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From Jewell Parker Rhodes, the author of Towers Falling and Ninth Ward (a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and a Today show Al's Book Club for Kids pick) comes a tale of a strong, spirited young girl who rises beyond her circumstances and inspires others to work toward a brighter future. Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy, the white plantation owner's son. Sugar has always yearned to learn more about the world, and she sees her chance when Chinese workers are brought in to help harvest the cane. The older River Road folks feel threatened, but Sugar is fascinated. As she befriends young Beau and elder Master Liu, they introduce her to the traditions of their culture, and she, in turn, shares the ways of plantation life. Sugar soon realizes that she must be the one to bridge the cultural gap and bring the community together. Here is a story of unlikely friendships and how they can change our lives forever.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
183 people are currently reading
3027 people want to read
About the author
Jewell Parker Rhodes
36 books1,546 followersJewell Parker Rhodes has always loved reading and writing stories. Born and raised in Manchester, a largely African-American neighborhood on the North Side of Pittsburgh, she was a voracious reader as a child. She began college as a dance major, but when she discovered there were novels by African Americans, she knew she wanted to be an author. She wrote six novels for adults, two writing guides, and a memoir, but writing for children remained her dream.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
Now she is the author of eleven books for youth including the New York Times bestsellers Will's Race for Home, Ghost Boys and Black Brother, Black Brother. Her other books include Soul Step, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold, Paradise on Fire, Towers Falling, and the Louisiana Girls Trilogy: Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. She has also published six adult novels, two writing guides, and a memoir.
She is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Book Award, the Black Caucus of the American Library Award for Literary Excellence, a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, an NAACP Image Award nomination, and the Octavia E. Butler Award.
When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews
July 13, 2021
Hi! I am using my mom’s good reads account because I am 8 years old, and this is the best book that I have read in my whole life! Something about this book, just makes you feel how they treated people that were a different color back then. When I first read this book, I thought that the ending would be sad. But, as I got more and more into the book I learned how much feeling was in the book. I would recommend this book to somebody who likes, drama with a little bit of happy. I was up at 11 o'clock at night reading this book! The more and more I read the closer and closer I felt to this book. So, if you read this book something in your own life will be connected to it.
March 1, 2017
3.5 stars
Sugar and her Mama were slaves on a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana. Now slavery has over and Mama is dead but nothing else has changed. Sugar, a ten-year-old girl, works long, hard hours for most of the year planting and harvesting sugarcane. She longs for love and friendship and can't stand the sweet taste of sugar. Her other friends have been sold or moved on so she is the only child. While she enjoys the comfort and stories of Mister Beale, she longs for more. Then her life changes forever when a group of "Chinamen" comes to work on the plantation. With a child's innocent heart, only Sugar can find a way forward for herself and her people.
This is a very good story for younger independent readers. A story about Reconstruction for this age group is very rare. It provides a good introduction to slavery without being overly harsh. It shows how things were changing though not quite fast enough. The story deals with complex issues like racism and immigration. I really loved the incorporation of the Chinese workers. I had no idea there were Chinese migrant workers in that part of the country at this time. I adored the incorporation of both African and Chinese culture and how the two cultures share similar beliefs and stories. The attitudes towards the Chinese were surprising coming from people who were discriminated against themselves. At the same time, I understood why the ex-slaves felt the way they did.
Sugar is an appealing character. She is mischievous and naughty at times but the reader can't help but feel for her. She has so few opportunities to actually behave like a child and has experienced so much hardship in such a short time that she is easily forgiven. Her character growth is excellent. She's sweet, kind and sassy at the same time. I love her pure, innocent heart.
The Wills family is interesting. As a character observes, Master Wills is not a bad master but he's not a good one either. I think he experiences some character growth and while he does have a lot of prejudices and is used to wielding power over his workers, I'd say he's trying to be more good than bad. He's struggling with doing the right thing the way he's been taught vs. the new way of doing things and trying to balance that with economics. Billy represents the future and the hope. Like Sugar, he has a pure child's heart. Like Sugar, he is lonely and longing for a friend.
The other main character in the story is "Beau," a Chinese migrant worker who befriends Sugar. He provides a lot of wisdom and insight into a complex adult world that Sugar and Billy are still learning about. Beau also adds some humor and a lot of interesting traditional Chinese stories to the book. He's a great character and I would like to know more about him and the Chinese workers.
The author's note adds more insight and wisdom and should be read by adults and children alike.
Sugar and her Mama were slaves on a sugarcane plantation in Louisiana. Now slavery has over and Mama is dead but nothing else has changed. Sugar, a ten-year-old girl, works long, hard hours for most of the year planting and harvesting sugarcane. She longs for love and friendship and can't stand the sweet taste of sugar. Her other friends have been sold or moved on so she is the only child. While she enjoys the comfort and stories of Mister Beale, she longs for more. Then her life changes forever when a group of "Chinamen" comes to work on the plantation. With a child's innocent heart, only Sugar can find a way forward for herself and her people.
This is a very good story for younger independent readers. A story about Reconstruction for this age group is very rare. It provides a good introduction to slavery without being overly harsh. It shows how things were changing though not quite fast enough. The story deals with complex issues like racism and immigration. I really loved the incorporation of the Chinese workers. I had no idea there were Chinese migrant workers in that part of the country at this time. I adored the incorporation of both African and Chinese culture and how the two cultures share similar beliefs and stories. The attitudes towards the Chinese were surprising coming from people who were discriminated against themselves. At the same time, I understood why the ex-slaves felt the way they did.
