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Seeing Red
National Book Award winner Kathryn Erskine delivers a powerful story of family, friendship, and race relations in the South.
Life will never be the same for Red Porter. He's a kid growing up around black car grease, white fence paint, and the backward attitudes of the folks who live in his hometown, Stony Gap, Virginia.
Red's daddy, his idol, has just died, leaving Red and Mama with some hard decisions and a whole lot of doubt. Should they sell the Porter family business, a gas station, repair shop, and convenience store rolled into one, where the slogan -- "Porter's: We Fix it Right!" -- has been shouting the family's pride for as long as anyone can remember?
With Daddy gone, everything's different. Through his friendship with Thomas, Beau, and Miss Georgia, Red starts to see there's a lot more than car motors and rusty fenders that need fixing in his world.
When Red discovers the injustices that have been happening in Stony Gap since before he was born, he's faced with unsettling questions about his family's legacy.
Life will never be the same for Red Porter. He's a kid growing up around black car grease, white fence paint, and the backward attitudes of the folks who live in his hometown, Stony Gap, Virginia.
Red's daddy, his idol, has just died, leaving Red and Mama with some hard decisions and a whole lot of doubt. Should they sell the Porter family business, a gas station, repair shop, and convenience store rolled into one, where the slogan -- "Porter's: We Fix it Right!" -- has been shouting the family's pride for as long as anyone can remember?
With Daddy gone, everything's different. Through his friendship with Thomas, Beau, and Miss Georgia, Red starts to see there's a lot more than car motors and rusty fenders that need fixing in his world.
When Red discovers the injustices that have been happening in Stony Gap since before he was born, he's faced with unsettling questions about his family's legacy.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
72 people are currently reading
1315 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Erskine
15 books316 followersKathryn Erskine spent many years as a lawyer before realizing that she'd rather write things that people might actually enjoy reading.
She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland.
The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although... how did the headmistress know that it was the wee redhead who led the campaign to free the mice from the biology lab?
Erskine draws on her childhood and her second childhood through her children for her stories. She still loves to travel but nowadays most trips tend to be local, such as basketball and tennis courts, occasional emergency room visits, and the natural food store for very healthy organic chocolate with life saving flavonoids.
She grew up mostly overseas and attended eight different schools, her favorite being the Hogwarts-type castle in Scotland.
The faculty, of course, did not consist of wizards, although... how did the headmistress know that it was the wee redhead who led the campaign to free the mice from the biology lab?
Erskine draws on her childhood and her second childhood through her children for her stories. She still loves to travel but nowadays most trips tend to be local, such as basketball and tennis courts, occasional emergency room visits, and the natural food store for very healthy organic chocolate with life saving flavonoids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
October 24, 2023
This book begs to be read, the story must be heard. Red’s tumultuous summer of ’72 deals with an imperative, yet oft untold part of our history. Discovering these deplorable truths is painful. Many acts of our ancestors are unfathomably cruel and hateful; particularly when one expects that his great-great-greats shared the same sense of kindness, generosity and justness that his own parents instilled and nurtured in him.
My history books told of progress in 1972. Nearly 20 years prior, the Supreme Court ruled against segregation in schools, but it wasn’t until early ’72 that the president signed the law stating that women and minorities must be treated just the same as white males. Regrettably, this was not enough to change the thinking or the actions of many ignorant, bigoted white males in Virginia. What my history books didn’t say, Ms. Erskine does. This is historical fiction, in that the characters are fictional; but the history is gruesomely real, including the gut-wrenching story of Emmett Till.
In the tiny town of Stony Gap, Virginia, twelve-year-old Red, a remarkably good boy, was forced to become an admirable, courageous young man. Fantastically crafted, he is a captivating character that with a determined sense of always doing what is right, resulting in loyalty, honesty, and the willingness to defend the weak, almost to the point of ferocity. Easily imagined as a puffy-chested, tiny, scrappy rooster that will become vicious to protect; Red quickly captured this reader’s heart.
The sudden death of his father combined with his mom’s desire to leave the only home he has ever known create a panic that causes Red to make a very big mistake. In his efforts to right his wrong, he discovers a shocking secret about his very own ancestors. With wide open eyes, Red begins to see a bigger picture of discrimination, racism and cruelty. The lengths that he is willing to go to in order to right more wrongs than he could have imagined are nothing short of amazing.
This is one of the most touching, heart-wrenching, yet hopeful books that I have read. I hope that it can be found in school libraries all over my home state of Virginia. I fantasize that history teachers everywhere have this book to refer to and to share with their students. While Seeing Red is intended for, and perfectly suited for a Middle Grade audience; I cannot imagine any adult reading this book without shedding a tear.
My history books told of progress in 1972. Nearly 20 years prior, the Supreme Court ruled against segregation in schools, but it wasn’t until early ’72 that the president signed the law stating that women and minorities must be treated just the same as white males. Regrettably, this was not enough to change the thinking or the actions of many ignorant, bigoted white males in Virginia. What my history books didn’t say, Ms. Erskine does. This is historical fiction, in that the characters are fictional; but the history is gruesomely real, including the gut-wrenching story of Emmett Till.
In the tiny town of Stony Gap, Virginia, twelve-year-old Red, a remarkably good boy, was forced to become an admirable, courageous young man. Fantastically crafted, he is a captivating character that with a determined sense of always doing what is right, resulting in loyalty, honesty, and the willingness to defend the weak, almost to the point of ferocity. Easily imagined as a puffy-chested, tiny, scrappy rooster that will become vicious to protect; Red quickly captured this reader’s heart.
