Finding Langston
Bibliography:
Cline, L.(2018).FINDING LANGSTON. Solon, Ohio: Playaway
ISBN: 9780823441105
Plot Summary:
It is post WWII, and Langston and his father move from Alabama to Chicago shortly after his mother succumbs to illness and passes away. Langston has a difficult time getting accustomed to his new home and faces many obstacles which include missing his mother terribly, dealing with bullies, and finding his place in his new environment. He also has difficulty expressing his feelings to his dad, a man of few words. One afternoon, Langston accidentally takes a wrong turn as he tries to elude his bullies, and discovers a library which allows anyone to go in, including colored people. Langston finds his passion in poetry as it reminds him of his mother, but makes every attempt to hide his new-found interest from his father as he fears he would not approve. Langston makes an unexpected friend with similar interests, and finds the strength to stand up for himself against his pestering nemesis. As time passes, Langston not only finds peace, he finds himself.
Critical Analysis:
Finding Langston is a touching story that vividly portrays the difficulties of losing a parent and leaving the home a child has known all his life. The vivid descriptions of the boy’s feelings as well as his surroundings easily capture the attention and draw the reader further into the story thus creating a more realistic account of the character’s life. The author excellently draws comparisons between the character’s current situation to his past as she provides flashbacks whenever she wants to show the character longs for his home and mother. The author’s reference to some of Langston Hughes and other poet’s poems may require that students be familiar with some of their work, however, but make for some wonderful teachable moments. The character’s use of slang and some grammatically incorrect sentences will also prove to be somewhat of a challenge as students may only be used to reading books with more conventional syntax. In the end of the book, the author explains the Great Migration. All of this, however, makes for a powerful, realistic experience readers will thoroughly enjoy.
Review Excerpt(s):
“In 1940s Chicago, recent Southern transplant Langston discovers Langston Hughes's poetry at the public library. Reading poetry helps the boy keep his late mother's memory alive, find solace from grief, and make a friend. Written in short chapters, this crisply paced book is full of historical details of the Great Migration and African American literary culture, and should resonate with any child who's experienced grief or loneliness.”-Horn Book
“Langston wishes he was back in Alabama. The 11-year-old's mother was barely dead and buried before his father moved them to Chicago, where, in 1946, "a man can provide for his family without always scraping and bowing." But to Langston, Chicago is lonely and lacking friends, family, or good food, just his dad's bad cooking. Three bullies make life even harder. Then he discovers something that amazes him: a public library, and it's not just for whites like the one back home. This branch library not only welcomes African Americans, it celebrates successful black men and women, especially writers. The library becomes Langston's everything s space away from his tiny apartment, his refuge from the bullies, the expansion of his world through books. It is also the place where he finds his namesake, Langston Hughes, and begins to find himself. Cline-Ransome, lauded for her picture books, including Booklist's 2017 Top of the List title Before She Was Harriet, proves herself an adept novelist, one with keen insight into the human condition. Every character, child and adult, is layered, a feat made more remarkable by the fact that the writing is spare. Emotions and relationships are teased out through quiet details and glimmers of understanding, but the impact on the reader could not be more powerful. A memorable debut novel.”-Starred Review ALA Booklist
Connection:
*Because of its abundant use of detail, art teachers may find it fun to have their students draw some of the scenery described and “illustrate” the book.
*Writing teachers would enjoy reading some of the poems used in this book and have students explain what they think the poem means as well as write their own poems.
*History teachers would like to reference the economic boom after World War II and how there was an abundance of work for people, especially blacks, who were out of the armed forces and those who traveled north for a better life.
Other books with this genre:
Cline,L. BEFORE SHE WAS HARRIET ISBN 978-0823420476
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