Sugar is an appealing character. She is mischievous and naughty at times but the reader can't help but feel for her. She has so few opportunities to actually behave like a child and has experienced so much hardship in such a short time that she is easily forgiven. Her character growth is excellent. She's sweet, kind and sassy at the same time. I love her pure, innocent heart.
The Wills family is interesting. As a character observes, Master Wills is not a bad master but he's not a good one either. I think he experiences some character growth and while he does have a lot of prejudices and is used to wielding power over his workers, I'd say he's trying to be more good than bad. He's struggling with doing the right thing the way he's been taught vs. the new way of doing things and trying to balance that with economics. Billy represents the future and the hope. Like Sugar, he has a pure child's heart. Like Sugar, he is lonely and longing for a friend.
The other main character in the story is "Beau," a Chinese migrant worker who befriends Sugar. He provides a lot of wisdom and insight into a complex adult world that Sugar and Billy are still learning about. Beau also adds some humor and a lot of interesting traditional Chinese stories to the book. He's a great character and I would like to know more about him and the Chinese workers.
The author's note adds more insight and wisdom and should be read by adults and children alike.
November 7, 2013
Sugar is 10, an orphan and although she is not longer a slave, she sure doesn't feel free. She has lived on the River Road plantation where they grow sugar cane in Louisiana her whole life, but she really just wants to go north and see what the world is about.
It is 1870 and reconstruction is in full swing and things are changing, or so says Mr. Wills, owner of the plantation. Sugar is secretly friends with his son, Billy, who tells her that his father has now hired some Chinese men to come and work on the plantation. Even though he swears her to secrecy, word gets our and the older former slaves that Sugar lives with are afraid they will be out of a job and their homes, ramshackle shacks though they are.
Sugar is excited when the Chinese workers arrive and is immediately drawn to the youngest of the group (who, although his age isn't given, thought thought was in his teens) who teaches right off the bat her to say hello in Chinese. Although forbidden to go near them by Mister and Missus Beale, her unofficial grandparents, Sugar can't resist and pretty soon has managed to bring Chinese and African Americans together.
It is Mr. Will's hope that his son will on day take over the plantation and so Billy decides to work in the fields to start learning about sugar cane production. And when his mother brings out lemonade and ham stuffed biscuits, the Overseer gets angry because Billy is slowing down production. He and Mr. Wills exchange some heated words and the Overseer is fired. He leaves, vowing revenge.
Times are indeed changing and when the Overseer takes his revenge, the result brings changes for everyone though not what might be expected.
Narrated in the first person by Sugar, she is a sweet, engaging, funny, intelligent, spunky girl who has trouble obeying orders and has a curiosity as big as the world. She wants to be a kid, to play and explore and pretend, but she had to work and that part of her story was hard to read. And she has her own way of looking at things, all told in speech that is clipped in that way I have noticed kids who are always busy and think sometimes speak, almost telegraph style.
And I learned something new. I knew that Chinese immigrants had arrived in this country in the late 1800s but I thought they had mostly settle on the west coast. That they were hired for plantation work after the Civil War and Emancipation was very new to me, but as Sugar tells out, many former slaves went north and workers were needed.
Mr. Will isn't by any means the kindest man in the world, but he does represent those plantation owners (and others) who recognized that things had change and would continue to change. He was the forward looking foil to the Overseer's backward looking character.
Jewell Parker Rhodes, who also wrote the wonderful Ninth Ward, really knows how to convey hard, back-breaking work under a burning sun as well as the piteously poor living conditions that former slaves found themselves in. Freedom clearly does not mean better living conditions. The former slaves were really now working for very little money - hence the Great Migration north. On the other hand, Rhodes can convey the feeling of joy and sense of freedom that flying the first kite Sugar had ever seen brought gave her.
On the whole, Sugar is just the kind of book I would have read and loved when I was around 10-11 years old. BUT...there were some things in the book I find hard to believe as an adult and truly wonder what my 10 year old self would have thought about them. And I would be curious to know how others feel about them.
The one word that kept playing around in my head while I was reading Sugar was fanciful. But in a good way for young readers.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from a friend
This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
It is 1870 and reconstruction is in full swing and things are changing, or so says Mr. Wills, owner of the plantation. Sugar is secretly friends with his son, Billy, who tells her that his father has now hired some Chinese men to come and work on the plantation. Even though he swears her to secrecy, word gets our and the older former slaves that Sugar lives with are afraid they will be out of a job and their homes, ramshackle shacks though they are.
Sugar is excited when the Chinese workers arrive and is immediately drawn to the youngest of the group (who, although his age isn't given, thought thought was in his teens) who teaches right off the bat her to say hello in Chinese. Although forbidden to go near them by Mister and Missus Beale, her unofficial grandparents, Sugar can't resist and pretty soon has managed to bring Chinese and African Americans together.
It is Mr. Will's hope that his son will on day take over the plantation and so Billy decides to work in the fields to start learning about sugar cane production. And when his mother brings out lemonade and ham stuffed biscuits, the Overseer gets angry because Billy is slowing down production. He and Mr. Wills exchange some heated words and the Overseer is fired. He leaves, vowing revenge.
Times are indeed changing and when the Overseer takes his revenge, the result brings changes for everyone though not what might be expected.
Narrated in the first person by Sugar, she is a sweet, engaging, funny, intelligent, spunky girl who has trouble obeying orders and has a curiosity as big as the world. She wants to be a kid, to play and explore and pretend, but she had to work and that part of her story was hard to read. And she has her own way of looking at things, all told in speech that is clipped in that way I have noticed kids who are always busy and think sometimes speak, almost telegraph style.