The sudden death of his father combined with his mom’s desire to leave the only home he has ever known create a panic that causes Red to make a very big mistake. In his efforts to right his wrong, he discovers a shocking secret about his very own ancestors. With wide open eyes, Red begins to see a bigger picture of discrimination, racism and cruelty. The lengths that he is willing to go to in order to right more wrongs than he could have imagined are nothing short of amazing.
This is one of the most touching, heart-wrenching, yet hopeful books that I have read. I hope that it can be found in school libraries all over my home state of Virginia. I fantasize that history teachers everywhere have this book to refer to and to share with their students. While Seeing Red is intended for, and perfectly suited for a Middle Grade audience; I cannot imagine any adult reading this book without shedding a tear.
September 22, 2013
Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine – Historical Fiction, 6th grade and up (I know in some reviews it has 5th grade for the level but the topics are more of a middle school level in my opinion.) Released in October – I felt quite honored to read this book by the powerful Kathryn Erskine who creates touching, thoughtful books. I wasn’t sure what to expect but apprecaited her approach to the perspective of a young adolescent boy whose father recently passed away. Red is a pretty powerful character set in a situation in the 70′s that is wraught in racism, especially in a town that is fighting segregation blatantly and chases those who disagree with their point of view out of town. I appreciate how characters, even the lovely mom, grow through the story, and help focus you in on forgiveness, ignorance, and hope. Just beautiful message of how you can make a difference in the world, even in small steps. I really, really loved reading this. After reading this book, I couldn’t stop thinking, thinking, thinking about it… I really wasn’t up for reading anything else for a while. I would connect this book to A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson. Powerful.
Here are two quotes that I couldn’t stop rereading from Seeing Red:
“That’s when I realized that me and Mama had opposite ways of grieving. She loved Daddy so much that, without him, she was like the shell of a snail that’d lost its living inside part. Like a shell you’d put on your nightstand, sitting there doing nothing until it got covered with Bazooka wrappers and a busted whistle and the baseball cards that aren’t worth putting in the album, and your momma would come in your room and say, “Boys. I just don’t understand them,” and throw it all out, even the shell.”…”
“So everyone just sits there and says nothing? How’s anything ever going to get better?”
Here are two quotes that I couldn’t stop rereading from Seeing Red:
“That’s when I realized that me and Mama had opposite ways of grieving. She loved Daddy so much that, without him, she was like the shell of a snail that’d lost its living inside part. Like a shell you’d put on your nightstand, sitting there doing nothing until it got covered with Bazooka wrappers and a busted whistle and the baseball cards that aren’t worth putting in the album, and your momma would come in your room and say, “Boys. I just don’t understand them,” and throw it all out, even the shell.”…”
“So everyone just sits there and says nothing? How’s anything ever going to get better?”
March 8, 2014
A sudden heart attack has left Red’s family at a loss. Red’s daddy has passed away and things just aren’t the same. Red used to help his daddy out in the repair shop repairing people’s autos and now Red still goes into the garage just to talk to his daddy even though his daddy no longer mans the shop. His mother on the other hand, sees the constant reminder of the shop as something totally different, “If I can’t have him anymore I don’t want to have pieces of him all around me, If I can’t hear his voice I don’t want to hear him everywhere I go. “ Without daddy there, business is down and the bills are piling up. Mama decides to put their house, their small store and the shop on the market and move. Red doesn’t want to move to Ohio, back to mama family, so he takes matters into his own hands. He knows he’s not supposed to hang out with Darrell but this calls for desperate measures. The problems he ends up in would deeply disappoint his father but that does not stop Red, as he is bound and determined to stay in Stony Gap. Red knows it is about family pride but as Red struggles to stay in his hometown, he discovers more about family pride than he originally set out. There has been bad blood with the Dunlop’s next door since Red can remember. Mr. Dunlop has a temper and he takes it out on his kids, just like his daddy and his daddy’s dad. Red is best friends with Rosie Dunlop and they have a remarkable relationship. Think best friends, watching out for each other and sticking up for each other that would best describe their relationship.
Red was so determined to keep his family in Stony Gap that he acted desperate and took some extreme measures. He didn’t realize how excessive his actions were until he was committed to them and then it was too late to back out. Perhaps it was because he was a caring individual that made him go to such extreme measures but his caring mannerism touched my heart. I enjoyed reading about his relationships with Rosie and Miss Georgia. He opened his heart and showed so much warmth toward them. Kathryn shows us a wide variety of characters which all play a vital part surrounding Red’s life. You just never know what you will uncover when you least expect it.
Red was so determined to keep his family in Stony Gap that he acted desperate and took some extreme measures. He didn’t realize how excessive his actions were until he was committed to them and then it was too late to back out. Perhaps it was because he was a caring individual that made him go to such extreme measures but his caring mannerism touched my heart. I enjoyed reading about his relationships with Rosie and Miss Georgia. He opened his heart and showed so much warmth toward them. Kathryn shows us a wide variety of characters which all play a vital part surrounding Red’s life. You just never know what you will uncover when you least expect it.
