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The Lucky Ones
Award-winning author Linda Williams Jackson pulls from her own childhood in the Mississippi Delta to tell the story of Ellis Earl, who dreams of a real house, food enough for the whole family—and to be someone.
It’s 1967, and eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown has big dreams. He’s going to grow up to be a teacher or a lawyer—or maybe both—and live in a big brick house in town. There’ll always be enough food in the icebox, and his mama won’t have to run herself ragged looking for work as a maid in order to support Ellis Earl and his eight siblings and niece, Vera. So Ellis Earl applies himself at school, soaking up the lessons that Mr. Foster teaches his class—particularly those about famous colored people like Mr. Thurgood Marshall and Miss Marian Wright—and borrowing books from his teacher’s bookshelf. When Mr. Foster presents him with a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ellis Earl is amazed to encounter a family that’s even worse off than his own—and is delighted by the Buckets’ very happy ending. But when Mama tells Ellis Earl that he might need to quit school to help support the family, he wonders if happy endings are only possible in storybooks. Around the historical touchstone of Robert Kennedy’s southern “poverty tour,” Linda Williams Jackson pulls from her own childhood in the Mississippi Delta to tell a detail-rich and poignant story with memorable characters, sure to resonate with readers who have ever felt constricted by their circumstances.
It’s 1967, and eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown has big dreams. He’s going to grow up to be a teacher or a lawyer—or maybe both—and live in a big brick house in town. There’ll always be enough food in the icebox, and his mama won’t have to run herself ragged looking for work as a maid in order to support Ellis Earl and his eight siblings and niece, Vera. So Ellis Earl applies himself at school, soaking up the lessons that Mr. Foster teaches his class—particularly those about famous colored people like Mr. Thurgood Marshall and Miss Marian Wright—and borrowing books from his teacher’s bookshelf. When Mr. Foster presents him with a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ellis Earl is amazed to encounter a family that’s even worse off than his own—and is delighted by the Buckets’ very happy ending. But when Mama tells Ellis Earl that he might need to quit school to help support the family, he wonders if happy endings are only possible in storybooks. Around the historical touchstone of Robert Kennedy’s southern “poverty tour,” Linda Williams Jackson pulls from her own childhood in the Mississippi Delta to tell a detail-rich and poignant story with memorable characters, sure to resonate with readers who have ever felt constricted by their circumstances.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
20 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
About the author
Linda Williams Jackson
4 books135 followersBorn and raised in the Mississippi Delta in the teeny-tiny town of Rosedale , Linda Williams Jackson likes to spin stories about everyday people in small-town settings. Though she has lived in a few other states (Alabama, Missouri, and Kansas), Linda currently makes her home in a not-so-small city in Mississippi with her husband and three children.
While a degree in Math and Computer Science from the University of Alabama allowed her to enjoy careers in Information Technology, Linda now prefers manipulating words rather than numbers and symbols.
While a degree in Math and Computer Science from the University of Alabama allowed her to enjoy careers in Information Technology, Linda now prefers manipulating words rather than numbers and symbols.
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October 30, 2021Synopsis:
When 11-year-old Ellis Earl Brown learns that a famous United States senator might be coming to Mississippi, he can’t believe it. After all, why would a fancy man from Washington D.C. come all the way to the Delta just to see how poor folks lived?
It’s 1967. And Ellis Earl Brown isn’t asking for much. An adequate amount of food for his large family would be nice. A house that doesn’t rattle in a strong wind, or leak when it rains, would be great also. But “times is hard for everybody”as Mama has said, and Ellis Earl finds it hard to keep hope alive.
When his teacher, Mr. Foster, gives him a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ellis Earl wonders if he can be like Charlie Bucket. Though he doesn’t receive a lucky golden ticket, Ellis Earl does discover that sometimes being a hero simply means being in the right place at the right time. Things begin to look up for Ellis Earl and his family after he is among the five students chosen to go on a field trip to the Jackson Airport to greet Senator Robert Kennedy.
Exploring poverty, racism, and the power of education through the eyes of a kid who dreams of brighter days, The Lucky Ones will resonate with fans of Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch, Linda Sue Park’s A Single Shard, and Lesa Cline-Ransome’s Finding Langston.
When 11-year-old Ellis Earl Brown learns that a famous United States senator might be coming to Mississippi, he can’t believe it. After all, why would a fancy man from Washington D.C. come all the way to the Delta just to see how poor folks lived?
It’s 1967. And Ellis Earl Brown isn’t asking for much. An adequate amount of food for his large family would be nice. A house that doesn’t rattle in a strong wind, or leak when it rains, would be great also. But “times is hard for everybody”as Mama has said, and Ellis Earl finds it hard to keep hope alive.
When his teacher, Mr. Foster, gives him a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ellis Earl wonders if he can be like Charlie Bucket. Though he doesn’t receive a lucky golden ticket, Ellis Earl does discover that sometimes being a hero simply means being in the right place at the right time. Things begin to look up for Ellis Earl and his family after he is among the five students chosen to go on a field trip to the Jackson Airport to greet Senator Robert Kennedy.
Exploring poverty, racism, and the power of education through the eyes of a kid who dreams of brighter days, The Lucky Ones will resonate with fans of Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch, Linda Sue Park’s A Single Shard, and Lesa Cline-Ransome’s Finding Langston.
November 20, 2021
What is historical fiction if not a vehicle to a different world and time? THE LUCKY ONES, by Linda Williams Jackson, carries us back to the world of Ellis Earl, an 11-year-old boy who lives in the Mississippi Delta in the late 1960s. Ellis Earl experiences hunger and poverty and lives without running water or heat. Many of today’s readers won’t know this experience first hand but they will totally relate to the foibles of this little boy who wants his family to have enough food and to feel safe. He is so self-reflective and honest with himself that the reader knows he is being honest with us too.
Narrated in an style reminiscent of an earlier time, perhaps the era of Ellis Earl’s beloved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we are carried into the past without even noticing. This I think is the genius of juxtaposing Roald Dahl’s classic with a historical story that many readers may not be familiar with. We bond with Ellis Earl’s love of books and we relate to his struggles with an annoying little sister and a bossy big sister. Who doesn’t have a sibling who blurts out all the family dirt when you least want them to?
“Ellis Earl knew exactly how Charlie felt,” and we know exactly how he feels.
I have to admit I cried through the last quarter of the book. The exciting school trip hampered by the segregation of restaurants, the hatred of the protesters, the bravery of children all hit me hard. The unfulfilled promise of the era is heart-breaking as we see Robert F. Kennedy promise he will help Ellis’s family and maybe run for president. The echoes of what was, and what is, what could have been and could be, are all a powerful force that runs through this seemingly simple story.
In our current era, where people are literally being taught that empathy is a bad thing, we need kidlit that knocks your empathetic socks off. The Lucky Ones, by Linda Williams Jackson, does just that.
I received an advance copy of this book. You all will have to wait till April 2022.