And I learned something new. I knew that Chinese immigrants had arrived in this country in the late 1800s but I thought they had mostly settle on the west coast. That they were hired for plantation work after the Civil War and Emancipation was very new to me, but as Sugar tells out, many former slaves went north and workers were needed.
Mr. Will isn't by any means the kindest man in the world, but he does represent those plantation owners (and others) who recognized that things had change and would continue to change. He was the forward looking foil to the Overseer's backward looking character.
Jewell Parker Rhodes, who also wrote the wonderful Ninth Ward, really knows how to convey hard, back-breaking work under a burning sun as well as the piteously poor living conditions that former slaves found themselves in. Freedom clearly does not mean better living conditions. The former slaves were really now working for very little money - hence the Great Migration north. On the other hand, Rhodes can convey the feeling of joy and sense of freedom that flying the first kite Sugar had ever seen brought gave her.
On the whole, Sugar is just the kind of book I would have read and loved when I was around 10-11 years old. BUT...there were some things in the book I find hard to believe as an adult and truly wonder what my 10 year old self would have thought about them. And I would be curious to know how others feel about them.
The one word that kept playing around in my head while I was reading Sugar was fanciful. But in a good way for young readers.
This book is recommended for readers age 9+
This book was borrowed from a friend
This review was originally posted at Randomly Reading
September 6, 2015
This is the life of a girl named Sugar. She is an orphan living on a sugar cane farm in the south right after slaves became free. Good story!
July 9, 2019
I liked this book, but Sugar being so hardheaded during that time period throughout most of the book was a bit much.
February 21, 2017
This is a touching story about the intersection of the lives of blacks, whites and Chinese on a Louisiana plantation in the latter half of the 1800s. Though slavery is outlawed, the labor, the prejudice, and the mistreatment haven't changed. But times are changing, and this book really highlights that people are people, regardless of color. I didn't even know there were Chinese workers brought over to work on plantations in the south in the 1800s! I had heard about Chinese workers on the railroads and in San Francisco, but never realized there were Chinese working on plantations to replace those who had fled north after slavery was abolished.
It's a hope-filled story, despite the terrible circumstances of their lives. Even though this story takes place over 100 years ago, its message is necessary and true today, in light of all the racism that still exists.
It's a hope-filled story, despite the terrible circumstances of their lives. Even though this story takes place over 100 years ago, its message is necessary and true today, in light of all the racism that still exists.
March 2, 2019
Sugar works the sugar cane fields during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War and yearns for a taste of freedom that she's heard so much about. She, and her fellow cane workers are stunned when the plantation hires Chinese men to work in the fields alongside the African American workers. Worried about her job and her future, Sugar continues to dream of a better life up North, where she can get a taste of what true freedom is.
October 3, 2016
This book was a beautiful blend of happiness, friendship, unfairness, and despair. Sugar was a very complex character, adventurous, sassy, stubborn and friendly. I felt joyful at most times reading the book, but I also had sympathy for Sugar, as both of her parents are dead when she is only ten. This was a wonderful read, and I recommend it to anyone waiting to learn about life back in the 1800s.
September 16, 2021
This was a good #middlegrade story about Sugar.
She is working on the River Road Plantation in the sugar cane fields of the Reconstruction Era South.
Sugar is told that she is free, but she doesn’t feel it.
This is an inspiring story about forging unpredictable friendships, change, and reckoning.
I have never read any novels that mention bringing in the Chinese to help with harvests even though I am aware of some of that history . I think it was an interesting addition to the narrative.
A #middleschool #librarypatron recommended this book to me after he finished it last week, so I am excited that I can report back to him that I did read this hopeful #bookrec .
“Life’s hard. But you still have to find joy where you can.”
She is working on the River Road Plantation in the sugar cane fields of the Reconstruction Era South.
Sugar is told that she is free, but she doesn’t feel it.
This is an inspiring story about forging unpredictable friendships, change, and reckoning.
I have never read any novels that mention bringing in the Chinese to help with harvests even though I am aware of some of that history . I think it was an interesting addition to the narrative.
A #middleschool #librarypatron recommended this book to me after he finished it last week, so I am excited that I can report back to him that I did read this hopeful #bookrec .
“Life’s hard. But you still have to find joy where you can.”
May 4, 2021
Maybe my favorite book of the year so far! Narrative poetry is my favorite. I buy very few books to keep as friends, but this is going on my wish list.
February 7, 2021
This book was unfortunately a slog to get through. I had high expectations due to the author’s other award-winning books, especially having received a Coretta Scott King Award. These expectations were not met. I wanted to like this book, but it was impossible.
Pros:
* This book does a good job of painting the image of working a sugar plantation.
* It shines a light on the struggles during Reconstruction and how rural post-slavery life in the South wasn’t that different from life under slavery.
* The story frames a little-told piece of history of the importing of Chinese laborers to the South. Most stories of Chinese sugar workers are set in Hawaii, so this was unique.
Cons:
* The writing was insufferable. There was very little variation in the rhythm and format of sentences, making it often feel like a Dick and Jane vs. a middle grade book.
* One note dialogue. Following the lack of variety in sentence structure, sentences were repeatedly written as though the author was being charged per word, as if in a telegram. Sentences would frequently be without subjects or conjunctions—over and over again. I am all for playful writing, and this can really have an impact when used lightly. These sentences were used ad nauseam. It could almost be acceptable if used only in narration, but almost every character spoke this way. It was unrealistic to have every single character speaking with the same vocal affectations.