October 21, 2013
As hard as the unexpected loss of his father is for twelve-year-old Red Porter, the changes that follow that loss may be even harder. As his mother decides to sell the family business--a gas station, car repair shop and convenience store--and the property and move to Ohio where her family lives, Red just can't imagine leaving his Stony Gap, Virginia home. After all, the Porters stand for something in this town, and Red takes seriously the family slogan "We fix it right." But despite his best intentions, he is drawn into dangerous situations and makes some poor decisions because of his determination to sabotage his mother's efforts to relocate. As he struggles to right several wrongs and steer himself into the right direction, he has plenty of support from Miss Georgia, an elderly neighbor who always offers him a safe place to come; Rosie Dunlop, a good-hearted girl living with an abusive father; Beau, who runs the repair shop; and even Miss Miller, the history teacher who encourages her students to ask questions that matter. The author deftly handles her setting and the 1972 time period, sprinkling in references to music [Marvin Gaye's unforgettable "What's Going On," and Aretha Franklin's "R-E-X-P-E-C-T" are featured, appropriately], news events, and television programs as well as a nod to the women's liberation movement that was gaining attention at the time. As Red faces hard truths about his own family, he must decide whether to hide the truth or confront it. And what is more important: He must decide how his own history will affect his future. The author raises tough questions about family, race relations, bigotry, loyalty, and abuse as well as providing ample possibilities for reflection, forgiveness, and change. Clearly, she believes that change starts with one act by one person, and that fixing the wrongs in the world is just as complicated as repairing cars and fixing lives. This is a title to savor and to linger over long after reaching its conclusion.
October 17, 2013
Sometimes a story needs to be told purely and simply without a lot of flash, frills or fanfare. The truth has to be told plain and simple as Red, his mama and brother, J. And this is how Kathy Erskine brings us Seeing Red.
Still grieving the loss of his father to a sudden heart attack, twelve year old, Red, is doing all he can to be the man of the house and to prevent his mother from doing the unthinkable - selling their home, shop, and store and moving out of state. Angry and desperate when he sees the For Sale sign go up, he turns to a troublesome neighbor boy for help. This leads to the biggest mistake of Red's life, as Red is initiated into a group called the Brotherhood, a choice that will severely test his friendship with a black friend, Thomas, who comes to Virginia from Washington D C every summer. Fortunately, this also leads Red on a road of discovery about himself and his ancestors,
whom he has always taken great pride in.
I love everything about this book. Katherine Erskine skillfully weaves in bits and pieces of injustices and crimes of the KKK in the 1960s and 70s and creates characters that you grow to love and care deeply aboutt. Of course there is Red, but also young J who is usually found in his underwear, preciously holding on to his last remembrance of his Dad , a two month old bandaid his Dad put on him the day he died, Rosie, Red's abused neighbor friend who lives in terror of her Dad every day, and Red's teacher, a new teacher challenging her students to think for themselves, to name a few. Teachers, make room for this book in your Civil Rights collection. You won't want to miss it.
Still grieving the loss of his father to a sudden heart attack, twelve year old, Red, is doing all he can to be the man of the house and to prevent his mother from doing the unthinkable - selling their home, shop, and store and moving out of state. Angry and desperate when he sees the For Sale sign go up, he turns to a troublesome neighbor boy for help. This leads to the biggest mistake of Red's life, as Red is initiated into a group called the Brotherhood, a choice that will severely test his friendship with a black friend, Thomas, who comes to Virginia from Washington D C every summer. Fortunately, this also leads Red on a road of discovery about himself and his ancestors,
whom he has always taken great pride in.
I love everything about this book. Katherine Erskine skillfully weaves in bits and pieces of injustices and crimes of the KKK in the 1960s and 70s and creates characters that you grow to love and care deeply aboutt. Of course there is Red, but also young J who is usually found in his underwear, preciously holding on to his last remembrance of his Dad , a two month old bandaid his Dad put on him the day he died, Rosie, Red's abused neighbor friend who lives in terror of her Dad every day, and Red's teacher, a new teacher challenging her students to think for themselves, to name a few. Teachers, make room for this book in your Civil Rights collection. You won't want to miss it.
August 1, 2015
Seeing red indeed...
Discover the past,
understand the present,
change the future.
The thing is, when you get over the flu, everything goes back to normal. When your daddy dies, nothing is ever going to be normal again.
-Chapter 14
The above is not a spoiler. The fist sentence in this book talks about Red's dad dying. Red was really close with his dad. They fixed cars together in their shop. Now that Red's dad is dead, Red's mom is trying to figure out how to survive without him. They are living in rural Virginia in the era of the Vietnam War. African Americans and women still don't have many rights and are still widely discriminated against.
Red's mom is planning to sell the house, shop & store and move them all to Ohio where her family lives. Red is very angry about her trying to sell and move. He wants to stay where he is. Being in the shop where he worked with his dad really keeps him connected. He still talks to his dad when he is in the shop.
So, this is a historical fiction book. Not my favorite genre, but this is one of the Sunshine State 2015-16 grade 6-8 nominees. And I am trying to read all of them. This is a well-written story about a 6th grade boy trying to deal with the loss of his father. He is also trying to find his way in a confusing world filled with hatred and bigotry. He learns a great deal and grows up a lot in this book. It's a good book, just not one of my favorites.
Recommended to:
Grade 6 and up. There is some violence and race issues that may be difficult and confusing for younger readers.
Discover the past,
understand the present,
change the future.
The thing is, when you get over the flu, everything goes back to normal. When your daddy dies, nothing is ever going to be normal again.
