The Friendship

Mildred D. Taylor's "The Friendship" is a powerful historical fiction chapter book set in 1933 Mississippi, part of the acclaimed Logan Family Saga. It follows young Cassie Logan and her brothers as they are sent to the forbidden Wallace store, where they witness an elderly Black man, Mr. Tom Bee, address the white storekeeper by his first name. This seemingly simple act is a profound challenge to the era's strict racial hierarchy, leading to a tense confrontation. The story masterfully explores themes of racial prejudice, courage, justice, and the unexpected nature of friendship, leaving readers with a deep emotional impact. It's an excellent book for initiating discussions about historical injustice and standing up for what is right.

When Aunt Callie sends Cassie Logan and her brothers for medicine, the four children head nervously for the Wallace store despite their parents' warnings never to go there. And sure enough they find themselves bracing for trouble as they witness Mr. Tom Bee, an old black man, calling the white storekeeper by his first name. The year is 1933, the place Mississippi, and any child knows that certain things just aren't done. What follows is shocking and unforgettable -- but not at all what the children, the former slave, or the storekeeper expect. Once again Mildred Taylor has drawn on stories her father told her about his boyhood to create a book that will leave no reader unmoved. Max Ginsberg's drawings capture all the sensations of that hot, tense, and fateful afternoon. - Back cover.