* Asian trope dialogue. This was the most disappointing aspect of a CSK Award winner’s writing. The Chinese characters were often written speaking with stereotypical/prejudicial Chinese “immigrant speak.” Its use felt really dated and in poor taste. One could make the argument that non-native English speakers are bound to trip over the words and English grammar at the beginning, but the patterns were inconsistent within the characters’ own dialogue. A word known in one sentence wouldn’t be known in the next. There would be a complex sentence followed by one that read like from a parody. It wasn’t handled well.
*Unlikeable characters. There are very few likable characters in the story, including Sugar. It is painful to be with her through the story. She is ten, and in a time where you would expect her to be older than her years, she often acts five. In reading this aloud, my children were shocked at her age because of how often she throws absolute tantrums.
Pros:
* This book does a good job of painting the image of working a sugar plantation.
* It shines a light on the struggles during Reconstruction and how rural post-slavery life in the South wasn’t that different from life under slavery.
* The story frames a little-told piece of history of the importing of Chinese laborers to the South. Most stories of Chinese sugar workers are set in Hawaii, so this was unique.
Cons:
* The writing was insufferable. There was very little variation in the rhythm and format of sentences, making it often feel like a Dick and Jane vs. a middle grade book.
* One note dialogue. Following the lack of variety in sentence structure, sentences were repeatedly written as though the author was being charged per word, as if in a telegram. Sentences would frequently be without subjects or conjunctions—over and over again. I am all for playful writing, and this can really have an impact when used lightly. These sentences were used ad nauseam. It could almost be acceptable if used only in narration, but almost every character spoke this way. It was unrealistic to have every single character speaking with the same vocal affectations.
* Asian trope dialogue. This was the most disappointing aspect of a CSK Award winner’s writing. The Chinese characters were often written speaking with stereotypical/prejudicial Chinese “immigrant speak.” Its use felt really dated and in poor taste. One could make the argument that non-native English speakers are bound to trip over the words and English grammar at the beginning, but the patterns were inconsistent within the characters’ own dialogue. A word known in one sentence wouldn’t be known in the next. There would be a complex sentence followed by one that read like from a parody. It wasn’t handled well.
*Unlikeable characters. There are very few likable characters in the story, including Sugar. It is painful to be with her through the story. She is ten, and in a time where you would expect her to be older than her years, she often acts five. In reading this aloud, my children were shocked at her age because of how often she throws absolute tantrums.
April 20, 2015
This book is well deserving of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award. It is a beautifully written story about the survival of slaves, once slavery has been abolished, on a Sugar Cane plantation on the banks of the Mississippi. Sugar, a ten year old, living on the planation works hard in the fields all day, even though she is “free”. She ends up making friends with a boy named Billy, whom is forbidden to be friends with Sugar because he is the white planation owner’s son. The only part I did not like was when Sugar was able to stay with Billy when he was sick, since it is not true to history. Then, Sugar makes friends with Chinese workers who come to help harvest the cane. In turn, she befriends Beau and Master Liu and they share the traditions of the culture with Sugar and she shares the way of life on a plantation. Their unlikely friendship helped to bridge the gap between the cultures helping them all work together in the community.
Sugar appropriately depicted a tenacious little girl yearning to learn more about the world in post-Civil War America. She taught us the importance of making friends with everyone around us and trying to learn as much as we can about their lives, traditions, and cultures despite any obstacles. I love using historical fiction books to help teach students about confusing times in history. This book not only helps in that sense, but also in teaching students to accept the changing times and to learn to foster each person’s individuality. Teachers can have the students complete a study on the importance of multicultural, historical fiction and other books under this category. This book can also be used in conjunction with a study of the Civil War, plantations, Chinese’s citizen’s working in the US during this time, and so on.
Sugar appropriately depicted a tenacious little girl yearning to learn more about the world in post-Civil War America. She taught us the importance of making friends with everyone around us and trying to learn as much as we can about their lives, traditions, and cultures despite any obstacles. I love using historical fiction books to help teach students about confusing times in history. This book not only helps in that sense, but also in teaching students to accept the changing times and to learn to foster each person’s individuality. Teachers can have the students complete a study on the importance of multicultural, historical fiction and other books under this category. This book can also be used in conjunction with a study of the Civil War, plantations, Chinese’s citizen’s working in the US during this time, and so on.
February 9, 2015
This book follows a young 10 year old girl on her time growing up in the time of slavery. The 10 year old girl's name is sugar, however she hates her name because she hates sugar and the hard work that goes into harvesting it. She is an orphaned child when her mother dies and her father is sold into slavery. She continues to live out her days under the care of chinese immigrant workers, who took over the labor of the freed african american slaves. In the story Sugar befriends the son of the plantation, Billy. Sugar and Billy have an unnatural bond that the plantation owner learned to live with, however one of his workers could not. So he fired him resulting in his whole year's harvest of sugar being burnt down. Sugar rescues her cat in this incident result in injuries. While being cared for by Billy, Sugar attempts to show society that this bond and change is for the better.
This story was an interesting representation of slavery from another perspective. In the story we see how the freedom for African American slaves affected the immigrating Chinese. It is a good tool to use to show a younger audience what actually occurred behind the scenes of the aftermath of the Civil War; and how it affected society as a whole.
This story was an interesting representation of slavery from another perspective. In the story we see how the freedom for African American slaves affected the immigrating Chinese. It is a good tool to use to show a younger audience what actually occurred behind the scenes of the aftermath of the Civil War; and how it affected society as a whole.