-Chapter 14
The above is not a spoiler. The fist sentence in this book talks about Red's dad dying. Red was really close with his dad. They fixed cars together in their shop. Now that Red's dad is dead, Red's mom is trying to figure out how to survive without him. They are living in rural Virginia in the era of the Vietnam War. African Americans and women still don't have many rights and are still widely discriminated against.
Red's mom is planning to sell the house, shop & store and move them all to Ohio where her family lives. Red is very angry about her trying to sell and move. He wants to stay where he is. Being in the shop where he worked with his dad really keeps him connected. He still talks to his dad when he is in the shop.
So, this is a historical fiction book. Not my favorite genre, but this is one of the Sunshine State 2015-16 grade 6-8 nominees. And I am trying to read all of them. This is a well-written story about a 6th grade boy trying to deal with the loss of his father. He is also trying to find his way in a confusing world filled with hatred and bigotry. He learns a great deal and grows up a lot in this book. It's a good book, just not one of my favorites.
Recommended to:
Grade 6 and up. There is some violence and race issues that may be difficult and confusing for younger readers.
March 13, 2021
After reading Mockingbird, I knew I'd enjoy Kathryn Erskine's next book, but this was even better than I expected. Set in 1972, the story opens with 12-year-old Red Porter wondering how he's going to keep his dad's garage and shop going after his father's sudden death of a heart attack. His mother has decided to sell their home and move to Ohio, but Red is determined to stay in Virginia, despite the backwoods attitude of some of the neighbors and kids in school. He particularly loathes Mr. Dunlop, a raging, abusive neighbor who bullies Red's friend Rosie. The story seems deceptively simple at first as Red plots how to convince his mother to stay in Virginia, even turning to a local gang of thugs for help, but slowly the plot tightens. After being part of a horrific racist attack, Red struggles to make things right again, but later finds out a disturbing fact about his family's land and doesn't see how he can. Red is constantly driven by his desire to be the kind of person his father was--kind, accepting and honest--while still making foolish mistakes and rebelling against his mother. The setting is rich with controversy, the story taking place during the Vietnam War and the beginning of the Women's Liberation Movement, as well as bringing up civil rights. I loved the characters of Miss Georgia, Mr. Walters, Miss Miller, Rosie, Beau, and even Red's whiny little brother J. A rich, character-driven story with plenty of action and depth.
October 15, 2022
Kathy Erskine’s 2013 award-winning novel for middle grade and younger YA readers should be read now as much as then. It’s themes of equality, knowing history in order to create your own better history, family & kinship are vividly conveyed in the pages of Red’s story. Set in the early 70s, 6th grader Red Porter lives in a small Virginia town that is still struggling to understand concepts of equity and equality for all. And that goes for gender as well as race. But Red’s father was a good man who viewed everyone as worthy of respect and taught his son to do the same. A surprising discovery after his death and some serious mistakes by Red challenge many to examine their beliefs and to come to grips with brutal past history. With this plot as the backdrop, Erskine seamlessly incorporates historically significant events such as the 1955 torture and lynching of Emmitt Till, the Southern Manifesto of 1956, Massive Resistance in 1964 and the Supreme Court’s 1967 decision in Loving v Virginia into the story and shows both Red and readers the ups and downs of America’s attempt to create a better future for all and in a way that does not come across as heavy-handed or preachy. But there is more to Seeing Red than just a civil rights story-Red’s friend Rosie is trapped in an abusive home, his friend Beau loses his mother and his future is uncertain, and his own mother is struggling with depression after losing her husband. To lighten the serious subjects tackled in the book, Red’s little brother J is full of smart aleck comments and rowdy behavior that may have the target audience remember their own exploits or picturing their own younger siblings! Great book.
January 11, 2015
Seeing Red is historical fiction, taking place in 1972 Virginia, and definitely for older middle grade readers, as Erskine doesn't sugar-coat the history of the time period.
Why Kids Will Love It - Any middle grader who loves historical fiction will love this book. It goes into much detail and really makes the reader feel they are in the early 1970's, and girl or boy, it doesn't matter. The book is pretty fast paced and keeps the reader on their toes. Many characters seem a bit stereo-typical at first, but as their layers are revealed, they become more interesting and not always who they seem to be originally.
What I learned as a writer - The attention to detail. Erskine obviously spent a tremendous amount of time on research for this book, although after reading the back matter, she revealed that many of the characters are based on real life people and events, as well. Erskine also shows a delicacy to her writing when describing difficult, hard-to-read situations. It is tough to imagine that people in our history could act they way that they did, and I'm sure, very hard for many middle graders of today to understand. Erskine's writing helps tone down the emotion without taking anything away from it.
Why Kids Will Love It - Any middle grader who loves historical fiction will love this book. It goes into much detail and really makes the reader feel they are in the early 1970's, and girl or boy, it doesn't matter. The book is pretty fast paced and keeps the reader on their toes. Many characters seem a bit stereo-typical at first, but as their layers are revealed, they become more interesting and not always who they seem to be originally.
What I learned as a writer - The attention to detail. Erskine obviously spent a tremendous amount of time on research for this book, although after reading the back matter, she revealed that many of the characters are based on real life people and events, as well. Erskine also shows a delicacy to her writing when describing difficult, hard-to-read situations. It is tough to imagine that people in our history could act they way that they did, and I'm sure, very hard for many middle graders of today to understand. Erskine's writing helps tone down the emotion without taking anything away from it.
