ma. Moreover, this is an aspect of the legacy of slavery not often confronted in children's books; Paul-Edward makes the reader feel its grotesque injustices. They will root for him, as they have for his children and grandchildren, to overcome.
