The Well by Mildred D. Taylor
The Well by Mildred D. Taylor is a prequel to Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry (which I haven’t read since I was little but have hopes of maybe getting to this month). Set in Mississippi in 1910, slavery is still fresh in everybody’s mind. David’s father has worked hard and their family owns 400 acres not to mention their fine horse, cows, chickens and garden. But none of that matters to their white neighbors who always look down on them simply for the color of their skin. Most especially the Simmses, who are the meanest of them all. The area is experiencing a severe drought and everybody’s well has dried up, except for the Logan’s family who is willing to share with everybody, including the Simmses.
David, age ten, and his brother Hammer, age 13, don’t like it that they have to share their water. Hammer’s pride and temper finally gets the best of him when he gets in a fight with Charlie Simms. At a time when just looking the wrong way at a white man can a black man hung from a tree, the tension is tight. The families conflict finally comes to an end that affects the entire community and shames one family entirely.
I was on the edge of my seat while reading The Well and I was angry. I was angry at the injustice of it all, the humiliation of this family, and the inability for them to have control over their own lives. I was angry at their submission and I was angry for the fear that was brought into their lives. An excellent and emotional novel that shares a powerful message about racism and character.
The Well is part of my themed reading for the month of February which celebrates Black History Month. Join me this month as I explore books that celebrate the history of African-Americans. Also reviewed this month: Freedom Walkers, The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman, Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen, Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges, Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson. Other reviews of interest: A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg, Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman, Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, and Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Middle Readers
Tags: African American, Black History Month reads, female author, Fiction, published 1990's, Publisher: Puffin, Q-T Author, slavery
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I am in awe of your ability to stick to this theme for the entire month of February. I know that every single one of the books you have reviewed is one that I “should” read, but I simply cannot read more than about a book a year on this subject or the Holocaust. The writing is always so poignant that my imagination can quickly take me there – to the evil,poverty,injustice and brutality. I need to find a way to put more distance between the reader from the narrative, I think.
on February 10th, 2009 at 5:34 amI loved Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and just bought the sequel to it. I knew there was a prequel, but didn’t think it was titled The Well. Hmmm I’ll have to look into this some more.
on February 10th, 2009 at 7:57 amMolly – I must admit that I get on these themed reading kicks and tend to read a lot of books on the subject at the same time. This is true of Holocaust books or polygamy. I don’t know why I’m like that!
Joy – You know, I think there is more than one prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. I haven’t looked into it because this is the one that I actually owned. But I don’t think you’re wrong.
on February 10th, 2009 at 8:04 amNatasha I am so glad I read your blog. I have Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry sitting on my bookshelf. I had no idea that there was a prequel or sequel. I must read that first!!
Joy-I look forward to hearing if your searching turns up another prequel. I’d really like to know.
on February 10th, 2009 at 10:28 pmThis paragraph was very informative, so I thought I’d cut and paste the whole thing for you (they weren’t needed, but I added the numbers). The books were not written in this order, but the following tells the whole saga:
Similarly, in her other novels, nearly all the events are based on stories Taylor has heard from her father and other family members; nearly all the characters are based on family members or acquaintances she has known or learned about. The Logan family saga, then, is essentially family history for Taylor. The saga begins with Paul-Edward Logan in (#1) The Land leaving his family in Georgia in the 1870s and eventually settling in Mississippi where he buys the land that will become the homestead for all the future Logans. The next part of the saga, (#2) The Well, is told by David Logan, one of Paul-Edward’s sons. The third book of the saga, (#3) Mississippi Bridge, is the only book in the Logan stories not narrated by a member of the Logan family. A white boy, Jeremy Simms, reports a tragedy that he and the Logan children witness in 1931. The fourth book, (#4) Song of the Trees, is told from the point of view of a third-generation Logan, Cassie, who narrates the rest of the Logan stories: (#5) The Friendship; (#6) Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; (#7) Let the Circle Be Unbroken; (#8) The Road to Memphis; and (#9) Logan.
I have no idea what book I thought was the prequel, but it makes no difference now, because I didn’t know that several of the books were part of the series. I want them all!
BTW – I started Skeleton Creek yesterday. I think I’m up to the second video clip. I wasn’t near a computer, so I had to stop. So far, I’m really enjoying Ryan’s journal.
on February 11th, 2009 at 5:56 amYou are awesome Joy. I like reading things in order. Interesting to know that Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is 6th in the series. I know you said they weren’t published in this order, but I like my timelines to work.
I want them now!!
And I want to read/watch Skeleton Creek! I was hoping the library would get it!
on February 11th, 2009 at 9:09 amI can’t seem to find Logan anywhere. I must do some further investigating.
on February 12th, 2009 at 7:52 pmOh thank you so much Joy!! Like you, I’m going to have to find them all!
on February 15th, 2009 at 9:58 pmi didnt even read this book my brother did and he told me 4 my reading projects lolz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on March 25th, 2009 at 5:22 pm[...] The Well by Mildred D. Taylor (African American) [...]
on December 30th, 2009 at 9:25 pm[...] Mildred D. (Wikipedia) The Well: Reviewed at Maw Books Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry: Reviewed at Shelf [...]
on January 26th, 2010 at 7:22 pm