January 3, 2014
I love Kathryn Erskine and her Author's Note in this book says it all:
Quote:
"I wrote this book so that readers might see that, no matter what your age, you can make a difference. If you think something is wrong, change it. If you think people are being wronged, change that. You have the power to change things about your world. That doesn't mean you'll always win--often, you won't--but even making an attempt to "fix it right" does have an effect. Above all, you have the power to be whatever kind of person you want to be. No one can take that incredible power away from you. I also wrote this story so readers would know that it wasn't very long ago that people routinely judged one another by the color of their skin or their ethnicity. While we have come a long way there is still a long road ahead of us. To the travelers on this road: Be brave; be strong; be leaders."
End Quote
We routinely have to choose between what is right and what is easy, hopefully the powerful story and message of this book will help our children to choose "what is right".
Quote:
"I wrote this book so that readers might see that, no matter what your age, you can make a difference. If you think something is wrong, change it. If you think people are being wronged, change that. You have the power to change things about your world. That doesn't mean you'll always win--often, you won't--but even making an attempt to "fix it right" does have an effect. Above all, you have the power to be whatever kind of person you want to be. No one can take that incredible power away from you. I also wrote this story so readers would know that it wasn't very long ago that people routinely judged one another by the color of their skin or their ethnicity. While we have come a long way there is still a long road ahead of us. To the travelers on this road: Be brave; be strong; be leaders."
End Quote
We routinely have to choose between what is right and what is easy, hopefully the powerful story and message of this book will help our children to choose "what is right".
October 7, 2013
This is a must read for everyone, young and old. Red is a young boy who has lost his father, whom he idolized. His world is further upended when his mother decides to sell his father's gas station to move to her home state. Erskine weaves the civil rights movement in Virginia seamlessly into this tale. And she fills it with unforgettable, yet totally believable characters (Miss Georgia, who makes one think of Maggie Walker, a pioneering black woman from Richmond) and details of the early 1970's (think RockEm SockEm robots). And you will never forget the fear you experience through her amazing writing as you read about Red being lured into a cross-burning! We may have come a long way in terms of civil rights in this country, but Erskine reminds us of what a battle it has been!
December 14, 2016
I thought the book had a lot of meaning to it. There was a big moral and how some kids can relate to how Red felt throughout the story. The story takes place back in the 60's and that is why it was such a good book to me, because Red was a boy who grew up helping his dad work on cars and he learned from watching and also helping. As the story moves along Red talks about the people and their cars that they drive. The cool part is reading this book in this time and age the cars are collectible and worth more then when they were new. I would recommencement this book to anyone that is person that has a thing for old cars and can relate to what Red is going through throughout the story.
May 5, 2014
This is such a wonderful historical-fiction story that also ties in great messages about friendship, family, and doing what's right. I feel this would be an excellent companion to any U.S. History/Government lesson involving race relations. The pop culture references of the '70s may be lost on younger readers, but they will still understand the powerful messages Erskine ties in to her story. Highly recommend!
April 5, 2016
I liked this book. A look at racism and sexism in 1970s Virginia through the eyes of a middle schooler. A good follow up to a book like Lions of Little Rock.
May 10, 2015
This book made me almost cry. I wanted too, but I can't cry over books or movies. It made me want to cry, scream, rejoice, and kill people. I absolutely loved it
July 27, 2016
Full review to come.
June 12, 2020
The book "Seeing Red" by Kathryn Erskine is an amazing book that looks into the life of a 12 year old boy. This boy goes by the nickname "Red" who is growing up in the south, in the state of Virginia living in the country in 1972. In this book, Red struggles with his family dynamics with his father deceased, the selling of his home, and family business. Adding to the stress he lives around racism and the KKK living next door.
Throughout the book there are racial references, physical beatings, life threatening situations, and criminal activity. Red experiences first hand what it is like living in a place where people of color are attacked, beaten, and lynched. The author uses figurative language such as similes and imagery to add dimension to the story, making it easier for the reader to know the story and the depth throughout.
I would rate this book 4 stars! I did enjoy reading this book and it really enlightened me to what colored people had to experience. It is very informational and I would highly recommend!
Throughout the book there are racial references, physical beatings, life threatening situations, and criminal activity. Red experiences first hand what it is like living in a place where people of color are attacked, beaten, and lynched. The author uses figurative language such as similes and imagery to add dimension to the story, making it easier for the reader to know the story and the depth throughout.
I would rate this book 4 stars! I did enjoy reading this book and it really enlightened me to what colored people had to experience. It is very informational and I would highly recommend!
September 15, 2018
Definitely an "amazing" book to read. Took me right back to my school days when I was learning about inequality among the races. I think that Kathryn did an outstanding job with this book. I loved following the mystery and guessing where that church was. Ended up being found in the perfect spot. Just fitting for the narrator of the story.
This would be a great book for 5th through 8 graders to be assigned for reading classes.
There were many aspects of the later 60's through the 70's that were very well portrayed in this book.
Yes, I would recommend this book be read by everyone.
This would be a great book for 5th through 8 graders to be assigned for reading classes.
There were many aspects of the later 60's through the 70's that were very well portrayed in this book.
Yes, I would recommend this book be read by everyone.
June 5, 2023
2.5
"No. Ray was never a nice boy. But his daddy was
never kind to him, either, and I think that's what turned
him from the beginnin'. Ray never learned kindness.
Ray's grandaddy beat his daddy, his daddy beat him
She sighed.
"And now he beats Darrell," I finished for her.
"They're a long line of angry, fightin' folks. That Ray
is still fightin?'
