Fire from the Rock is based on the historical events in Little Rock, Arkansas, when the federal government mandated that schools must be integrated. Sylvia is asked to consider being one of the first black students to be integrated into the white schools because of her intelligence and temperament. Her brother, who really wants to be one of the students, is not given the opportunity because he is too hot-headed and ready to fight.
The story does a great job of describing what life would have been like then in that community. It was hard to read (not in a technical sense) because there was so much hatred displayed by some of the characters. However, that's true to life. I know there is still some discrimination and hatred in the U.S. over racial issues, but I'd like to think we've come a long way from the period when this book was set. I think it's a good way for kids to get a picture of what it would have been like.
Genre: historical fiction
Topics: racial tension, school integration, boyfriend/girlfriend, Jews, bigotry, community life, Civil Rights movement
Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 4 of 5
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