Johnson, Varian. (2018). The Parker Inheritance. Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN-13 : 978-
0545946179
Synopsis:
When Candice
finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn't sure she
should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame.
But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago.
A mystery enfolding its writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who
solves the puzzle. So with the help of Brandon, the quiet boy across the
street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep
into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great
love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can
they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the answers slip
into the past yet again?
My Review:
I was very excited about this book because I
love mysteries, and this one sounded very intriguing. What intrigued me more was
the tie-in of family history and digging into the past. I love learning about
my family history and find that as Candice and her friend Brandon try to solve
the puzzles, they dig into family history and town history. Throughout the story,
you can make connections with the real-world realities of racism. As I read the
story, I thought of so many ways that the students could dig into the storyline
as well as ask their grandparents or great-grandparents what life was like with
segregation, and during the 1950’s. The story includes so many elements that we
may not think about because of our own race or simply the fact that we didn’t grow
up in the ’50. The issue of using the word “colored” instead of African
American, or when they are harassed, they don’t say anything even when asked if
they are okay. There is so much that can be discussed throughout this story,
and I think it is a great book for all.
Awards/Reviews:
A Coretta Scott
King Author Honor winner
A Boston Globe
/ Horn Book Honor winner
Kirkus Reviews
Best Books of the Year
Bookpage Best
Books of the Year
Horn Book
Fanfare Best Books of the Year
NPR Best Books
of the Year
New York Public
Library Top Ten Books of the Year
Chicago Public
Library Best Books of the Year
School Library
Journal Best Books of the Year
Publishers
Weekly Best Books of the Year
Boston Globe
Best Books of the Year
Parents
Magazine Best Books of the Year"
Connections:
-
Scholastic
offers lesson plan ideas for all subjects and has a lot of information that
can be used.
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This
book could lead to conversations about racism.
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You
could use this book to lead students into researching their family history and
interviewing older members of their family.
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Read
the story behind the book on Varian Johnsons site.
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Read
Varian Johnson’s other books.