Let the Circle Be Unbroken facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Mildred D. Taylor |
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| Illustrator | Danielle Gray |
| Cover artist | Jerry Pinkney |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Dial Press (Now Penguin Group) |
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Publication date
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1981 |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback) |
| Pages | 394 pp |
| Preceded by | Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry |
| Followed by | The Road to Memphis |
Let The Circle Be Unbroken is a historical novel written by Mildred D. Taylor, published in 1981. It is the exciting sequel to her earlier book, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (1976). In this story, the Logan family faces many challenges. Stacey's friend, T.J., is in serious trouble, and Stacey decides to leave home to find work. The Logan children's cousin, Suzella Rankin, also struggles with her identity. The book won the Coretta Scott King Author Award in 1982, recognizing it as an outstanding book for young people by an African American author.
Contents
Story Overview
The Logan family lives in Mississippi during the 1930s. They are a strong family who work hard to keep their land and raise their children well. This book shows the difficulties they face during a tough time in American history.
Challenges and Decisions
T.J. Avery, a friend of Stacey Logan, is wrongly accused of a crime. Even though he is innocent, he is found guilty by an all-white jury. Stacey tries his best to help T.J., but the situation is very difficult.
People in the community try to unite black and white farmers. They hope to share the cotton fields fairly. However, these efforts do not succeed, and those who try to bring people together face harsh treatment.
Struggles for Fairness
Some farmers are told to destroy their planted cotton crops. The plantation owners claim the government ordered this. But it is a trick to take money meant for the sharecroppers. Sharecroppers are farmers who work on land owned by someone else and pay rent with a share of their crops.
Mama's cousin, Suzella, comes to live with the Logans. Suzella has both black and white parents. She is seen as very attractive because of her mixed heritage. Suzella struggles with who she is and how others see her. This causes problems in her relationships.
Stacey's Journey
A white boy named Stuart Walker shows interest in Suzella. He assumes she is white and treats her with respect. This situation adds stress to Stacey, who feels responsible for his family. He believes he must protect them and their land.
Stacey and his best friend, Moe, decide to run away. They go to a sugarcane field in Louisiana to find work. They hope to earn money to help their family.
Finding Stacey
Mama, Papa, and Big Ma worry about Stacey. They get help from Mr. Jamison, a kind white lawyer. He helps them contact police stations in nearby towns. Mr. Jamison uses his name on the letters. This is because letters from a black family might not get a response.
Seven months later, they find Stacey. He is in jail in a small town in Louisiana. Stacey and Moe were accused of stealing and became sick in jail. Stacey also broke his foot while working in the cane field. Before returning home, they thank the kind lady who cared for them in jail.
Main Characters
The Logan Family
- Cassie Logan: The story is told from Cassie's point of view. She is a strong and determined ten-year-old girl. Cassie is a tomboy who learns important life lessons from her family.
- Stacey Logan: He is the oldest Logan child at 12 years old. Stacey is strong-minded and loves his family deeply. He feels responsible for them, which leads him to seek work in Louisiana.
- Christopher-John Logan: Stacey and Cassie's younger brother. Christopher-John likes to follow rules. He tries to avoid trouble and stick to his family's decisions.
- Little Man Logan (Clayton Chester): The youngest Logan brother. He is very neat and tidy. Little Man dislikes unfair treatment, even if he doesn't fully understand it yet.
- David Logan: The father of the Logan children, known as Papa. He works on the railroad. Papa teaches his children valuable lessons to help them stay out of trouble.
- Mary Logan: The mother of the Logan family, known as Mama. She used to be a school teacher. Mama now helps organize groups to bring about positive changes in society.
- Caroline "Big Ma" Logan: The grandmother of the Logan children. She is a strong and kind woman. Big Ma shares family stories and history with Cassie. She also helps sick people and those treated unfairly.
- Uncle Hammer: David Logan's older brother. He moved to Chicago to escape racism in Mississippi. Uncle Hammer has a quick temper. He often helps the family financially.
Other Important People
- Suzella Rankin: The Logan children's cousin. She is light-skinned and attractive. Suzella struggles with her identity and how others perceive her.
- T.J. Avery: A friend of the Logan children. He is wrongly accused of a crime and faces severe consequences. T.J. was also involved in trouble in the previous book.
- Jeremy Simms: A white teenager who is friends with the Logan children. Unlike his family, he treats black people with respect and kindness.
- Mr. Wade Jamison: A white lawyer who supports the Logans and other black families. He tries to defend T.J. in court.
- Mr. Morrison: A strong and loyal man who becomes like family to the Logans. He helps protect them after losing his own family.
- Moe Turner: A sharecropper and friend of Stacey. He runs away with Stacey to work in the sugarcane fields.
- Harlan Granger: A powerful white landowner. He tries to take land and money from black families, especially sharecroppers.
- Lee Annie: An elderly black woman who wants to learn about U.S. history. She also wants to register to vote. She is like family to the Logans.
