The Rock and the River
| Author | Kekla Magoon |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult, Historical fiction |
| Publisher | Aladdin Publisher |
Publication date | January 6, 2009 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| ISBN | 9781416975823 |
The Rock and the River is a young adult historical fiction novel by Kekla Magoon, published January 6, 2009 by Aladdin. It is Magoon's debut novel.
Summary
The Rock and the River is a novel about the civil rights movement following fictional character Sam Childs. He is the son of a Civil Rights Activist named Roland Childs who is actively involved with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sam is thirteen years old and still figuring out who he is. His older brother, and best friend, Stick, starts to drift away, then Sam finds something that will change the rest f his life. This book is a work of historical fiction. Some events (like the Civil Rights Movement) are real, but the characters aren't.
Reviews
The book received starred reviews from Booklist,[1] as well as a positive review from Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books[2] and Kirkus.[3]
In their review, Kirkus wrote, "Magoon is unflinching in her depictions of police brutality and racism" and "offers readers a perspective that is rarely explored, showing that racial prejudices were not confined to the South and that the Civil Rights Movement was a truly national struggle."
The audiobook, narrated by Dion Graham, received a positive review from Booklist.[4]
| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | John Steptoe New Talent Award | Winner | [5] |
| NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literary Work - Youth/Teens | Nominee | ||
| Association for Library Service to Children's Notable Children's Books for Older Readers | Selection | [6] | |
| YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults | Selection | [7] | |
| 2011 | Audie Award for Young Adult Title | Winner | [8] |
| YALSA's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Top 10 | [9][10] | |
| 2012 | Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award | Nominee | [11] |
| Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth | Selection | [12] |
References
- ^ "The Rock and the River". Booklist. February 1, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ Karen Coats (2009). "The Rock and the River (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 62 (7): 289. doi:10.1353/bcc.0.0763. ISSN 1558-6766. S2CID 144202350.
- ^ "The Rock and the River". Kirkus Reviews. December 15, 2008. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ "The Rock and the River". Booklist. July 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ "Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present | Coretta Scott King Roundtable". www.ala.org. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
- ^ "The Rock and the River | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. January 27, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "The Rock and the River | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "2011 Audie Awards®". Audio Publishers Association. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- ^ "Top Ten Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 11, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Finneke, Jaclyn (January 13, 2011). "YALSA names 2011 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". News and Press Center. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Cumulative List 1988-2019 Updated 3/23/18" (PDF). Rebecca caudill Young Readers' Book Award. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Retrieved January 21, 2022.