May 11, 2014
I enjoyed this book more than a three-star rating might indicate. Historical fiction is my favorite genre because I often discover something new, or just learn a little more about some obscure historical event...as I did in this book. How interesting to learn of the capture and import of Chinese workers after Emancipation...who knew! Sugar is likable, although she does get on my nerves occasionally, and some of the supporting characters are interestingly developed, like Billy. But too many plot lines felt contrived beyond believability...like Billy's family allowing Sugar to stay in Billy's room during his illness. And Billy growing up and maturing so fast. And...and...and...too many to list. And yet, there is enough to really like, in the themes of multiculturalism and cooperation and acceptance, plus the bonus of a little history education, that I will remember this little book and recommend it to some of my more sensitive, thoughtful readers who come to the library wanting something different.
December 18, 2015
This was an honest, sweet story about a young girl surviving on a sugar plantation just after the Civil War. Slavery is no more, but Sugar's life isn't much better than when she was a slave--she still cuts cane all day, lives in a shack, and isn't allowed to play with her best friend Billy, who happens to be the plantation owner's son. The relationships between the former slaves, the new Chinese workers , and the white owner's family grow and change as Sugar tells her story, and it's a beautiful thing to experience. Lots of love and hope in this one.
January 30, 2015
I'm not usually the kind of person to say omg, but... oh... my... god! I had never heard of Jewell Parker Rhodes, but now she's one of my favorite authors. I simply have to read more! Sugar was a very believable character, and I the friendship between Billy and Sugar was simply adorable. Overall, a terrific book that I will reread. At some point. After I read all of Jewell Parker Rhodes other books.
January 28, 2016
I love this book because of how it gives an insight into post slavery and how it shows that not every white person was unkind and evil. I love the inside stories about Billy and Sugar and the Chinese and Africans becoming friends. I just wish that the fire had never happened so that everyone would continue living together. A sequel to this book about how Sugar had grown up and maybe later finding Billy and Biue would be the best thing ever.
August 15, 2013
Ten year old Sugar lives on the sugar cane plantation in the years following the end of the Civil War. She's free, but that doesn't mean she can play and run free like the white children. She's a worker just like the adults, planting, weeding and cutting the sugar cane. When the owner of the plantation brings in some Chinese workers, sugar finds herself in the middle of the worker racial divide.
August 5, 2016
One Sentence Review: A problematic unnecessarily cheery view of a moment in history that, taken another way, could have yielded a really fascinating glimpse into a little known incident in our nation's past.
December 31, 2015
A gentle historical fiction for children set in reconstruction Louisiana, interesting because it explores an aspect of this time period I had never heard of before. The setting is very real but the characters are more stereotypes than fully rounded individuals.
July 13, 2015
I really enjoyed this book! I had no idea that Chinese immigrants were brought to the south to work on plantations. I really liked Sugar's voice and enthusiasm for life, given all of her misfortunes. It proves that family doesn't have to be blood related.
October 24, 2018
This book is fabulous! It is set in the time period after the Civil War. It gives you a great understanding of tolerance and respect for others. We need to be open to learning from everyone we come in contact with including children!
January 30, 2013
An elegantly written tale set in early 1870's Louisiana.
October 30, 2014
I like how she gets out of River Road
June 11, 2015
this is an amazing book. it really speaks to your heart. very heartwarming
September 16, 2018
In 1870, slavery had already been abolished in the U.S. But many people who were formerly enslaved didn't have the means or the motivation to go north in search of other opportunities, and so they continued on in the only life they had ever known, living in the same shacks they lived in as slaves, and working for the same man who owned them as slaves. Sugar is a 10-year-old girl who lives and works with other formerly enslaved people on the River Road sugar cane plantation in Louisiana.
With a good number of formerly enslaved workers leaving the plantation, Mister Wills, the owner, decides to hire Chinese workers to address the labor shortage. The original River Road folks are anxious, afraid they will lose their jobs to the Chinese workers.
Sugar has the open-hearted, open-minded wisdom of a child, and she doesn't understand why she isn't allowed to play with Billy Wills, the owner's son with whom she gets along splendidly. She also doesn't understand why she isn't supposed to befriend the new Chinese workers, who fascinate her.
Admittedly, I felt a bit wary going into this book. On the one hand, the Chinese people were referred to as "Chinamen" - a derogatory term - and their queue-styled hair and Eastern-styled clothing marked them as "different". Would this book reinforce the "perpetual other" stereotype of Asians? Yet, back then, Chinese people really were completely unknown to many Americans, and the use of "Chinamen" is historically accurate. In the end, I think the author did a good job portraying the Chinese workers as different, but not "exotic"; just people, like everyone else, working hard for a living. About half-way through the book, Sugar learns to say "Chinese" instead of "Chinamen", but I'm not sure it was effectively made known that "Chinamen" is actually offensive, and using "Chinese" is not just a matter of preference.
Sugar and Billy, together with "Beau" - the youngest Chinese worker - eventually bring together the River Road community so that everyone understands everyone else just a little better.
I really enjoyed this story, and its peek into a little-known part of U.S. history. I gave this book just shy of 5 stars because the short, matter-of-fact sentences eventually became tiresome and choppy, though they started out as a simple way to convey Sugar's childlike thinking.
With a good number of formerly enslaved workers leaving the plantation, Mister Wills, the owner, decides to hire Chinese workers to address the labor shortage. The original River Road folks are anxious, afraid they will lose their jobs to the Chinese workers.
