1. Bibliography
Taylor, Mildred D., 2001. The Land. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 0142501468
2. Plot Summary
In this prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Taylor tells the story of Cassie's grandfather, Paul-Edward Logan. Born in Georgia just after slavery had been abolished, Paul-Edward is the son of a white plantation owner and his former slave mistress. His father claims him and his sister, Cassie, as his own, however they aren't granted the same freedoms as their three white half brothers. As a young boy, Paul-Edward is still naive to race relations of the time since his family openly accepts him. A traumatizing family incident in his early adolescence breaks his ignorance and changes the course of his life forever. A turbulent beginning to a life long friendship is found in Mitchell, the son of one of his father's workers. Paul-Edward and Mitchell travel together in Paul-Edward's pursuit of one day owning a piece of land as great as his father's land in Georgia. The many triumphs and heartbreaks that follow Paul-Edward throughout his life shape this touching historical fiction novel.
3. Analysis
Taylor's ability to transport the reader to the post Civil War-era American South is impressive. While the South was not a great place for African Americans during this time period, Taylor writes with an honesty and hope that will leave the reader feeling satisfied rather than depressed. Paul-Edward seems to be trapped in a world where the only thing that matters to people is the color of their skin. He is labeled as black even though he passes as white at one point in the book. While some of the scenes in the book can bring a tear to they eye, they are written with compassion and grace. The driving force of this novel is Paul-Edward's determination to one day be a land owner. Although he faces many hardships along his journey and the reader might think he will never see his dream realized, Paul-Edward's perseverance holds the reader's attention through to the end.
While I have not read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, it is definitely next on my list. Taylor's realistic and heartbreaking portrayal of Paul-Edward left me wanting to read more about the Logan family and their connection to the land.
An author's note and acknowledgments at the beginning of the book explain Taylor's inspiration from her own family stories to write about the Logan family and her choice to not edit the language in her books. While the language is harsh and hurtful, it was important to her to include it to make the book as authentic as possible.
4. Review Excerpts
Kirkus Reviews - "...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."
School Library Journal - "The Land by Mildred Taylor (Putnam, 2001) is a wonderful novel of close friendship, harsh prejudices, and deep yearning."
Publishers Weekly - "Taylor's gift for combining history and storytelling are as evident here as in her other stories about the Logan family. 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."
5. Connections
*Students can play "What Would Cloepatra Do?" The teacher can pose the question: What would Paul-Edward think of Barack Obama becoming the first black (mixed race) president of the United States?
*This book could be followed up by reading any of the other books about the Logan family.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry ISBN 978-0142401125
Song of the Trees ISBN 978-0142500750
Let the Circle Be Unbroken ISBN 978-0140348927
The Road to Memphis ISBN 978-0140360776
*Students can research race relations in the American South post Civil War.
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