"No. Ray was never a nice boy. But his daddy was
never kind to him, either, and I think that's what turned
him from the beginnin'. Ray never learned kindness.
Ray's grandaddy beat his daddy, his daddy beat him
She sighed.
"And now he beats Darrell," I finished for her.
"They're a long line of angry, fightin' folks. That Ray
is still fightin?'
October 28, 2014
So I basically spent this entire book on the verge of tears. I had NO idea what I was getting to with this book. It's set during the 70's and it deals with the aftermath of the civil rights movement and the rampant sexism that was still in place. This book is powerful.
Every thing in this book is so layered - in a lot of ways it reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird (I know I have said this about another book only a couple weeks ago - I promise not everything reminds me of TKaM!) Sometimes the reader has things figured out way before the character in the same way that in TKaM, Scout might say something and not fully understand what it meant, whereas the reader knew exactly what was happening. It's not like a mystery where it's unfortunate that you know things before the narrator does. It really sets up different levels of understanding depending on the reader's experience, which is why I think it would be a great book for classrooms or from a parent as an introduction to issues. This book is also a great example as to why the Bechdel test isn't a measurement of how good a book is, it's simply an observation of their roles. Seeing Red doesn't pass the test as the book is narrated in first person and our narrator is a boy, but it strongly advocates male/female equality (it's not preachy though, don't worry). I'm not sure I've read a book that so strongly shows why we need it, and what it means when we don't have it, and it was very well done!
For the full review, head to so long and thanks for all the fish
Every thing in this book is so layered - in a lot of ways it reminds me of To Kill a Mockingbird (I know I have said this about another book only a couple weeks ago - I promise not everything reminds me of TKaM!) Sometimes the reader has things figured out way before the character in the same way that in TKaM, Scout might say something and not fully understand what it meant, whereas the reader knew exactly what was happening. It's not like a mystery where it's unfortunate that you know things before the narrator does. It really sets up different levels of understanding depending on the reader's experience, which is why I think it would be a great book for classrooms or from a parent as an introduction to issues. This book is also a great example as to why the Bechdel test isn't a measurement of how good a book is, it's simply an observation of their roles. Seeing Red doesn't pass the test as the book is narrated in first person and our narrator is a boy, but it strongly advocates male/female equality (it's not preachy though, don't worry). I'm not sure I've read a book that so strongly shows why we need it, and what it means when we don't have it, and it was very well done!
For the full review, head to so long and thanks for all the fish
May 16, 2017
Red grew up around cars, grease, white paint, and tools his whole life because his family owns there own car shop. but ever since Red's dad has passed away there mom has been talking about wanting to sell there business, but Red is trying to stop her taking away something he loves. but ever since his father died he has been the man in the house, taking care of his mother and little brother. he never gets to even be with his friends. finally red realizes that there is much more to life than cars. he then discovers unsettling discovery about his family.
In this book it mentions a lot of similes, one of them is "Thomas's voice ended like the howl of a dog left out in the cold too long." another one that this book has is, "the anger drained out of his booming voice until he sounded almost like a little kid." Similes don't mean what they are saying, its an exaggeration which this book has plenty of.
i think this is a great book and i totally recommend it because it teaches you that sometimes things go wrong and its time you can take responsibilities. I also like this book because it has some mystery when it comes to family. I also like how this book teaches you to have lots of character. I give this book a 5 star rating.
In this book it mentions a lot of similes, one of them is "Thomas's voice ended like the howl of a dog left out in the cold too long." another one that this book has is, "the anger drained out of his booming voice until he sounded almost like a little kid." Similes don't mean what they are saying, its an exaggeration which this book has plenty of.
i think this is a great book and i totally recommend it because it teaches you that sometimes things go wrong and its time you can take responsibilities. I also like this book because it has some mystery when it comes to family. I also like how this book teaches you to have lots of character. I give this book a 5 star rating.
November 9, 2016
Seeing red is a very good book, it helped me to start looking at things a little bit differently. At first I didn't think i would like it but then it turned out that it was amazing. A couple of interesting things happen in this book, you will meet Miss Georgia, Red, Miss Miller and a couple other important characters. The book talks about a lot of stuff like something happens to people that Red really cares about and he does something he isn't proud of, but he keeps trying to make it better, when he finds something his daddy was trying to find he said he was going to start looking for it himself and make his daddy proud. But the book is really good and if you like books that could really happen and like books that are pretty intense then read this book. I thought it was amazing, you may not think the same but "don't knock it until you try it."
January 4, 2014
I had a hard time getting through this one. I did not find the main character very interesting, or any of the other characters honestly besides maybe Miss Georgia. I did not care enough about the plot to pay attention and figure out what was going on with the property problem. It seemed strange that Red had never noticed the racism in his town before. The characters were also too clearly divided into the "good," non-racist ones and the "bad" ones. Darrell was maybe the only character with any subtlety, since he seemed to be trying to protect his sister from their father although he also ran with a bad crowd - but then he disappeared from the story and we never heard from him again.
July 5, 2015
Excellent historical fiction! A plot with many layers about identity through the lenses of civil rights, women's rights, domestic violence, family loss, heritage, and coming of age (the obvious in young adult literature). The main character's balance of positive and negative actions makes him realistic and relatable to readers. After judging others for their acts, he faces a dark truth in his own family, bringing a depth to the book that resonates with adult readers, as well. Glad this one is on our summer reading list! This will be tough to beat for Virginia Readers' Choice 2015.