Narrated in an style reminiscent of an earlier time, perhaps the era of Ellis Earl’s beloved Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we are carried into the past without even noticing. This I think is the genius of juxtaposing Roald Dahl’s classic with a historical story that many readers may not be familiar with. We bond with Ellis Earl’s love of books and we relate to his struggles with an annoying little sister and a bossy big sister. Who doesn’t have a sibling who blurts out all the family dirt when you least want them to?
“Ellis Earl knew exactly how Charlie felt,” and we know exactly how he feels.
I have to admit I cried through the last quarter of the book. The exciting school trip hampered by the segregation of restaurants, the hatred of the protesters, the bravery of children all hit me hard. The unfulfilled promise of the era is heart-breaking as we see Robert F. Kennedy promise he will help Ellis’s family and maybe run for president. The echoes of what was, and what is, what could have been and could be, are all a powerful force that runs through this seemingly simple story.
In our current era, where people are literally being taught that empathy is a bad thing, we need kidlit that knocks your empathetic socks off. The Lucky Ones, by Linda Williams Jackson, does just that.
I received an advance copy of this book. You all will have to wait till April 2022.
June 18, 2022
A wonderful middle-grade historical fiction book!
The setting is Mississippi, 1967. Young Ellis Earl Brown is quite lucky, at least in comparison to most of his family. His very large, extended family, most of whom are sharing his tiny home. He and his eight-year-old sister Carrie Ann go to school (except when the road floods) on a regular basis. Ellis Earl has a wonderful teacher, who recognizes the potential in all of his students. All of the younger siblings and cousins must remain at home , where there is little opportunity (or room) for them to learn. Even the oldest sister of fourteen years is expected to babysit the little ones, since she passed sixth grade.
Ellis Earl wants more for himself and his family than crowded housing, empty stomachs, and constant poverty. When his teacher announces that he has chosen Ellis Earl to be one of five students to greet Sen. Robert Kennedy upon a visit to Mississippi, the child cannot contain his excitement. Could meeting the Senator be the beginning of changes for the Brown family?
This book reminded me in many ways of “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry”, although it is set in 1930’s Depression Era. The Logans and Browns all live in abject poverty. Adequate food, housing, clothing, and jobs are often scarce. However, in both large families, there are strong family bonds, and a fierce desire to better themselves through education and hard work.
Ellis Earl’s teacher, Mr. Foster, is a wonder! He not only presents mind-stretching lessons to his students, but also provides them meals and rides home from school on a daily basis. Also, this teacher shows that he firmly believes that students will rise to the level of expectation, by teaching them proper grammar, showing respect as well as expecting it in return, and encouraging them to rise above their situations by educating themselves.
I would recommend this to all middle-grade readers and teachers!
The setting is Mississippi, 1967. Young Ellis Earl Brown is quite lucky, at least in comparison to most of his family. His very large, extended family, most of whom are sharing his tiny home. He and his eight-year-old sister Carrie Ann go to school (except when the road floods) on a regular basis. Ellis Earl has a wonderful teacher, who recognizes the potential in all of his students. All of the younger siblings and cousins must remain at home , where there is little opportunity (or room) for them to learn. Even the oldest sister of fourteen years is expected to babysit the little ones, since she passed sixth grade.
Ellis Earl wants more for himself and his family than crowded housing, empty stomachs, and constant poverty. When his teacher announces that he has chosen Ellis Earl to be one of five students to greet Sen. Robert Kennedy upon a visit to Mississippi, the child cannot contain his excitement. Could meeting the Senator be the beginning of changes for the Brown family?
This book reminded me in many ways of “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry”, although it is set in 1930’s Depression Era. The Logans and Browns all live in abject poverty. Adequate food, housing, clothing, and jobs are often scarce. However, in both large families, there are strong family bonds, and a fierce desire to better themselves through education and hard work.
Ellis Earl’s teacher, Mr. Foster, is a wonder! He not only presents mind-stretching lessons to his students, but also provides them meals and rides home from school on a daily basis. Also, this teacher shows that he firmly believes that students will rise to the level of expectation, by teaching them proper grammar, showing respect as well as expecting it in return, and encouraging them to rise above their situations by educating themselves.
I would recommend this to all middle-grade readers and teachers!
October 5, 2022
, my heart broke again and again in this story about Ellis Earl and his numerous siblings growing up in small town Mississippi in the late 1960s (1967). When his teacher shares a book,
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
with him, he realizes that Charlie's family may be having an even harder time meeting their basic needs than his own.
This is a beautiful story about the connections one can make with characters in stories, even characters who look nothing like one's self.
This is a beautiful story about the connections one can make with characters in stories, even characters who look nothing like one's self.
November 28, 2021
(Disclaimer: I was given an advanced reader copy of this novel from the publisher, in exchange for a review. But I would have written the same review regardless. I love this book.)
THE LUCKY ONES by Linda Williams Jackson will open the windows of your eyes. At least, it did mine. And I’ll never forget it.
Eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown not only has the best name ever, he has high ambitions. Set in 1967 Willsonville, Mississippi, Ellis Earl plans to someday provide for his mama and the rest of his ten-kid family. In his plans, they’ll never go hungry again. They’ll live in a sturdy brick house instead of a weatherworn shack atop cinder blocks.
Every day, Ellis Earl's older sister cares for the four little ones at home while his mama and three older brothers try to find work. Sometimes they can’t get a job to help put food on the table. On school days, Mr. Foster brings lunch for his students, including Ellis Earl. But weekends at home often bring misery – with not even a piece of bread to eat. When Mr. Foster sends the class’s lunch leftovers home with Ellis Earl, he chooses to go without so the little ones can have more. But that evening his oldest brother’s four children come to stay for a visit that turns long when their mother goes blind. Food portions shrink with fourteen children to feed.
Hunger isn’t Ellis Earl’s only problem. He doesn’t want his school friends to see his poverty or to know his struggle to read books without pictures. Mr. Foster sends him home with an illustrated copy of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and Ellis Earl relates with Charlie Bucket whose plight is worse than his own. Ellis Earl decides that since Charlie can be a hero, he can too. And he reads Charlie's story to the little ones.
Ellis Earl yearns to please Mr. Foster, who leads class discussions about civil rights, famous Black Americans, and current events for Negro children, found in Jet magazine. When Mr. Foster asks him to recite a speech at an Easter program in his church, Ellis Earl’s horizons expand. He wants to meet Senator Robert Kennedy on his southern “poverty tour.” Ellis Earl plans to succeed. Except … Mama tells Ellis Earl he might need to quit school to help find work to support the family. Ellis Earl must find a way to show her the value of a good education.
This novel showcases a life of trials that too many children have experienced in the Deep South. Author Linda Williams Jackson creates a bittersweet narrative that will help readers empathize with those facing hardship and also to understand the power of a teacher’s influence.
I highly recommend this touching story of a kind kid who overcomes tough times by studying and working hard. This book exposes a piece of our history's poverty and racism that we wish didn't exist. By knowing the truth, it will enlarge our understanding and help us respect others.
THE LUCKY ONES by Linda Williams Jackson will open the windows of your eyes. At least, it did mine. And I’ll never forget it.
Eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown not only has the best name ever, he has high ambitions. Set in 1967 Willsonville, Mississippi, Ellis Earl plans to someday provide for his mama and the rest of his ten-kid family. In his plans, they’ll never go hungry again. They’ll live in a sturdy brick house instead of a weatherworn shack atop cinder blocks.
Every day, Ellis Earl's older sister cares for the four little ones at home while his mama and three older brothers try to find work. Sometimes they can’t get a job to help put food on the table. On school days, Mr. Foster brings lunch for his students, including Ellis Earl. But weekends at home often bring misery – with not even a piece of bread to eat. When Mr. Foster sends the class’s lunch leftovers home with Ellis Earl, he chooses to go without so the little ones can have more. But that evening his oldest brother’s four children come to stay for a visit that turns long when their mother goes blind. Food portions shrink with fourteen children to feed.
Hunger isn’t Ellis Earl’s only problem. He doesn’t want his school friends to see his poverty or to know his struggle to read books without pictures. Mr. Foster sends him home with an illustrated copy of CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and Ellis Earl relates with Charlie Bucket whose plight is worse than his own. Ellis Earl decides that since Charlie can be a hero, he can too. And he reads Charlie's story to the little ones.
Ellis Earl yearns to please Mr. Foster, who leads class discussions about civil rights, famous Black Americans, and current events for Negro children, found in Jet magazine. When Mr. Foster asks him to recite a speech at an Easter program in his church, Ellis Earl’s horizons expand. He wants to meet Senator Robert Kennedy on his southern “poverty tour.” Ellis Earl plans to succeed. Except … Mama tells Ellis Earl he might need to quit school to help find work to support the family. Ellis Earl must find a way to show her the value of a good education.
This novel showcases a life of trials that too many children have experienced in the Deep South. Author Linda Williams Jackson creates a bittersweet narrative that will help readers empathize with those facing hardship and also to understand the power of a teacher’s influence.
I highly recommend this touching story of a kind kid who overcomes tough times by studying and working hard. This book exposes a piece of our history's poverty and racism that we wish didn't exist. By knowing the truth, it will enlarge our understanding and help us respect others.
January 13, 2022
I absolutely love Ellis Earl! The connection between Ellis, Mr. Foster (his teacher), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory makes me remember why I became a teacher and how powerful reading can be. Linda Williams Jackson knows how to tell a story that goes right to the heart but leaves the reader experiencing a piece of history and a life-changing event. This book, which comes out this spring, would be a great pairing with Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes. This is one you will want on your shelf...but I bet you won't be able to keep it there!
September 11, 2023
I thought it was interesting that the tone of the book remained bright and hopeful while the characters were in dire poverty. The story takes place in 1967- the year I graduated from high school. I had no idea back then about how other people lived in Mississippi or much about civil rights issues. Nor had I heard about Robert F. Kennedy's "Poverty Tour" in 1967 to the Mississippi Delta. This book could have been depressing, but it was enjoyable as well as educational.
April 13, 2022
The Lucky Ones takes place in rural Mississippi in 1967. 11-year-old Ellis Earl lives with his mother and ten siblings in a small leaky three-bedroom home. Times have been difficult with such a large family under one roof and so many mouths to feed. Adding to the burden is their oldest brother and his four small children, who have come to stay until their mom delivers. What little work the family can find comes from either their mother cleaning houses, or any odd jobs that their older brothers can find. Meals consist mostly of beans and cornbread, when they can find it, and most of the kids have learned to go without. Everyone in the Brown family pitches in with the chores and their eldest sister, Jeannette ensures the younger children, and house are kept in order while their mother is away at work. Ellis Earl and his younger sister, Carrie Ann are the only two Brown children who currently go to school, Oscar, who is close in age to Ellis Earl hasn't been able to attend because he's been too ill.
Ellis Earl generally enjoys going to school. Mr. Foster is a very kind teacher, he even drives nine of the neighbor children to and from school each day, because there is no school bus that comes out their way. Mr. Foster gives the children snacks, shares his lunches and even lets Ellis Earl borrow books from his personal library so he can read to his younger siblings at home. His latest book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In school, Mr. Foster discusses news articles from Jet Magazine and currently they're learning about Thurgood Marshall. Ellis Earl is even dreaming of becoming a teacher or lawyer someday. However, Ellis Earl learns that he may soon have to give up his dream and leave school to find work to help out the family.
With Easter approaching, Mr. Foster invites Ellis Earl to his church to recite a speech to the congregation. At first, Ellis Earl's mom is hesitant about the idea, on account of the church not being Baptist, and worrying that Ellis Earl has nothing to wear. However, Mr. Foster isn't easily put off and brings some clothes for him to wear and Mrs. Brown agrees to let him come. Ellis Earl has such a fun time at church that he even encourages his siblings who are musicians to participate in an upcoming talent contest, although he falsely says that there will be a cash price if they win to get them to come. Mr. Foster sees great potential in Ellis Earl, and along with a few of his classmates, he invites them on a field trip to the Jackson Airport to greet Senator Robert Kennedy and Marian Wright, who are touring the area and exploring options to help their state. When Senator Kennedy later shows up at their home, Ellis Earl is initially surprised, but takes the opportunity to discuss the Fair Housing Act with Senator Kennedy and even asks for help in enrolling their family into the food stamp program. The end of the story brings improvements to the family's living situation and a brighter future for the Brown family.
The Lucky Ones is a beautiful historical fiction story that explores the topics of poverty, racism and the power of education and reading with a sensitivity and empathy that children will be able to easily relate to. It's a story that will evoke an emotional response but is uplifting too. Ellis Earl is such a wonderful main character, he is selfless, even splitting up his treasured Moon Pie into equal shares so that all his brothers and sisters can have a small piece. He goes without eating when it would prevent one of his siblings from getting dinner. The lengths he will go to and the sacrifices he makes for his family while being heartbreaking just made me love him so much more. I so loved the inclusion of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a vehicle to compare Ellis Earl's life to Charlie's, pairing something children might have read to a historical time period they may be unfamiliar with really brought the story home for me. I also loved how his siblings and he were captivated by the book and how it stimulated his younger sister to want to read as well. And Mr. Foster, what a wonderful teacher, seeing the potential in Ellis Earl and the way he encourages him to challenge himself and gives him opportunities to shine. Overall, this was a beautiful story about family, sacrifices, education, and the power of having the right book in the right hands.
** A huge thank you to Candlewick Press for the Paperback ARC**
Ellis Earl generally enjoys going to school. Mr. Foster is a very kind teacher, he even drives nine of the neighbor children to and from school each day, because there is no school bus that comes out their way. Mr. Foster gives the children snacks, shares his lunches and even lets Ellis Earl borrow books from his personal library so he can read to his younger siblings at home. His latest book is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In school, Mr. Foster discusses news articles from Jet Magazine and currently they're learning about Thurgood Marshall. Ellis Earl is even dreaming of becoming a teacher or lawyer someday. However, Ellis Earl learns that he may soon have to give up his dream and leave school to find work to help out the family.