Sugar has the open-hearted, open-minded wisdom of a child, and she doesn't understand why she isn't allowed to play with Billy Wills, the owner's son with whom she gets along splendidly. She also doesn't understand why she isn't supposed to befriend the new Chinese workers, who fascinate her.
Admittedly, I felt a bit wary going into this book. On the one hand, the Chinese people were referred to as "Chinamen" - a derogatory term - and their queue-styled hair and Eastern-styled clothing marked them as "different". Would this book reinforce the "perpetual other" stereotype of Asians? Yet, back then, Chinese people really were completely unknown to many Americans, and the use of "Chinamen" is historically accurate. In the end, I think the author did a good job portraying the Chinese workers as different, but not "exotic"; just people, like everyone else, working hard for a living. About half-way through the book, Sugar learns to say "Chinese" instead of "Chinamen", but I'm not sure it was effectively made known that "Chinamen" is actually offensive, and using "Chinese" is not just a matter of preference.
Sugar and Billy, together with "Beau" - the youngest Chinese worker - eventually bring together the River Road community so that everyone understands everyone else just a little better.
I really enjoyed this story, and its peek into a little-known part of U.S. history. I gave this book just shy of 5 stars because the short, matter-of-fact sentences eventually became tiresome and choppy, though they started out as a simple way to convey Sugar's childlike thinking.
June 10, 2015
Review#1
Sugar is a good book its about a girl named Sugar she is about 10 years old. It takes place at River Road Plantation along the Mississippi river (and slavery over.) But Mr.Wills, the owner, still bosses them around because of their skin color. Sugar and everyone else that is a different skin color then Mr.Wills have to work in a sugarcane field. Sugar has a big wonderful spirit. Sugar also has a good relationship with Mr.Wills son Billy. In one of the parts when Sugar meets Billy. Billy’s dad tells him to put Sugar’s fingers in the Chinese finger trap. Then Billy says sorry and they become friends. When they do become friends, Billy’s father, Mr.Wills, at first doesn't know about it but he ends up finding out and gets upset. In another event Sugar finds out that the Chinese men are coming, Billy tells her. When Sugar finds out she feels nervous and wants to know what they look before they get there (which never happens.) When they got there Sugar felt a little bad for them because they were chained. There were metal chains around their feet. Sugar felt less nervous once they were there but was still a little nervous. The theme of the book Sugar is that no matter what skin color you have you can all be friends and be yourself.
One of my favorite parts of this book,Sugar, is when Sugar meets Billy because I like how when Billy puts Sugar’s fingers in the Chinese finger trap he says sorry evan though Sugar is a different skin color then Billy and Billy’s dad even told him to do it but not to say sorry, but he did anyways. They also became really good friends. One of the part’s that I don't like is when the sugarcane field gets a small fire and it hits one of the Chinese men’s house. Then it hits the window and gets glass everywhere including Sugar’s hair. I also love love love the part when Billy gets sick and Sugar gets to go in Mr.Wills house and help Billy get better. I think Billy liked the fact that one of his good friends gets to help him fight his fever. In that part its really thoughtful how Sugar cares about Billy.
Review #2
I always wanted to go back in time to the days of slavery. I think the book Sugar did that for me,even though 1870 is after slavery ended. I think I got a little bit of what they did during slavery, and it wasn’t good at all.
Sugar is about a girl named Sugar. She is facing a lot of challenges through out her life, like when her mother died,and her best friend went North. She doesn't know where she fits in with everyone. So she go’s off and plays with a white boy named Billy.
Read the book to find out what happens with Billy and Sugar.
You will probably like it.
Sugar is mischievous. On page 18 and 19, she sneaks off to play with Billy. When she should be obaing what she was told. Sugar said, “You’ve been following me?”I shout, angry.”Watching me,Billy Wills.”
Mrs. Beals is augmentative. On page 268 and 269. She arguing with Sugar about going North. Mrs.Beals said,“Well we’re not leaving.”
This is a quote from Sugar, I think is an important to the book. Her mother said it and and I think it means something like stay strong and don’t let any thing hurt you. “Sugar is hard.” That is what her mom use to say.
Review #3
I’m reading the book Sugar. I recommend it to you! This book takes place in Mississippi River Road sugar cane field in 1870. Sugar is lost on were she can fit in with life itself. Sugar is spunky, outgoing, and ready to take on the world.
Sugar is amazing. Sugar is about a girl named Sugar and her mum dies when Sugar is eight. Sugar’s mum tells her that Mr. and Mrs.Beale are going to take care care of her. Sugar only has two friends, Lizzie and Billy. But Billy is white so that’s a problem because slavery has just ended but their still not allowed to play together. But Lizzie goes north because her dad thinks there are better jobs then working cane, so now Sugar is very lonely.
Sugar and Billy start playing together and Mr.Wills and Mrs.Wills don’t know and neither do Mr. and Mrs. Beale. They start playing more and more sometimes at night too. One day Billy gets really sick with some sort of brain fever. Mr. and Mrs. Wills don’t know what to do and Sugar comes to the rescue. Sugar sleeps on the floor to help Billy get better. Once Billy gets better his dad thinks that they’re all working to slow. Mr. Wills hires China men and Sugar sees a China men who might be her age.
Beau (the China men) and his family start working cane with Sugar. Mr.Tom, the overseer, tried to whip Sugar but Beau jumped over Sugar, and Mr.Wills fired Mr.Tom. Then Billy became the new overseer. A few days after Billy, Sugar, and Beau were walking in the woods and they saw Mr.Tom, and hit Beau with the end of his rifle. Fast forward five days Sugar, Billy, Beau, and Master Liu were having a bon fire and they were telling stories. Sugar wanted Jade (the cat) for bon fire stories. Sugar came across to the mill it was dark. Then then a flicker of light Sugar knew that someone was there when they weren’t allowed to be. Sugar had no idea who it was. Everyone else was at the bon fire.
