
Shelia P. Moses's 'The Sittin' Up' offers a poignant and heartwarming look at a twelve-year-old boy's experience with death and community in a 1930s African American sharecropping family. When the family patriarch passes away, young Bean is immersed in the traditions and collective care of his community as they prepare for and mourn their loss. This chapter book gently explores themes of grief, family bonds, and the strength found in community support, all set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in North Carolina. It's a powerful story for discussing history, cultural practices, and the universal experience of loss with children.
"When the patriarch of twelve-year-old Bean's sharecropping community dies, Bean gets a lesson in not only what it means to lose someone you love, but also in how his family and friends care for their dead"--