With Easter approaching, Mr. Foster invites Ellis Earl to his church to recite a speech to the congregation. At first, Ellis Earl's mom is hesitant about the idea, on account of the church not being Baptist, and worrying that Ellis Earl has nothing to wear. However, Mr. Foster isn't easily put off and brings some clothes for him to wear and Mrs. Brown agrees to let him come. Ellis Earl has such a fun time at church that he even encourages his siblings who are musicians to participate in an upcoming talent contest, although he falsely says that there will be a cash price if they win to get them to come. Mr. Foster sees great potential in Ellis Earl, and along with a few of his classmates, he invites them on a field trip to the Jackson Airport to greet Senator Robert Kennedy and Marian Wright, who are touring the area and exploring options to help their state. When Senator Kennedy later shows up at their home, Ellis Earl is initially surprised, but takes the opportunity to discuss the Fair Housing Act with Senator Kennedy and even asks for help in enrolling their family into the food stamp program. The end of the story brings improvements to the family's living situation and a brighter future for the Brown family.
The Lucky Ones is a beautiful historical fiction story that explores the topics of poverty, racism and the power of education and reading with a sensitivity and empathy that children will be able to easily relate to. It's a story that will evoke an emotional response but is uplifting too. Ellis Earl is such a wonderful main character, he is selfless, even splitting up his treasured Moon Pie into equal shares so that all his brothers and sisters can have a small piece. He goes without eating when it would prevent one of his siblings from getting dinner. The lengths he will go to and the sacrifices he makes for his family while being heartbreaking just made me love him so much more. I so loved the inclusion of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a vehicle to compare Ellis Earl's life to Charlie's, pairing something children might have read to a historical time period they may be unfamiliar with really brought the story home for me. I also loved how his siblings and he were captivated by the book and how it stimulated his younger sister to want to read as well. And Mr. Foster, what a wonderful teacher, seeing the potential in Ellis Earl and the way he encourages him to challenge himself and gives him opportunities to shine. Overall, this was a beautiful story about family, sacrifices, education, and the power of having the right book in the right hands.
** A huge thank you to Candlewick Press for the Paperback ARC**
October 30, 2022
This was really good!
October 20, 2022
Excellent historical fiction for middle grade.
August 23, 2022
I have been anticipating Linda Williams Jackson’s newest book, The Lucky Ones, for some time. Thankfully, Lemuria Book Store had it in anticipation of her appearance at the Mississippi Book Festival when we made a recent trip to Jackson. I picked it up for a ten-year-old grandson’s birthday, knowing he would not care that I had pre-read his copy!
I loved and blogged about her two previous books Midnight Without a Moon and its sequel, A Sky Full of Stars. They are set in the Mississippi Delta in 1955 during the Civil Rights Movement. In The Lucky Ones, Linda stays in the Delta but moves forward to 1967 with a different protagonist. Ellis Earl Brown knows he wants to grow up to be a teacher or lawyer or both. The reader can see the impossibility in his dream with his mother working as a maid to bring in enough money to feed him, his eight siblings and his niece Vera. The probability that he will have to quit school and help support the family looms in the background.
Still, there is his teacher Mr. Foster giving lessons about other famous people like Mr. Thurgood Marshall and Miss Marian Wright who are models for him. Then Mr. Foster gives him a book that he reads with his siblings, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, about a boy with an even greater degree of poverty than his own. Mr. Foster’s interest in Ellis Earl brings him to Robert Kennedy’s southern poverty tour where he is accompanied by Miss Marian Wright. An interesting twist to this trip gives the possibility that happy endings may not belong just to story books.
As she has done before, Linda Williams Jackson takes her own experiences of growing up in the Delta to weave a realistic and historically accurate middle grade novel that will appeal to children who love to see heroes like Charlie Bucket and Ellis Earl Brown attain their goals.
I loved and blogged about her two previous books Midnight Without a Moon and its sequel, A Sky Full of Stars. They are set in the Mississippi Delta in 1955 during the Civil Rights Movement. In The Lucky Ones, Linda stays in the Delta but moves forward to 1967 with a different protagonist. Ellis Earl Brown knows he wants to grow up to be a teacher or lawyer or both. The reader can see the impossibility in his dream with his mother working as a maid to bring in enough money to feed him, his eight siblings and his niece Vera. The probability that he will have to quit school and help support the family looms in the background.
Still, there is his teacher Mr. Foster giving lessons about other famous people like Mr. Thurgood Marshall and Miss Marian Wright who are models for him. Then Mr. Foster gives him a book that he reads with his siblings, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, about a boy with an even greater degree of poverty than his own. Mr. Foster’s interest in Ellis Earl brings him to Robert Kennedy’s southern poverty tour where he is accompanied by Miss Marian Wright. An interesting twist to this trip gives the possibility that happy endings may not belong just to story books.
As she has done before, Linda Williams Jackson takes her own experiences of growing up in the Delta to weave a realistic and historically accurate middle grade novel that will appeal to children who love to see heroes like Charlie Bucket and Ellis Earl Brown attain their goals.
September 8, 2022
it's easy to emphasize with Ellis Earl, who lives in a tiny house with his family of 11 where there is not usually enough food to go around. While it's a somewhat quiet story, it is full of heart and Ellis brushes up against and gets involved in the historical events of his time, including a visit from Senator Bobby Kennedy. Along the way, the author draws parallels between Ellis' life and his favorite book Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
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August 2, 2022With a struggling but endearing character, Ellis Earl, I especially loved how his story unfolds alongside the book he is reading, and how his response to that book changes—as he reads and learns other things, has new experiences, and comes to a deeper understanding of his own family and the broader world they are part of.
November 8, 2021
I LOVE the latest from Linda Williams Jackson! It's got wonderful characters, heart, adversity, and perseverance~ a more lengthy review will be forthcoming...
November 15, 2022
I don't know if kids read historical fiction much these days (especially if it's not of the I Survived variety), but I think it's an important tool for immersing young readers in the past. One way (the best way in the opinion of this book nerd) to learn about history is to really FEEL what it must have been like to live in a certain place and time. THE LUCKY ONES does this well with a vivid setting that brings the realities of poverty in the Mississippi Delta to life. Since it's inspired by Jackson's childhood circumstances, it's especially poignant and powerful. Racism is another big theme in the book, although since Ellis Earl lives in a Black community, without any reason to venture out of it, it's only addressed toward the end of the book. Nevertheless, both of these themes provide a striking counter-balance to Ellis Earl's childlike optimism, making his belief in himself all the more powerful and root-worthy.
Because of his desperate circumstances, Ellis Earl is a sympathetic character. He's also instantly likable because of his selflessness toward both his younger siblings and his exhausted mother. Other than Oscar, Ellis Earl's sickly little brother, his family is not the most likable of clans. Luckily, he finds help and inspiration from Mr. Foster, his kindly teacher.