Then a flash of light flickered up and Sugar saw that the mill was on fire. Sugar saw Mr.Tom walk out. Jade was in there too. Sugar ran in Billy saw Sugar and told her to get out. Sugar said “ring the fire bell” but Billy didn’t. Sugar reached for Jade, “here Jade” but Jade just passed out from the smoke. Sugar crawled for her a flame shoot up Sugar’s leg Sugar got Jade and went out the window.
Sugar woke up, Jade was on her chest. Billy walked in her cabin, “Sugar you can go north the china men are going to Hawaii” Sugar told Mr. and Mrs. Beale and they let Sugar go north. Sugar asked if they were coming and they said yes. They would come with Sugar.
Sugar is a good book its about a girl named Sugar she is about 10 years old. It takes place at River Road Plantation along the Mississippi river (and slavery over.) But Mr.Wills, the owner, still bosses them around because of their skin color. Sugar and everyone else that is a different skin color then Mr.Wills have to work in a sugarcane field. Sugar has a big wonderful spirit. Sugar also has a good relationship with Mr.Wills son Billy. In one of the parts when Sugar meets Billy. Billy’s dad tells him to put Sugar’s fingers in the Chinese finger trap. Then Billy says sorry and they become friends. When they do become friends, Billy’s father, Mr.Wills, at first doesn't know about it but he ends up finding out and gets upset. In another event Sugar finds out that the Chinese men are coming, Billy tells her. When Sugar finds out she feels nervous and wants to know what they look before they get there (which never happens.) When they got there Sugar felt a little bad for them because they were chained. There were metal chains around their feet. Sugar felt less nervous once they were there but was still a little nervous. The theme of the book Sugar is that no matter what skin color you have you can all be friends and be yourself.
One of my favorite parts of this book,Sugar, is when Sugar meets Billy because I like how when Billy puts Sugar’s fingers in the Chinese finger trap he says sorry evan though Sugar is a different skin color then Billy and Billy’s dad even told him to do it but not to say sorry, but he did anyways. They also became really good friends. One of the part’s that I don't like is when the sugarcane field gets a small fire and it hits one of the Chinese men’s house. Then it hits the window and gets glass everywhere including Sugar’s hair. I also love love love the part when Billy gets sick and Sugar gets to go in Mr.Wills house and help Billy get better. I think Billy liked the fact that one of his good friends gets to help him fight his fever. In that part its really thoughtful how Sugar cares about Billy.
Review #2
I always wanted to go back in time to the days of slavery. I think the book Sugar did that for me,even though 1870 is after slavery ended. I think I got a little bit of what they did during slavery, and it wasn’t good at all.
Sugar is about a girl named Sugar. She is facing a lot of challenges through out her life, like when her mother died,and her best friend went North. She doesn't know where she fits in with everyone. So she go’s off and plays with a white boy named Billy.
Read the book to find out what happens with Billy and Sugar.
You will probably like it.
Sugar is mischievous. On page 18 and 19, she sneaks off to play with Billy. When she should be obaing what she was told. Sugar said, “You’ve been following me?”I shout, angry.”Watching me,Billy Wills.”
Mrs. Beals is augmentative. On page 268 and 269. She arguing with Sugar about going North. Mrs.Beals said,“Well we’re not leaving.”
This is a quote from Sugar, I think is an important to the book. Her mother said it and and I think it means something like stay strong and don’t let any thing hurt you. “Sugar is hard.” That is what her mom use to say.
Review #3
I’m reading the book Sugar. I recommend it to you! This book takes place in Mississippi River Road sugar cane field in 1870. Sugar is lost on were she can fit in with life itself. Sugar is spunky, outgoing, and ready to take on the world.
Sugar is amazing. Sugar is about a girl named Sugar and her mum dies when Sugar is eight. Sugar’s mum tells her that Mr. and Mrs.Beale are going to take care care of her. Sugar only has two friends, Lizzie and Billy. But Billy is white so that’s a problem because slavery has just ended but their still not allowed to play together. But Lizzie goes north because her dad thinks there are better jobs then working cane, so now Sugar is very lonely.
Sugar and Billy start playing together and Mr.Wills and Mrs.Wills don’t know and neither do Mr. and Mrs. Beale. They start playing more and more sometimes at night too. One day Billy gets really sick with some sort of brain fever. Mr. and Mrs. Wills don’t know what to do and Sugar comes to the rescue. Sugar sleeps on the floor to help Billy get better. Once Billy gets better his dad thinks that they’re all working to slow. Mr. Wills hires China men and Sugar sees a China men who might be her age.
Beau (the China men) and his family start working cane with Sugar. Mr.Tom, the overseer, tried to whip Sugar but Beau jumped over Sugar, and Mr.Wills fired Mr.Tom. Then Billy became the new overseer. A few days after Billy, Sugar, and Beau were walking in the woods and they saw Mr.Tom, and hit Beau with the end of his rifle. Fast forward five days Sugar, Billy, Beau, and Master Liu were having a bon fire and they were telling stories. Sugar wanted Jade (the cat) for bon fire stories. Sugar came across to the mill it was dark. Then then a flicker of light Sugar knew that someone was there when they weren’t allowed to be. Sugar had no idea who it was. Everyone else was at the bon fire.
