Sugar

Jewell Parker Rhodes' "Sugar" is a poignant historical fiction novel set on a Louisiana sugar plantation during the Reconstruction period. Ten-year-old Sugar, an African American girl, finds her world shifting with the arrival of Chinese laborers. The story explores themes of race relations, cultural understanding, and the formation of unexpected friendships amidst societal change. It offers a gentle yet insightful look at a complex historical period through the eyes of a resilient young protagonist, making it suitable for children aged 8-11 for independent reading, or 6+ as a read-aloud to spark conversations about history, empathy, and identity.