The Bicycle Man

by David L. Dudley

Twelve-year-old Carissa lives with her widowed mother, Lorena, in rural Georgia. There aren’t many ways for a black woman in the South in 1927 to make a living. Lorena does laundry for white ladies, but she wants Carissa to have the opportunities that come with education. Both of them yearn to move up north, where Carissa was born.

Into their lives rides an elderly man on a shiny blue bicycle.
Bailey is a wanderer, a storyteller, a thinker, a kind and sociable man who can repair and tighten up and fix just about anything.
Soon he’s part of Carissa’s life, almost like the grandfather she never had. He teaches her how to ride his bicycle, and how to find her balance in other ways as well, and Bailey’s time with Carissa and her mother helps him decide how to continue his own journey.

A vividly rendered setting, strong, memorable characters, and a narrative rich in humorous and poignant moments make this first novel a compelling and distinctive coming-of-age story.

249 pages, Hardcover

First published October 17, 2005

About the author

David L. Dudley is professor of African American literature at Georgia Southern University. He lives in Twin City, Georgia, with his wife. They have four children and homeschool the younger two.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this may be written for tweens, there are many wise words for all of us. Beautifully written.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this from the children's shelves at the library purely because of the title. Knew nothing abut it. Really liked it! It's not really about BIKES, but there's good bikey stuff in here. It takes place in 1927. Carissa and her friend Poppy are playing outside, when along comes an old man (described as older than Grandma, I think) riding a shiny, new-looking bicycle.

Despite Mama's mistrust of EVERYONE, he ends up staying on in the backyard shed and working for his keep. And everyone learns stuff, including how to ride a bike. And that telling the truth is always best, and that at least some people, including white people, can be trusted.

I really liked one section where he explains that having a bicycle helps even an old man like him to be independent and travel to wherever he can get work, which would be much harder on foot (as far as I can tell, African-American people don't have cars in 1927, at least in rural Georgia).

I would recommend this book for kids 9-12 and older people who are interested. :-) Librarians, I would say this is a book worth having and recommending.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book, and think it would be a great one for elem. age kids to read to help them understand what it was like for black people living in the South as recently as the 1960's! Good read, I recommend it!