Trapped Between the Lash and the Gun

by Arvella Whitmore

Jordan is going to join a gang. But just as he's about to start his future with the Cobras, his past calls him back. Way back--to the nineteenth-century, where he meets his ancestors and gets a bitter taste of what life was like for them as slaves. Jordan must live with the constant threat of the whip's lash. His journey back in time will strike a chord with any young person who has felt trapped by hard times and difficult choices.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Time Travel, Social Justice, Fantasy, Childrens, School

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Arvella Doris Whitmore (née Embry) was born on March 14, 1922. She earned her B.A. in 1944 from Christian College University and her M.A. in 1947 from the University of Iowa. Arvella Whitmore has been Head of Speech and Drama Department of Marymount College in Salina, Kansas. She is the author of three young adult novels.

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is about a young African American boy named Jordan going through wrong path. This boy belonged a to a gang known as the cobras. He needed money to buy a gun in order to protect himself from rival gangs on the streets like the lobos gang. He stole his grandfathers golden watch that has been passes down through his family for many generations because he wanted so the money much.That he was willing to steal from his grandfather.

That was when the boys journey had begun. The watch had some how sent him back in time to the time when Africans were slaves. He met a boy named Uriah that looked so much like him and his mother Clara that looked so much like his mother. He was sure that the slave owner had the watch and he had to get it back because he was sure that the watch was the key to get back to his time. He had gone to the time when his ancestors had been alive and had learned so much about his history. His ancestors not knowing that he was from their family took Jordan in as one of their own. Jordan had then been sold to a man that was helping Africans have their freedom. The man had told him to go back to the the plantation were Uriah was at. Jordan had been so glad because he wanted to get the watch. Jordan had gotten Uriah to leave with him, but never got the watch. He decided he didn't care about the watch anymore he just wanted his freedom. Uriah had told him that the master had given the watch to someone that was trust worthy. When Uriah had fallen asleep Jordan had heard ticking. He ralized that Uriah had been the trust worthy person that the master had given the watch to. Jordan held the watch in his hand and was instantly transported back to his time.

Jordan gave the watch to his grandfatheramd when he was on his way home he was trapped by gang members. He soon realized that it was the main head of the cobras gang A.K.A. King and his right hand A.K.A Hood. Jordan told them that he had wanted to get out of the gang. That was something that could have ended his life. He was beat up and half way in the beating he was ready to give up and beg for mercy, but he remembered that Uriah and Clara would have stuck throught it and never change their minda about the decision they made no matter what. Then Jordan had gotten shot and woke up in a hospital. He found out that King was put behind bars because he shot him and Hood. Jordan and his family moved to a house in a small town. Jordan never told any one about his journey through time.

This was a great book because it could be a true story about history and because it is linked to one of the many events in Americas History. Also because it tells the life of a child in the hood and teaches many valuable lesson. I recommend this book to any one because it is an interesting book and I give this book five stars.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre- read for my daughter middle school book club as the teacher emailed us about sensitive content. When a kid gets involved with a local gang in local time then time travels back to slavery on a plantation. They are most alike than different
Great book about choices we make and consequences
Hoping there are good book club discussions at school

[Jocelyn]

11.6.08

In Trapped Between The Lash And The Gun Written by Arvella Whitmore the main character Jordan is a young boy who lives with his mother and his younger sister but he wants to move with his dad because he feels he'll do better with him. He gets caught up in somethings that he has to try hard to get out of. The theme of this book is you should'nt take what's not yours! This book will take you on a journey.
Jordan is in a gang called Cobras, He feels that this gang of his will protect him. He wants to move with his dad but he needs enough money for the trip . Since Jordan had no money for the trip he decides to take his grandfathers Gold Watch that has been passed down by his family so that he can pawn it and get the money. He thought that he would buy a knew watch and replace it when he had the money to. When Jordan takes the watch and is walking to the pawn shop time changes and he is stuck in the pass where slavery was happening. In the past he looses the watch and he meets his ancestors.
This book made me think about my past. I would recommend this book to young adults because a lot of us go through situations like Jordan and we can learn from Jordan's Mistakes.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twelve year-old Jordan Scott steals his grandfather’s heirloom pocket watch with the intent to pawn it. As he passes through the underpass near the pawn shop, the city disappears, and he finds himself in the Antebellum South. Mistaken for a runaway slave, Jordan is taken to Hilltop Plantation where he meets his great-grandfather, Uriah Henning, a ten year-old boy. The watch belongs to Mr. Henning, the plantation owner. As Jordan picks cotton, survives on a starvation diet of cornbread and salt port, and faces the lash, he tries to find a way to steal the watch so that he can return home. Before, he’s able to affect his own escape, Mr. Henning sells him on the auction block. Jordan’s new owner makes it possible for him to return to his own time. The events that lead up to his return help Jordan understand how the watch came to be a part of his family’s past, and his experiences as a slave give him an entirely new outlook on life. I was impressed how Whitmore maintained Jordan’s voice throughout the book. Even though his attitude changed because of his experiences, he was still acted and spoke like a modern-day teenager. This book would be a good introduction to slavery for children ages 8-11.

