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deschatjes's review against another edition
3.0
#civil rights #fear #anxiety
Quick read set in the 70's. Loved the aspect of facing fear and anxiety, which is why I purchased it. The friendship between and white and black student however was a bit of a stretch of the imagination and perhaps a bit of wishful thinking on the part of the author. But loved the fact that it had a strong female protagonist and depicted the possibilities of friendship across racial lines - but as "historical fiction" it would require a bit too much suspension of belief, pity it wasn't set in another time frame as that may have run truer.
Quick read set in the 70's. Loved the aspect of facing fear and anxiety, which is why I purchased it. The friendship between and white and black student however was a bit of a stretch of the imagination and perhaps a bit of wishful thinking on the part of the author. But loved the fact that it had a strong female protagonist and depicted the possibilities of friendship across racial lines - but as "historical fiction" it would require a bit too much suspension of belief, pity it wasn't set in another time frame as that may have run truer.
jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
Gabe is very lucky to have a friend like Frita. I really liked their friendship, and I like how they encouraged each other to face their fears.
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
3.0
The 5th grade classes are reading this aloud so I wanted to read it. It's a sweet historical fiction book set in 1976 about friendship and overcoming fears. The use of the n word makes it problematic for a read aloud. Frida is a great, strong female protagonist.
alitou's review against another edition
I had to read this book for school and, I'll admit, I wasn't very excited to read it at first. But after about a quarter of the book I felt so drawn to it. The characters are cute and the storyline was interesting. It was an easy read and I finished it in a day but I think it was worth the time.
kmcneil's review against another edition
4.0
Mackin Educational Resources has this book at a 4.5 reading level, and an interest level of grades 4 - 6. This seems just about right to me. Great book about racism, segregation, overcoming one's fears, friendship, bullying, and standing up for what's right.
Here's the review from School Library Journal:
Gr 4-7-In a small town in Georgia in 1976, Gabe King, who is white, and his friend Frita Wilson, who is African American, take on a special project. Gabe is determined not to go to fifth grade in the fall, in the "big kids" wing of the school where he will be one of the smallest students and at the mercy of bullies Duke Evans and Frankie Carmen. Frita, however, has determined to use the summer to liberate her friend from his fears and make sure he moves up with her. Gabe's narrative voice is open, direct, sometimes comic, and maybe a little hysterical: he has many fears, including Frita's teenage, body-building brother, Terrance. However, he agrees to Frita's plan, which includes liberating herself from her much shorter list. Going deftly balances the ugly face of racism with the more powerful forces of understanding, friendship, and family, which run broadly through the novel. Both Gabe and Frita come from loving homes that fully support the vision of brotherhood and equality of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and soon-to-be President Carter, and are committed to making that vision a reality.-Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Here's the review from School Library Journal:
Gr 4-7-In a small town in Georgia in 1976, Gabe King, who is white, and his friend Frita Wilson, who is African American, take on a special project. Gabe is determined not to go to fifth grade in the fall, in the "big kids" wing of the school where he will be one of the smallest students and at the mercy of bullies Duke Evans and Frankie Carmen. Frita, however, has determined to use the summer to liberate her friend from his fears and make sure he moves up with her. Gabe's narrative voice is open, direct, sometimes comic, and maybe a little hysterical: he has many fears, including Frita's teenage, body-building brother, Terrance. However, he agrees to Frita's plan, which includes liberating herself from her much shorter list. Going deftly balances the ugly face of racism with the more powerful forces of understanding, friendship, and family, which run broadly through the novel. Both Gabe and Frita come from loving homes that fully support the vision of brotherhood and equality of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and soon-to-be President Carter, and are committed to making that vision a reality.-Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
janeeyre_914716's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. Very cute and I loved the message. Gabriel King is afraid of the 5th grade, spiders, corpses, and all sorts of things. Then his friend, Frita Wilson who is the only Black child in the whole town and school tells Gabriel King he needs some Liberating from his fears. but what I loved is how he overcame them and it reminds us that all of us now or at some point has has some sort of BIG fear in our lives. I loved how GAbe was able to get the confidence he needed to overcome his fears in the end. But of course, frita makes a list of her own and has her own #1 fear that she's not too eager to share. but overall, I really liked this book.
shicklin's review against another edition
4.0
facing fear, racism, bullies--great book. THis would make a great read aloud.
arinnroberson's review against another edition
4.0
This was cute. It sent a good message, about what true bravery is and what fears really are. About what makes a good person and what makes a bad one.
rfelt's review against another edition
4.0
really touching. I thought K.L. Going captured kids and their fears really well-without being overly cheesy or annoying, as other books often do.
dlberglund's review against another edition
3.0
It takes place in the early 1970's, in a community still struggling with desegregation. It doesn't come across as a heavily historical or educational book, though...it's mostly the story of 2 friends and how they help each other overcome their fears. I enjoyed it (and then wrote my own list of fears...you should try it!).