There's not a lot of plot in THE LUCKY ONES, so it's a slow read. I'm not sure kids will find the book exciting enough to keep reading. I almost put it down within the first 50 or so pages, but Ellis Earl wiggled into my heart and I couldn't just leave him hanging. I had to know he was going to be okay! The story definitely drags along, though.
The book talks about inspiring historical Black figures whom I had never heard of, like Marian Wright and Blanche Kelso Bruce, which I appreciated. Although I'm familiar with Senator Robert Kennedy, I didn't know about his tour of Mississippi or how he helped the Delta's poor, so that was also interesting for me to read about. THE LUCKY ONES also teaches valuable lessons about the importance of education, generosity, compassion, inclusion, and gratitude (even in dire circumstances). It's inspiring and empowering.
For all these reasons, I enjoyed THE LUCKY ONES overall even if I didn't absolutely love it. If I could, I would give the book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
Because of his desperate circumstances, Ellis Earl is a sympathetic character. He's also instantly likable because of his selflessness toward both his younger siblings and his exhausted mother. Other than Oscar, Ellis Earl's sickly little brother, his family is not the most likable of clans. Luckily, he finds help and inspiration from Mr. Foster, his kindly teacher.
There's not a lot of plot in THE LUCKY ONES, so it's a slow read. I'm not sure kids will find the book exciting enough to keep reading. I almost put it down within the first 50 or so pages, but Ellis Earl wiggled into my heart and I couldn't just leave him hanging. I had to know he was going to be okay! The story definitely drags along, though.
The book talks about inspiring historical Black figures whom I had never heard of, like Marian Wright and Blanche Kelso Bruce, which I appreciated. Although I'm familiar with Senator Robert Kennedy, I didn't know about his tour of Mississippi or how he helped the Delta's poor, so that was also interesting for me to read about. THE LUCKY ONES also teaches valuable lessons about the importance of education, generosity, compassion, inclusion, and gratitude (even in dire circumstances). It's inspiring and empowering.
For all these reasons, I enjoyed THE LUCKY ONES overall even if I didn't absolutely love it. If I could, I would give the book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I rounded up.
notes-on-unfinished-books
July 10, 2022I read about 20 pages. The story of a virtuous but underprivileged youngster who loves reading. There was nothing about it that seemed interesting or new.
October 12, 2023
Solid 4.5 ☆ Great pacing, engaging storyline- a quick read!
November 5, 2023
Ellis Earl Brown and Mr. Foster are my heroes. Their selflessness and kindness deeply affected me. The poverty of the Brown family devastated me, but I love the depth of each of the characters and the fact that none of them were tragic figures. I loved the ending as well as the author's note about why he chose to write this book.
September 18, 2025
I truly enjoyed this excellent book, for middle grade readers, about poverty and race relations in 1960s Mississippi. These delicate topics were handled honestly and respectfully in language appropriate for young readers. I especially enjoyed how the author used Raold Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" to help young readers understand and empathize with protagonist Ellis Earl's school and homelife challenges. I highly recommend this for anyone.
This book took me back to my childhood, my love of books, the challenges of life with siblings, and the joy of having a teacher who cared and believed students.
This book took me back to my childhood, my love of books, the challenges of life with siblings, and the joy of having a teacher who cared and believed students.
December 24, 2022
I enjoyed this middle grade HF story a lot. 4.5 stars. Powerful, sad, frustrating, and hopeful.
October 28, 2022
E ARC provided Young Adult Books Central
Life in rural Mississippi in 1967 is not easy for Ellis Earl Brown and his large family. His mother and three older brothers go out to look for work each day, since the father died in a tractor accident, but often his mother ends up helping another woman clean houses, which doesn't pay very much. His oldest sister, Jeannette, is only fourteen, but has to stay home and take care of the young children, who include a cousin whose mother has died, Oscar, who is a year older than Ellis Earl but doesn't go to school because he is constantly ill, and Carrie Ann, who does go to school. His oldest brother, Junior, is 22 and has four children of his own, with another on the way, so these children are staying in the three room house while their mother is in the hospital. There's barely enough food to go around, but Ellis Earl sometimes gets "leftovers" from his teacher, Mr. Foster, who also drives several of his students home in his station wagon so they don't have to walk long distances. The Brown's house is located in an area that often floods, so when there is a lot of rain, Ellis Earl can't get to school. He's a good student, and frequently brings home books to share with his sibings, since there isn't much for them to do at home. When Mr. Foster asks if Ellis Earl would like to read a verse at church, he is a bit reluctant. The family is Baptist, but doesn't go to church because they don't have anything to wear. Mr. Foster gets a new outfit for Ellis Earl, and his mother grudgingly allows him to attend the American Methodist Episcopal church. There's breakfast, and the speech goes over well, and Mr. Foster offers another opportunity-- Ellis Earl and four other students are invited to travel to the airport to help greet Robert Kenney and Marian Wright, who are undertaking a tour of the South to document the poverty in the area and to try to get information to support the Fair Housing Act and the spread of the food stamp program. The students have been reading news articles about Civil Rights and trying to understand what improvements could be made to their community, and Ellis Earl's best friend, Phillip, and another good student, Cora, are excited for the possibility. While racial tensions are high in the South, and the group is mistreated at a diner, the airport visit goes well. Later, the Browns are surprised when Kennedy and his entourage show up at their house to ask about their experiences. Mr. Foster further helps the family, by helping their small family singing group, the Brown Blues, get exposure, and connecting them with other members of the church who are able to help with housing.
While many families are struggling with many insecurities, especially now, they are not quite as dire as the Depression-era feel of the Brown's poverty. I think it's good for young readers to understand that it is possible to survive with just one spare pair of underwear, and to see the lengths to which Ellis Earl is willing to sacrifice his own comfort to provide for his family. The importance of reading and education is made very clear, and the inclusion of Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl, 1964) is an interesting one. I also appreciated Jackson's note about the problems with the Oompa-Loompas in the early edition were treated!
Mr. Foster is a fantastic character who clearly cares about his students and tries his best to take care of their basic needs so that their learning is uninterrupted.The strong sense of community is made clear in the support that is offered at school and through the church. I was a bit surprised that the Browns weren't already involved in the church, but this is nicely explained.
Including real life Civil Rights figures might lead students to investigate the time period more thoroughly. Jackson is from a similar area in Mississippi and her personal experiences bring a fascinating, rich depth to Ellis Earl's life. I especially enjoyed the fact that while things were brutally hard for the Brown family, there was a strong sense of hope that life would improve.
The depiction of children in poverty in fiction has deep roots, from Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (Hega, 1901) to The Boxcar Chidlren (Warner, 1924) to The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (Sidney, 1936), but it's somewhat unusual to see a contemporary book capture the details so well. Modern books also tend to take a grim view of events, but I loved Ellis Earl's resiliency and perseverance.This was a great historical fiction book that details a specific place and time in a vivid and interesting way. It is extremely interesting to see this depiction in contrast to the reboot of The Wonder Years, which is set in Alabama in 1968 but chronicles a Black, middle class family. Read this along with Wilkinson's 1974 Ludell as well as Jackson's Midnight Without a Moon (2016).