September 5, 2013
With a male main character who's worked at his father's car repair shop for years, you'd think I could get interested in it enough because boys might be interested in fixing cars and family issues and now he must struggle to find his way in the world after his father dies and his mother wants to move.
BUT, the writing wasn't grabbing my attention and I soon lost interest in learning more about the race issues plaguing Red's family history.
BUT, the writing wasn't grabbing my attention and I soon lost interest in learning more about the race issues plaguing Red's family history.
August 14, 2014
National Book Award winner Katherine Erkine's powerful book kept me up reading at night. Red Porter is growing up in 1972 in a small town in Virginia. Dealing with grief, racism, and family, Red learns that he can help change the course of history. I truly loved this book!
December 21, 2015
this is a great story for middle aged women who like to fantasize about what "coming of age" is like. gotta say i am so sick and tired of this white washed b.s. that pretends to ask tough questions.
March 27, 2018
Seeing Red by Kathryn Erskine is a fictional novel. When reading the book, I kept hearing the famous words of Martin Luther King Jr. who said: “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This seemed to be a common theme in the book because there was a conflict with race in the setting.
Frederick Stewart Porter, AKA Red, is still not over his father’s death, and to make matters worse, his mother wants to sell the auto shop, that has been in the Porter family generations, and to move the family away from Virginia, up to Ohio to be closer to her family. Red does everything in his power to try and stay, but he gets into some trouble along the way. He is so adamant about protecting the house and shop, that he is willing to lose a friend, Thomas Jefferson, who is also African-American. After the incident, Red connects with Thomas’s great-grandmother and she later shows him the history of her family and the church that they had been a part of. In their discoveries, Red finds that his family was involved with that African-American church. He even finds out his family was involved in a murder case. In the outcome of this story, Red becomes more aware of the racial inequality in his world and the meaning of leaving a legacy.
Character Description: I chose Miss Georgia because she makes the story interesting by giving her story and also the fact that she is old and wise. It symbolizes that she is seen as a great role model for those who seek wisdom. Red goes to her a lot throughout the book. She teaches him to look at other people’s viewpoints (the other people being African-Americans). One quality that she possesses is, like I said before, her wise nature and another quality is that she is always willing to help, so she cares for people. The last quality, and possibly the best, is that she always does what she says she’ll do. She was always truthful and never told a lie. That is an important quality because it tells the reader that they can be trusted.
Overall, this book really made me think of all of the problems with race that we have today. It just reminded me that we need to be able to accept people for who they are as people, and not judge them by something as silly as the color of their skin. I really liked the fact that even though it is a book meant for teens, the message applies to anyone and everyone who reads it. Since reading the book, my opinion about racial problems haven’t really changed. I still feel like it’s a very big problem, and I’ve become more aware of it.
I highly recommend this book! It has a great lesson you take away from it and it just overall makes you think of what life was like back when racism was at its peak.
Frederick Stewart Porter, AKA Red, is still not over his father’s death, and to make matters worse, his mother wants to sell the auto shop, that has been in the Porter family generations, and to move the family away from Virginia, up to Ohio to be closer to her family. Red does everything in his power to try and stay, but he gets into some trouble along the way. He is so adamant about protecting the house and shop, that he is willing to lose a friend, Thomas Jefferson, who is also African-American. After the incident, Red connects with Thomas’s great-grandmother and she later shows him the history of her family and the church that they had been a part of. In their discoveries, Red finds that his family was involved with that African-American church. He even finds out his family was involved in a murder case. In the outcome of this story, Red becomes more aware of the racial inequality in his world and the meaning of leaving a legacy.
Character Description: I chose Miss Georgia because she makes the story interesting by giving her story and also the fact that she is old and wise. It symbolizes that she is seen as a great role model for those who seek wisdom. Red goes to her a lot throughout the book. She teaches him to look at other people’s viewpoints (the other people being African-Americans). One quality that she possesses is, like I said before, her wise nature and another quality is that she is always willing to help, so she cares for people. The last quality, and possibly the best, is that she always does what she says she’ll do. She was always truthful and never told a lie. That is an important quality because it tells the reader that they can be trusted.
Overall, this book really made me think of all of the problems with race that we have today. It just reminded me that we need to be able to accept people for who they are as people, and not judge them by something as silly as the color of their skin. I really liked the fact that even though it is a book meant for teens, the message applies to anyone and everyone who reads it. Since reading the book, my opinion about racial problems haven’t really changed. I still feel like it’s a very big problem, and I’ve become more aware of it.
I highly recommend this book! It has a great lesson you take away from it and it just overall makes you think of what life was like back when racism was at its peak.
September 1, 2017
"The truth will set you free." Or so writes Miss Miller on her board.
When I studied history in school, I learned dates, events, and names. I didn’t learn the motivations, the stories, the different perspectives on the truth, and most important, I didn’t learn what changed and what still needs to change. And I didn’t learn to reflect on where I stand and how I can become an agent of change. Teachers told me what to think; Miss Miller “tell[s] us to think!” In his first classroom encounter with this new, hippie teacher, Red says, “I mean, it’s all happened already and there’s nothing you can do about it, so it’s kind of a waste of time.” Seeing Red takes the reader back to the 1970’s where Red learns that in his town discrimination and racism is still alive and his family was more involved than he knew. Learning his history will be crucial in making things “right.”