[Josh Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is about a boy who is a slave in one life and a normal boy inanother life.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jordan is on the verge of joining a gang to avoid moving to the suburbs with his mom and sister. When he steals his grandfather's pocket watch, he finds himself transported back in time to the plantation where his ancestor's were enslaved. An interesting concept but it feels a little dated reading it in 2024.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Some tough displays of slave and gang violence. No language.

[Ms. Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of historical fiction. My 8th grade boys love it! Perfect fit for teaching the civil war or civil rights unit.

[Callie Navarathne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading with my 6th graders!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great quick read. A real reminder of life then and now.

[Bagley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my type of book that i would prefer to some kids out here thinking they big and bad and wanna steal from there elders and parents. the book gets more interesting every time i read at the moment jordan was walking home and was exspecting to sell his grandfather watch so he could get a gun but all of a sudden he end up back in time and was going crazy because his grandfather name was the same as the boy he was talking to and the little boy was looking for the same watch jordan just lost. this reminds me of kids who don't know about there ancestors or how there family cultures really are they go around stealing when they can work for the money and be apart of gangs when there way better then that.

[Sulaiman Bah · Rating 5 out of 5]

within the last four weeks I've been reading this book " trapped between the lash and gun" by Arvella whitmore. this book is about a twelve-year-old boy named jordan, who becomes involved with a street gang. when he is suddenly tried to steal his gramdpa's watch, he was transported though time on to the plantation of his slaved ancestors. now he works as a slave with his ancestors to find a way back to time. Very sad and a great book, You can't stop reading the book you just have to finsh it, while in the back of the book it shows some real paper from slaves history and life.

[Shaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a boy named Jordan. Joradan's parents are divorced and
so he lives with his sister and mother. Jordan lives in a free country but he soon finds out what it's like to be in the time of slavery. Learning so much about the past but in a scary adventurous way Jordan soon discoverers the most interesting thing yet (In the end).



I thought that this book was good. I would have given it 2 stars but i really enjoyed the end. It wasn't something that I would predict/expect to happen.

[Chris Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for kids in middle school. I read it to my class as part of our learning during Black History Month. It sparked a lot of excellent discussion concerning slavery, racism in the past and the different forms of discrimination that people face today. My students handled the racist language with maturity.

The fantasy of time travel, Jordan's temptation by the gang and the horrors of slavery all kept my students engaged in the book. Every time I put it down, they begged me to read more!

[Bill Littell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inventive look at how the violence and intimidation of gang life relates to slavery. The author transports a "contemporary" 13 year old boy back to the pre-Civil War South where he is put through all the horrors of slave life. Although I would have liked to have seen more wisdom in this piece, it is not without its instructional and inspirational moments. Written at a 630 lexile, this book is accessible to anyone. Some readers may look at it as a little junior highish.

[John G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a 12 year old african american named Jordan who just join a gang known as the Corbas.The leader of the gang,a twenty year old man,tells him he has to get money so they can met the arms dealer and he can get a gun.He choses to steal his grandfather's pocket watch inhearted from generation to generation.He suddenly starts hearing ticking and then finds himself in the pasted where their were slaves.His only question was how do he get back?

[Julie Christen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Time: Now and days of slavery
Place: Urban city and a souther plantation
179 pages

Likes:
1. Time travel and parallel between days of slavery and being a slave to a modern-day street gang was cool.
2. Quick read. Page turner.
3. Nice use of dialect.

Dislikes:
1. Maybe too simple. Not much descriptive language.
2. Almost too perfect ending that felt different than the rest of the story.

I read this because my students were reading it in history class.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me a different perspective of how slavery was. What i learned in social studies in elementary and middle school was not as graphic as what this book had. Once i got into the book, it was an intense read for me and i think this book would make a great class discussion for social studies.

[Mircah Foxwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son had to read this for school. It's a time-travel, where an African-American kid who is starting down the wrong path in life finds himself teleported back to the slave era -- and he can't make anyone believe he isn't a slave himself. Can he help the others around him, or ever find a way back to his own time?

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, a young gang member is transported back to the Civil War era and becomes a slave. It is written at a relatively low reading level considering the subject matter. The parallels between slavery and gang membership are very interesting.

[Maryam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is about Jordan, an African-American boy who joins a gang and steals his grandfather's watch for money. He is transported back in time to the time of slavery. He realises how his ancestors suffered and worked for their freedom as he experiences slavery first-hand.

[Sara Peoples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book was recommended to me by a middle school student and boy, am I glad I read it! It's a children's book and was somewhat predictable, but compulsively readable, and the author discovered an interesting twist about her own history upon completion of the book.

[Izzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book! I have been trying to find it somewhere near me so I can read it over again. GREAT details about slavery but more than that, GREAT story to follow. It's tied in so tightly and exquisitely that there is no way you won't love it. 5 stars :)

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can get through the hokey beginning and several cheesy spots, it's a good story. I wish the author had had a better editor. It really makes slavery feel contemporary.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. this book is intense, but so good!

[Marah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent analogy of gangs to slavery.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and clever book

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young, urban boy about to join a gang temporarily winds up as a slave on his great-great-great-grandfather's plantation. Well-written, entertaining and even touching.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. Not bad but not amazing. About a boy who gets transported back in time to when he would have been a slave. A pretty quick read, too.

[Matthew Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book showing the hardships of slavery and the bad side of town and how the United States has evolved and how the escaping of slavery was done.