Then a flash of light flickered up and Sugar saw that the mill was on fire. Sugar saw Mr.Tom walk out. Jade was in there too. Sugar ran in Billy saw Sugar and told her to get out. Sugar said “ring the fire bell” but Billy didn’t. Sugar reached for Jade, “here Jade” but Jade just passed out from the smoke. Sugar crawled for her a flame shoot up Sugar’s leg Sugar got Jade and went out the window.
Sugar woke up, Jade was on her chest. Billy walked in her cabin, “Sugar you can go north the china men are going to Hawaii” Sugar told Mr. and Mrs. Beale and they let Sugar go north. Sugar asked if they were coming and they said yes. They would come with Sugar.
November 28, 2025
Sugar is a ten year old girl who is growing up on a plantation in Louisiana. The story takes place post-civil war and slavery. Many of the children on the plantation have left, so Sugar feels lonely until Chinese immigrants join to plantation to work. She makes new friendships and they share their rich culture. This book is suited for middle-grade readers and would appeal to readers who are interested in the reconstruction era or enjoys historical fiction books. I chose this book for my classroom library because it contains a strong female protagonist during a dark, yet hopeful time in history. This may inspire young female students. Key themes and topics in this book include: reconstruction, Chinese immigration, slavery, plantation, Louisiana, resilience, civil war, and cultural exchange.
March 25, 2021
This one was definitely a hit - the character development was spot on, the plot points were all very well executed, and the narrator just adds to the brilliance of the whole package! Its no secret Bahni is one of my faves, and she excelled as usual as the voice of so many great characters. I found myself wanting to hug lil Sugar soooo many times throughout the story, she's just precious. Surprisingly enough, Noname/Jade came in as a close second! lol I really really like how the author incorporated a pet into this type of story. It makes Sugar that much more unique
August 17, 2017
This is my last book for the library reading for my child's school. I liked this book. Supervising adults should know that there are some descriptions of the violence and sadness families experienced under slavery (nothing sexual, but things like whipping, working while sick, withholding pay, family separation, not knowing the fate of family members, extreme poverty. etc.). The main character is an orphan, cared for by another family (the female figure in that family is not especially warm, but she does care for the main character). This book is set just after legal slavery was ended, but the workers still live in a state of slavery - I think this is a great choice, showing the difference between de jure and de facto slavery during Reconstruction.
The book also introduces an additional ethnic group, the Chinese workers. The author does a nice job of painting the initial doubts and fear on each side of the two groups who work in the fields. This might be a quirk of YA fiction, the pacing of the book, or just how the story went, but I found the reconciliation of the two groups to be a little quicker than seemed realistic. That two young people could make friends, yes; that they could so quickly bring the communities together, maybe not? However, the ways in which the two ethnic groups discover their similarities are very sweet and age-appropriate: stories, food, the loss of being far from ancestral lands, play/music, pets.
The main character, Sugar, also has a friendship with the plantation owner's son, Billy. The two play together and go exploring on the river. I'm not sure I liked this element as much, as the innocence of their friendship always seemed a little fraught to me. To be fair, this was acknowledged in the book because the main character does directly confront Billy about his lack of experience doing the sort of jobs she does, how free he is to leave the plantation, etc. However, while children are innocent, I sometimes felt that this friendship strained the bounds of credulity - during that time, it seemed like a lot for pre-adolescents to cross both color and gender lines. Would this have happened at all? Or happened like this? I don't know, but this is a small quibble. What I liked less was Billy's transformation: he briefly takes to working in the fields alongside the workers and, as a result, the work becomes more humane / bearable. Suddenly, the landowner's family becomes more considerate of their workers. How I wish that this might have been so. That said, there are good people in every era (maybe not ever enough, but some), so if showing Billy's transformation and the changes this brought to his family helps children understand this, then I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. That said, I thought the first half of the book was stronger than the second half.
Would I let my child read this? Absolutely. I would highly recommend this book.
The book also introduces an additional ethnic group, the Chinese workers. The author does a nice job of painting the initial doubts and fear on each side of the two groups who work in the fields. This might be a quirk of YA fiction, the pacing of the book, or just how the story went, but I found the reconciliation of the two groups to be a little quicker than seemed realistic. That two young people could make friends, yes; that they could so quickly bring the communities together, maybe not? However, the ways in which the two ethnic groups discover their similarities are very sweet and age-appropriate: stories, food, the loss of being far from ancestral lands, play/music, pets.
The main character, Sugar, also has a friendship with the plantation owner's son, Billy. The two play together and go exploring on the river. I'm not sure I liked this element as much, as the innocence of their friendship always seemed a little fraught to me. To be fair, this was acknowledged in the book because the main character does directly confront Billy about his lack of experience doing the sort of jobs she does, how free he is to leave the plantation, etc. However, while children are innocent, I sometimes felt that this friendship strained the bounds of credulity - during that time, it seemed like a lot for pre-adolescents to cross both color and gender lines. Would this have happened at all? Or happened like this? I don't know, but this is a small quibble. What I liked less was Billy's transformation: he briefly takes to working in the fields alongside the workers and, as a result, the work becomes more humane / bearable. Suddenly, the landowner's family becomes more considerate of their workers. How I wish that this might have been so. That said, there are good people in every era (maybe not ever enough, but some), so if showing Billy's transformation and the changes this brought to his family helps children understand this, then I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. That said, I thought the first half of the book was stronger than the second half.
Would I let my child read this? Absolutely. I would highly recommend this book.
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