Frederick Stewart Porter (Red), the 12-year-old main character of Kathy Erskine's novel Seeing Red begins with the narrator’s observation, “Folks don't understand this unless it happens to them: When your daddy dies, everything changes." and he spends the novel navigating those changes. Red knows in many instances what his father would want him to do, but he now experiences the complexities of what is right to do and how to make that happen. Where do his rights/wants end and others’ begin. His mother needs to sell their house, shop, and store; Red wants to stay, to preserve his father’s family legacy. He has to decide how far he will go to do so. To enlist the help of the town gang, he first goes along with their initiation. If you burn a cross but don’t mean it to make a statement, does it still make a statement. What if you were just doing what you were told to do? What if your friend who is black happens to be there? What if he is tied up? And beaten?
As Red learns more abut the town and his family’s history in forming that town, he thinks back to his father’s words, “Next time, you think for yourself and decide what makes you a man, a good man.” Red does. “It felt like there was nothing but change happening.”
Why do we study history? It’s all happened already and there’s nothing you can do about it, right? this novel reminds me of the Edmund Burke quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” And that's one reason for our adolescents to read Seeing Red. We can encourage our adolescents to "Discover the past, understand the present, change the future."-Kathy Erskine.
When I studied history in school, I learned dates, events, and names. I didn’t learn the motivations, the stories, the different perspectives on the truth, and most important, I didn’t learn what changed and what still needs to change. And I didn’t learn to reflect on where I stand and how I can become an agent of change. Teachers told me what to think; Miss Miller “tell[s] us to think!” In his first classroom encounter with this new, hippie teacher, Red says, “I mean, it’s all happened already and there’s nothing you can do about it, so it’s kind of a waste of time.” Seeing Red takes the reader back to the 1970’s where Red learns that in his town discrimination and racism is still alive and his family was more involved than he knew. Learning his history will be crucial in making things “right.”
Frederick Stewart Porter (Red), the 12-year-old main character of Kathy Erskine's novel Seeing Red begins with the narrator’s observation, “Folks don't understand this unless it happens to them: When your daddy dies, everything changes." and he spends the novel navigating those changes. Red knows in many instances what his father would want him to do, but he now experiences the complexities of what is right to do and how to make that happen. Where do his rights/wants end and others’ begin. His mother needs to sell their house, shop, and store; Red wants to stay, to preserve his father’s family legacy. He has to decide how far he will go to do so. To enlist the help of the town gang, he first goes along with their initiation. If you burn a cross but don’t mean it to make a statement, does it still make a statement. What if you were just doing what you were told to do? What if your friend who is black happens to be there? What if he is tied up? And beaten?
As Red learns more abut the town and his family’s history in forming that town, he thinks back to his father’s words, “Next time, you think for yourself and decide what makes you a man, a good man.” Red does. “It felt like there was nothing but change happening.”
Why do we study history? It’s all happened already and there’s nothing you can do about it, right? this novel reminds me of the Edmund Burke quote, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men should do nothing.” And that's one reason for our adolescents to read Seeing Red. We can encourage our adolescents to "Discover the past, understand the present, change the future."-Kathy Erskine.
August 24, 2024
The summer that Red Porter’s father dies of a heart attack, everything in his idyllic life is turned on its head. Red’s little brother has reverted to acting like a baby, the family business is failing, his longtime friend won’t talk to him anymore because they have different colored skin, and worst of all, Mama is determined to sell the family property and move to Ohio. Red's attempts to step up as the man of the family and fix his situation only make things worse, and he starts the school year bitter and alienated from the people he cares about. But as it continues, a courageous new teacher opens his eyes to the true injustices in the world-- and the small, if powerful, ways he can fight them. But as Red sets off to learn the history of his town and family and right old wrongs, he discovers uncomfortable truths he never wanted to know. He is challenged to decide who he wants to be-- apart from his comfortable Appalachian community, apart from the legacy of respected Porter men, apart even from the memory of his beloved father.
Seeing Red is pretty darn close to a perfect book. As I got near the end, I would put it down for long stretches at a time, just because I didn't want it to be over. I wanted the world of Red and his friends to keep going on. The characters were a major part of the power of the story. Beau, Rosie, Miss Miller, Thomas, the incredible Miss Georgia-- they felt like old friends. But the book was also powerful in its depiction of racial injustice, quietly persisting past the civil rights era. Some scenes were difficult, but they were balanced by lighthearted depictions of Red's everyday life (the fish aspic chapter killed me!), making it so that the story never lost its humanity or became preachy. The reader simply "grew up" and wrestled with painful truths along with Red. The ending didn't tie up everything neatly-- true to life, there were some questions and loose ends-- but offered hope and satisfying closure. All in all, a well-paced, warm, and powerful read.
Seeing Red is pretty darn close to a perfect book. As I got near the end, I would put it down for long stretches at a time, just because I didn't want it to be over. I wanted the world of Red and his friends to keep going on. The characters were a major part of the power of the story. Beau, Rosie, Miss Miller, Thomas, the incredible Miss Georgia-- they felt like old friends. But the book was also powerful in its depiction of racial injustice, quietly persisting past the civil rights era. Some scenes were difficult, but they were balanced by lighthearted depictions of Red's everyday life (the fish aspic chapter killed me!), making it so that the story never lost its humanity or became preachy. The reader simply "grew up" and wrestled with painful truths along with Red. The ending didn't tie up everything neatly-- true to life, there were some questions and loose ends-- but offered hope and satisfying closure. All in all, a well-paced, warm, and powerful read.
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