This Is The Rope Synopsis
When a little girl in South Carolina finds a rope under a tree one summer, she has no idea it will become part of her family's history. But for three generations, that very rope is passed down, used for everything from jump rope games to tying suitcases onto a car for the big move north to New York City - and even for a family reunion, where that first little girl is now a grandmother. This rope, a simple but beloved possession, frames the family's story as we follow them on their journey north during the time of the Great Migration, when millions of African American families relocated from the rural South.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780425288948 |
| Publication date: |
21st July 2017 |
| Author: |
Jacqueline Woodson |
| Publisher: |
Puffin an imprint of Penguin Putnam Inc |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
32 pages |
| Suitable For: |
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Jacqueline Woodson Press Reviews
Praise for This is the Rope -
Woodson's (Each Kindness) gentle, unpretentious writing and Ransome's eloquent artwork breathe life into this story of a close-knit African-American family and their pursuit of a better life . . . The chronicle of a homely object in an age of disposables and the sense of place Woodson and Ransome evoke make this an especially strong and vibrant fictive memoir. --Publishers Weekly, starred review
Expressive oil paintings illustrate the clean, well-cadenced text in scenes that include well-researched period details . . . There's no doubt of the warmth and strength of the family ties that bind these individuals together. --Booklist
The rope becomes a symbol of family tradition and continuity against a backdrop of historical and social change. Woodson's understated but eloquent text gives specific details of one family's experience, while Ransome's rich oil paintings provide historical context. --The Horn Book
A warm family saga of a household united by love, pride and an uncommon heirloom. The repetition of the title in a nursery-rhyme style will resonate with young listeners. Ransome's vivid, full-bleed, double-page-spread oil paintings create an upbeat, welcoming vista of rural South Carolina and urban Brooklyn . . . A quiet affirmation of a strong and close-knit family that, along with so many other African-Americans, found a better life as part of the Great Migration. --Kirkus Reviews
Spare, eloquent . . . A beautifully told family tale about a loving, close-knit African-American family over several decades . . . The language is deliberate and lyrical. . . . Landscapes indicative both of the changing geography and the passing of time . . . remarkable, with light falling on faces at the perfect angle and facial features carrying abundant emotion. Young listeners . . . [will] be drawn to this warm and hope-filled tale. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
A poignant, realistic, generational story. Woodson masterfully weaves a tale of an African American family's move from the rural south to New York City . . . Ransome's beautifully rich oil paintings add depth and interest . . . The perfect picture book to include in a study of The Great Migration . . . An excellent tale to include in a study of family histories. It is a picture book to savor as a read-aloud. --Library Media Connection
About Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson is one of the US's most acclaimed contemporary authors for young people. She first came to attention with her multi-award-winning book Brown Girl Dreaming, a memoir in blank verse of her childhood and family life moving between the American South and New York. She was the Young People's Poet Laureate from 2015 to 2017 and the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for 2018-19. She was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2020.
Brown Girl Dreaming was also a recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award, a Newbery Honor Award, the NAACP Image Award and the Sibert Honor Award. Woodson was recently named the Young People's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation.
Her recent adult book, Another Brooklyn, was a National Book Award finalist. Born on February 12th in Columbus, Ohio, Jacqueline Woodson grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and Brooklyn, New York and graduated from college with a B.A. in English. She is the author of more than two dozen award-winning books for young adults, middle graders and children; among her many accolades, she is a four-time Newbery Honor winner, a four-time National Book Award finalist, and a two-time Coretta Scott King Award winner.
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