I was really impressed with this book. It's about Rob Garrett, the first black boy to go to a private, wealthy boarding school in Connecticut in the 1950's. I expected to read about the racism that he runs into at school, but the story went so much farther than my expectations. It explored prejudice on many different levels, partially through Rob's friendship with an Italian boy from New York with bad acne who is tortured by the cruelty of other boys. The characters and Rob's insights were completely riveting, and I learned a lot about the history of the civil rights movement through Rob's experiences. When he visits family in Harlem he meets people who planted the seeds for the Black Panthers, sneaks into a jazz club, and is exposed to many different opinions regarding segregation and whether or not integration would be beneficial to black people. I've got to stop myself from giving away everything that happens, but this was a great book. I will definitely have to re-read it to soak up more details because it moves so fast. ( )

In 1950s segregated Virginia, Rob's parents are black professionals who send Rob to a Connecticut boarding school so he can get the best education possible. As the school's first and only black student, Rob works hard to make the honor roll and defy stereotypes. But in the North attitudes about blacks are not much more enlightened than in the South. Rob is also stunned to see two classmates, one Jewish, the other Italian, ostracized by the ruling class of boys. During an eye-opening Thanksgiving visit to his aunt in Harlem, he is exposed to a back-to-Africa movement, sneaks into a jazz club with the Jewish classmate, and witnesses Malcolm X intervening in a scuffle. Back home for Christmas break, movement is afoot among his friends to organize a sit-in to protest segregation. Rob realizes the privilege of attending a private school but he also feels the importance of getting involved in the protest and supporting his people.

Gripping, true to life story of a young southern black boy who goes North to boarding school, sent by his parents to escape segregation. Well-written though there are a few spots where the grown judge drowns out the vulnerable boy. Very nicely done, overall. ( )

This book takes place in 1950's America where racial prejudice and segregation was rampant; this could have been an interesting especially told through the eyes of a young African American boy, but instead he just talks about making it on the honour roll. ( )

Target audience: Ages 14 and up

In the late 1950s, sixteen-year-old Rob Garrett began his sophomore year at Draper, a pretentius private school in Connecticut. The problem is that Rob is a black teenager and Draper is an all-white school. Thus, Rob is the first black teeanger attending an all white school. Although he does not face outright bigotry, Rob keeps to himself to avert from bullying from his white counterparts. Alone, Rob searches his soul regarding issues of race that still divides our society. He likens his status to Jackie Robinson and accepts being under microscope, aware that he has "an obligation not only to myself but to my family and the race." Rob later learns that his friends from Virginia, his former hometown, are campaigning for integration in the South. He lends his hand organizing sit-ins from a distance. In Harlem, Rob encoutners Malcolm X, Coleman Hawkins, and Joe Louis. Caught between two worlds, Rob learns to speak out against bigotry and segregation.

The book is a fictionalized memoir of Houston's experiences at the Hothkiss School in the late 1950s. Houston provides an absolutely remarkable account of coming of age during the Civil Rights movement by a young hero with a mission for change. Houston presents a though-provoking novel through solid historical details. The novel is both informative and inspiring for teens and adults. This is a valuable accompainment to any study of the civil rights movement.