Life in rural Mississippi in 1967 is not easy for Ellis Earl Brown and his large family. His mother and three older brothers go out to look for work each day, since the father died in a tractor accident, but often his mother ends up helping another woman clean houses, which doesn't pay very much. His oldest sister, Jeannette, is only fourteen, but has to stay home and take care of the young children, who include a cousin whose mother has died, Oscar, who is a year older than Ellis Earl but doesn't go to school because he is constantly ill, and Carrie Ann, who does go to school. His oldest brother, Junior, is 22 and has four children of his own, with another on the way, so these children are staying in the three room house while their mother is in the hospital. There's barely enough food to go around, but Ellis Earl sometimes gets "leftovers" from his teacher, Mr. Foster, who also drives several of his students home in his station wagon so they don't have to walk long distances. The Brown's house is located in an area that often floods, so when there is a lot of rain, Ellis Earl can't get to school. He's a good student, and frequently brings home books to share with his sibings, since there isn't much for them to do at home. When Mr. Foster asks if Ellis Earl would like to read a verse at church, he is a bit reluctant. The family is Baptist, but doesn't go to church because they don't have anything to wear. Mr. Foster gets a new outfit for Ellis Earl, and his mother grudgingly allows him to attend the American Methodist Episcopal church. There's breakfast, and the speech goes over well, and Mr. Foster offers another opportunity-- Ellis Earl and four other students are invited to travel to the airport to help greet Robert Kenney and Marian Wright, who are undertaking a tour of the South to document the poverty in the area and to try to get information to support the Fair Housing Act and the spread of the food stamp program. The students have been reading news articles about Civil Rights and trying to understand what improvements could be made to their community, and Ellis Earl's best friend, Phillip, and another good student, Cora, are excited for the possibility. While racial tensions are high in the South, and the group is mistreated at a diner, the airport visit goes well. Later, the Browns are surprised when Kennedy and his entourage show up at their house to ask about their experiences. Mr. Foster further helps the family, by helping their small family singing group, the Brown Blues, get exposure, and connecting them with other members of the church who are able to help with housing.
While many families are struggling with many insecurities, especially now, they are not quite as dire as the Depression-era feel of the Brown's poverty. I think it's good for young readers to understand that it is possible to survive with just one spare pair of underwear, and to see the lengths to which Ellis Earl is willing to sacrifice his own comfort to provide for his family. The importance of reading and education is made very clear, and the inclusion of Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl, 1964) is an interesting one. I also appreciated Jackson's note about the problems with the Oompa-Loompas in the early edition were treated!
Mr. Foster is a fantastic character who clearly cares about his students and tries his best to take care of their basic needs so that their learning is uninterrupted.The strong sense of community is made clear in the support that is offered at school and through the church. I was a bit surprised that the Browns weren't already involved in the church, but this is nicely explained.
Including real life Civil Rights figures might lead students to investigate the time period more thoroughly. Jackson is from a similar area in Mississippi and her personal experiences bring a fascinating, rich depth to Ellis Earl's life. I especially enjoyed the fact that while things were brutally hard for the Brown family, there was a strong sense of hope that life would improve.
The depiction of children in poverty in fiction has deep roots, from Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (Hega, 1901) to The Boxcar Chidlren (Warner, 1924) to The Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (Sidney, 1936), but it's somewhat unusual to see a contemporary book capture the details so well. Modern books also tend to take a grim view of events, but I loved Ellis Earl's resiliency and perseverance.This was a great historical fiction book that details a specific place and time in a vivid and interesting way. It is extremely interesting to see this depiction in contrast to the reboot of The Wonder Years, which is set in Alabama in 1968 but chronicles a Black, middle class family. Read this along with Wilkinson's 1974 Ludell as well as Jackson's Midnight Without a Moon (2016).
October 21, 2022
A delightful story that carried me back to the 1960s! My review:
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/202...
http://perfectretort.blogspot.com/202...
January 12, 2022
I received an advance reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
4.5/5 stars
This book is a wonderfully charming middle grade historical fiction. Ellis Earl, our protagonist, is the right mixture of bright yet fallible, giving yet selfish at times - evading the perfect protagonist trope that is one of my major gripes with children's literature. The particular time and place covered by the book is one that is very often left out of even adult historical fiction, and viewing it through a child's eyes was a refreshing change of pace. It also touches on concepts that many children still deal with today: racism from adults, poverty, hunger, inadequate shelter. Jackson does not gloss over these topics at all; instead, the reader is given a truthful inside look from a child who is living it day by day.
I've docked half a star because I found that Ellis Earl sometimes either understood big concepts a little too easily or didn't understand small things an eleven-year-old should, but honestly, it wasn't enough to take me out of the story, which is why I've kept it as five stars here on GoodReads instead of rounding down.
Overall, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, and it's already one of my favorites for the year. I imagine many children today will find camaraderie with Ellis Earl the same way he did with Charlie Bucket.
4.5/5 stars
This book is a wonderfully charming middle grade historical fiction. Ellis Earl, our protagonist, is the right mixture of bright yet fallible, giving yet selfish at times - evading the perfect protagonist trope that is one of my major gripes with children's literature. The particular time and place covered by the book is one that is very often left out of even adult historical fiction, and viewing it through a child's eyes was a refreshing change of pace. It also touches on concepts that many children still deal with today: racism from adults, poverty, hunger, inadequate shelter. Jackson does not gloss over these topics at all; instead, the reader is given a truthful inside look from a child who is living it day by day.
I've docked half a star because I found that Ellis Earl sometimes either understood big concepts a little too easily or didn't understand small things an eleven-year-old should, but honestly, it wasn't enough to take me out of the story, which is why I've kept it as five stars here on GoodReads instead of rounding down.
Overall, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did, and it's already one of my favorites for the year. I imagine many children today will find camaraderie with Ellis Earl the same way he did with Charlie Bucket.
December 4, 2024
An extraordinary story about an ordinary kid growing up in extreme poverty in 1967 Mississippi. Ellis Earl is determined to stay in school, even though his older siblings dropped out at his age to help support the family. He tries to keep his family circumstances a secret from his teacher and his classmates, but his little sister has a big mouth. Mr. Foster encourages his students to report on news that's pertinent to their lives. Ellis Earl learns about Miss Marian Wright and her effort to bring Senator Robert Kennedy and others from Washington DC to see, for themselves, how hungry so many families are in her home state of Mississippi. Can they really help put food on Ellis Earl's table? What will it take to make change happen? Great historical fiction.
I’m changing my rating from four stars to five upon the second reading. Jackson seamlessly works historical events into the desperate, but not uncommon, life of the Brown family. Ellis Earl is a true hero, just like his sister says. I loved learning about some Civil Rights history with which I was unfamiliar. Another important window into a world much different than my own. Brava.
I’m changing my rating from four stars to five upon the second reading. Jackson seamlessly works historical events into the desperate, but not uncommon, life of the Brown family. Ellis Earl is a true hero, just like his sister says. I loved learning about some Civil Rights history with which I was unfamiliar. Another important window into a world much different than my own. Brava.
