marmeelovesbook's review against another edition
5.0
Goin' Someplace special by Patricia C. McKissack and illustrator Jerry Pinkney bring home a storybook with a rich story, beautiful illustrations and a historical reference point for kids, mine especially had little idea about what the Jim Crowe segregation laws in the South might have felt like to a girl their age back in the '50's. A 12 yr old girl named Tricia Ann is taking a trip to "Someplace Special" all by herself in a downtown southern town. She needs to ride the bus to get there and encounters all sorts of prejudice on her way to "sompelace special"- armed with encouraging words from her Grandmother that "No matter what, Hold yo' head up and act like you b'long to somebody," she finally makes it to her destination and is glad that she did. This book was a Coretta Scott King Winner, deservedly so, I believe this book is to storybooks what "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett is to novels- a fictional account of segregation that packs an important message- we don't ever want to go back here. I would recommend this book for young school aged children- I think it would go over the head of a pre-schooler.
mrsbond's review against another edition
4.0
Provides a glimpse into the life of an African-American child living through segregation. As she travels to 'Someplace Special,' Tricia Ann meets a variety of people, some who encourage and others who discourage. Author's note mentions that this story is somewhat autobiographical. Beautiful, upbeat watercolor illustrations mimic Tricia Ann's positive outlook.
gschmidt05's review against another edition
5.0
I found this to be delightful and thought-provoking. I did not guess the destination, and yet it was supremely satisfying when ‘Tricia Ann arrived. I was enamored of the illustrations, the watercolors that appear both swift and saturated. Although I read the ebook, I would love to see the book in print, to better savor the pictures.
lacywolfe's review against another edition
4.0
Picture book from The Read-Aloud Handbook. Little girl in segregation era south and the travails she encounters on her way to "someplace special" - the public library. A great teaching resource for life under Jim Crow. Based on the author's experiences.
jengennari's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this. Spoiler: The someplace special is the library. Beautiful and uplifting about racism and safe places.
eirenophile's review against another edition
4.0
Another beautiful book from Pinkney, and this one a story of a girl going off on her own during Jim Crow. You can certainly feel the threat of navigating white oppression - I would definitely recommend this to parents and educators who want to teach their children their history. The good feelings you get at many points in huge book strike just the right note, in my opinion - not an easy feat when writing on a topic like this.
missmarysmack's review against another edition
5.0
This book is truly amazing. It has strong underlying messages of pride and triumph and a true reverance for literacy. I love it and so do my kindergarten students!
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent snapshot back in time of what it would have been like to be a little black girl living during the Jim Crow era.