The Other Side

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2001
Number of Pages:32
Age Level: 6-8 Years
Genre: Contemporary



Summary:
This book was about back in the times where blacks and whites were segregated. The perspective in this story is from a young black girl. In this story her mother tells her that she is to never cross the fence because on the other side its dangerous and thats where the white folk lived. The little girl would always go play in the sun and when she did she always saw a little white girl sitting on the fence looking over at her. Eventually the little black girl goes and talks with the white girl and they become friends. They sat on the fence together and soon enough other little black girls came and sat on the fence as well. In the end the girls both agreed that one day that fence was going to be torn down. Some day.

Who might benefit from this book?
I think anyone would. To me it doesn't seem to target any typical age or tries to send a specific message to any certain age group.

What problems might this book cause?
I don't think that it would cause any problems. If anything children would ask why were blacks and whites segregated which would be good things for children to learn since its in our history.

My reaction:
I thought it was a pretty good book. It wasn't my favorite because it didn't have a climax. It was just a simple short story about a black girl and a white girl coming together on a fence. Nothing reached a peak in the story so it lacked that excitement.