February 21, 2022
I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. Ultimately, this book read like so many others that I have read on this topic, so many others that have done it better.
I did not like the supporting characters, mainly the siblings, at all. The author does not do much to make them likable even though the main character, Ellis Earl, gives half-hearted explanations for why they act the way they act.
Then, towards the end, Jackson includes so quite vivid examples of racial prejudice including outright slurs. Now, I understand that these words were said towards people like our characters, adults and children alike. However, these two scenes felt jarring in comparison to most of the rest of the novel.
Finally, Jackson wraps everything up in a nice pretty bow leaving Ellis Earl in a fantastic position and not one where he actually has to pay the consequences for some of his foolish actions.
I did not think the book a bad book really; it just underwhelmed.
I did not like the supporting characters, mainly the siblings, at all. The author does not do much to make them likable even though the main character, Ellis Earl, gives half-hearted explanations for why they act the way they act.
Then, towards the end, Jackson includes so quite vivid examples of racial prejudice including outright slurs. Now, I understand that these words were said towards people like our characters, adults and children alike. However, these two scenes felt jarring in comparison to most of the rest of the novel.
Finally, Jackson wraps everything up in a nice pretty bow leaving Ellis Earl in a fantastic position and not one where he actually has to pay the consequences for some of his foolish actions.
I did not think the book a bad book really; it just underwhelmed.
April 22, 2022
I truly enjoyed reading The Lucky Ones by Linda Williams Jackson. Ellis Earl Brown who hopes and dreams for so much more for himself and his family. He wants a better life that is absent of the hardships he and his family are currently experiencing. Thanks to his tough but caring teacher, Mr. Foster, Ellis Earl is invited, along with a few other students, to go on a special trip to Jackson, MS to see Senator Robert Kennedy...a trip that would ultimately change Ellis Earl's and his families life.
October 22, 2022
This was excellent.
April 27, 2022
I love this author's books. Having read and been impressed by Midnight Without a Moon and Sky Full of Stars, I was pretty sure that this new middle grade novel would be just as compelling as those two titles. I was not disappointed as I met the imperfect but realistically drawn Ellis Earl Brown, the book's eleven-year-old protagonist, and watched his character develop and learn from his mistakes. Although his family is extremely poor and struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table, Ellis Earl is inspired by the encouragement of his teacher, Mr. Foster, to dream of a different, better life. Mr. Foster lends the boy books, including the one that sparks his interest in reading chapter books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and urges him to speak up during class, and Ellis flourishes under his attention and worries that his own education will come to an end soon out of necessity as happened for his older siblings. The teacher transports Ellis Earl, his younger sister Carrie Ann, and other students to and from school since the county school board hasn't gotten around to provide bus transportation. Because Ellis Earl is embarrassed about where he lives, he insists on being dropped off down the road so that he and his sister must walk to their house. Mr. Foster also provides food for some of the students, and issues invitations to his church, even arranging a field trip from their town of Wilsonville to Jackson, Mississippi, as part of a welcoming committee during Senator Robert Kennedy's visit to the state in 1967 as part of the so-called "Poverty Tour." While parts of the Ellis's story are hard to read and perhaps a bit unbelievable, especially the conclusion, this book effectively describes the grinding pain of hunger, not just a day without much food, but many days, and life without electricity or indoor plumbing as well as the time it takes to accomplish simple tasks such as washing clothes or the dishes due to the need to haul in water from outdoors. I appreciate how the author doesn't blame the Brown family or Ellis's mother for their living conditions or include a character who has turned to drink. It's clear that the woman is doing the best she can under circumstances beyond her control, and that the youngsters' father isn't absent because he simply left them high and dry. But her jobs were low-paying and sporadic and not likely to provide much sustenance. The author paints a compelling picture of individuals who are striving but stymied by all that's stacked against them and a young boy who makes mistakes and messes up but has a good heart. Because of his teacher's guidance, example, and lessons about successful Black men and women and social activism, Ellis Earl is able to imagine a bright, perhaps unrealistic future in which he's a lawyer, teacher, and writer. But maybe it isn't all that unrealistic at all. As the story concludes, readers won't worry about the boy's next steps. Another reviewer claimed that many other books have been more effective in describing grinding poverty, but I disagree. Through several passages in this book, I could feel the dampness and coldness of the Browns' home, watch the youngsters moving mattresses and quilts to different locations in the room in order to avoid a leak from the roof, and understand Carrie Ann's desire to have a whole Moon pie to herself or the simple longing to have a pet cat [Lucky] only to be unsure where any extra food to feed it would come from. In many respects, Ellis Earl's ambitions are large but in other respects, quite small and parts of daily life that most readers today take for granted--a toothbrush, new shoes, new pants, and new underwear. Details such as this make this story real as so the passages in which Ellis Earl denigrates his family and lashes out at his mother. While teaching in New Orleans, I once had a student who would miss two to three days of school every week. After months of this behavior and never getting an answer when I made my required phone call to his parent to find out where he was, my student answered the phone and confessed that he couldn't come to school because he only had two pairs of jeans, and they were too wet to wear since they were air-drying, which takes a while in New Orleans' humidity. I was reminded of him and his plight as I read this highly-recommended piece of historical fiction. Who are the Lucky Ones? Perhaps those of us who are fortunate enough to read this book.
February 18, 2023
In 1967, 11-year old Ellis Earl lives in the Mississippi Delta. The family lives in a two room shack with a leaking tin roof, eleven (sometimes more) people, no plumbing, electricity, or food. Ellis attends school due to the graciousness of his teacher who is willing to drive him and several other classmates to and from, but despite his desire to continue learning, is waking up to the reality that he will likely need to be pulled from school, like his older siblings, to work. The story is set near the beginning of RFK's poverty tour of Mississippi, which gives a light backdrop of distant hope that conditions will improve even while, as the story progresses, Ellis Earl does what is in his limited ability to help his family's situation.
This story is a mixed bag. On the one hand the historical element was interesting. As one who vaguely recalled mention of the Poverty Tour in high school, I really was unaware of the extent of extreme poverty in this time period. The racial tension is likewise done very well, particularly later in the story where you see Ellis Earl encounter racial hate for the first time, portrayed in a very realistic way, and how it causes him to simply feel small.
For me, the poverty aspect was too on the head. For the first two thirds of the story, it felt that I couldn't go a page without reading that the family didn't have enough food. Even so, I rarely felt empathy for the character because it was being stated, and I didn't really feel how that hunger was affecting the characters. Personally, I struggle when I read to place myself in the position of the character, and the writing style of the story was trying very hard to do that, so I don't think this would be nearly as big of a problem for a different reader.
I wasn't really a fan of the characters. While I appreciate the fact that Ellis Earl isn't perfect, and he makes mistakes, I didn't like how that was resolved. The story focuses a lot on envy, which is a great vice to explore, but around the two-thirds mark he just sort of gets over it and there isn't much in the way of consequence or apology for the things he does. There's also an undercurrent of how Ellis Earl wants to be a teacher or lawyer. He's trying to get better at speaking up and reading more adult books so he can do that, while also being anxious over the prospect his mother might pull him from school. This was an interesting part of the story and I wish there was more focus on that than the I-don't-have-enough-food part.
The siblings are very one-note - either very unlikeable in the case of his sisters, or nice in the case of his brother. With the sisters, they likewise just stop being mean about two-thirds through. I think the idea of the story was that everyone got nicer as their prospects improved, but I'm not sure if that was the idea or if was communicated well enough.
The historical part is the main appeal for the book, so it's good that it's done well. The shift in the character's 2/3rds was welcome because I wasn't really enjoying the character's I was getting, and overall the last third of the book was definitely the strongest part, even if it wrapped up in a quick info dump that wasn't entirely realistic. Even if you're not a fan of the beginning I'd strongly recommend that you keep reading.
This story is a mixed bag. On the one hand the historical element was interesting. As one who vaguely recalled mention of the Poverty Tour in high school, I really was unaware of the extent of extreme poverty in this time period. The racial tension is likewise done very well, particularly later in the story where you see Ellis Earl encounter racial hate for the first time, portrayed in a very realistic way, and how it causes him to simply feel small.
For me, the poverty aspect was too on the head. For the first two thirds of the story, it felt that I couldn't go a page without reading that the family didn't have enough food. Even so, I rarely felt empathy for the character because it was being stated, and I didn't really feel how that hunger was affecting the characters. Personally, I struggle when I read to place myself in the position of the character, and the writing style of the story was trying very hard to do that, so I don't think this would be nearly as big of a problem for a different reader.
I wasn't really a fan of the characters. While I appreciate the fact that Ellis Earl isn't perfect, and he makes mistakes, I didn't like how that was resolved. The story focuses a lot on envy, which is a great vice to explore, but around the two-thirds mark he just sort of gets over it and there isn't much in the way of consequence or apology for the things he does. There's also an undercurrent of how Ellis Earl wants to be a teacher or lawyer. He's trying to get better at speaking up and reading more adult books so he can do that, while also being anxious over the prospect his mother might pull him from school. This was an interesting part of the story and I wish there was more focus on that than the I-don't-have-enough-food part.
The siblings are very one-note - either very unlikeable in the case of his sisters, or nice in the case of his brother. With the sisters, they likewise just stop being mean about two-thirds through. I think the idea of the story was that everyone got nicer as their prospects improved, but I'm not sure if that was the idea or if was communicated well enough.
The historical part is the main appeal for the book, so it's good that it's done well. The shift in the character's 2/3rds was welcome because I wasn't really enjoying the character's I was getting, and overall the last third of the book was definitely the strongest part, even if it wrapped up in a quick info dump that wasn't entirely realistic. Even if you're not a fan of the beginning I'd strongly recommend that you keep reading.
October 12, 2022
We meet eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown, in this work of historical fiction inspired by the author's own Mississippi childhood. He shares a three-room shack with ten other family members. As Blacks living in the rural Mississippi Delta in 1967, they have neither electricity, nor running water. Without the luxury of school buses, his widowed mother can send only two of her younger children to school; they depend on the kindness of Mr. Foster, Ellis Earl's teacher, who drives a station wagon full of neighborhood children to and from school each day. The Brown children must end their schooling after 6th grade, forced to find work, or look after the younger ones while their mother pieces together odd jobs. Food is scarce, and they are always hungry. Ellis Earl has two threadbare changes of clothing, and longs for new BVDs not full of holes. Despite their hardscrabble life, the Brown family is proud. They gratefully accept charity from family and friends, but never ask for it. Even in their over-crowded, sparsely furnished home, Ellis Earl is secure in his mother's love.
Like so many children of poverty, school is his refuge. Each day Ellis Earl looks forward to a hearty lunch provided by his teacher, often his only real meal of the day. He loves books, especially picture books, because they help him to figure out the words. When Mr. Foster gives him a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with pictures!) Ellis Earl identifies with Charlie, and is astonished to discover that the Button family is even poorer than his. Mr. Foster is a thoughtful, nurturing teacher, who demands hard work from his students, as he broadens their world with news of the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders. Hearing of the work of Thurgood Marshall and Marion Wright, Ellis Earl aspires to be a lawyer, or a teacher, or perhaps both.
Much of the novel's plot revolves around Robert F. Kennedy's historic visit to the Mississippi Delta, in 1967. Marion Wright, the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, testified before the U.S. Senate, describing the dire poverty that gripped the Delta. When Senators accused her of exaggerating, she challenged them to come and see for themselves. Robert Kennedy, and three other Senators accepted the challenge, and held hearings in Jackson, Mississippi on April 11, 1967. The following day, they toured rural counties to witness conditions firsthand. In the novel, Kennedy's group visits Ellis Earl's house.
Characters in the story ring true, rendered realistically in both their admirable and less than admirable moments. Dialog is believable and engaging, making this a good choice for reading aloud. Middle-grade readers will be comfortable with the generously spaced text and large page margins. Perhaps the book's most important contribution is how effectively it transports us to the Delta of the 1960's. Affluent readers may be shocked by the poverty; less fortunate readers may be comforted, as Ellis Earl was when he recognized himself in Charlie Button. As Ursula Le Guin observed, "We read books to find out who we are." With well researched historical fiction, we can also read books to help us understand what came before. Grades 4-6.
Like so many children of poverty, school is his refuge. Each day Ellis Earl looks forward to a hearty lunch provided by his teacher, often his only real meal of the day. He loves books, especially picture books, because they help him to figure out the words. When Mr. Foster gives him a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with pictures!) Ellis Earl identifies with Charlie, and is astonished to discover that the Button family is even poorer than his. Mr. Foster is a thoughtful, nurturing teacher, who demands hard work from his students, as he broadens their world with news of the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders. Hearing of the work of Thurgood Marshall and Marion Wright, Ellis Earl aspires to be a lawyer, or a teacher, or perhaps both.
Much of the novel's plot revolves around Robert F. Kennedy's historic visit to the Mississippi Delta, in 1967. Marion Wright, the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar, testified before the U.S. Senate, describing the dire poverty that gripped the Delta. When Senators accused her of exaggerating, she challenged them to come and see for themselves. Robert Kennedy, and three other Senators accepted the challenge, and held hearings in Jackson, Mississippi on April 11, 1967. The following day, they toured rural counties to witness conditions firsthand. In the novel, Kennedy's group visits Ellis Earl's house.
Characters in the story ring true, rendered realistically in both their admirable and less than admirable moments. Dialog is believable and engaging, making this a good choice for reading aloud. Middle-grade readers will be comfortable with the generously spaced text and large page margins. Perhaps the book's most important contribution is how effectively it transports us to the Delta of the 1960's. Affluent readers may be shocked by the poverty; less fortunate readers may be comforted, as Ellis Earl was when he recognized himself in Charlie Button. As Ursula Le Guin observed, "We read books to find out who we are." With well researched historical fiction, we can also read books to help us understand what came before. Grades 4-6.
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