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  • This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration by Jacqueline Woodson
  • Hope Morrison
Woodson, Jacqueline . This Is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration; illus. by James Ransome. Paulsen/Penguin, 2013. [40p]. ISBN 978-0-399-23986-1 $16.99 Reviewed from galleys R 6-9 yrs.

An old piece of rope serves as a framing device for a story that follows an African-American family from South Carolina to New York City mid-century. The rope remains with the family for three generations, from its earliest use as a jump rope "under the shade of a sweet-smelling pine" in the South to its more utilitarian functions as clothesline and sign holder in the city. The text on each spread begins with "This is the rope" and goes on to tell, in spare, eloquent ragged-right prose, how the rope played a role in the family's personal history. Short of the introductory author's note, there is not much history here; this is simply a beautifully told family tale about a loving, close-knit African-American family over several decades. The fictional tale is told from the point of view of the original pair's granddaughter, a character who herself appears skipping rope on the penultimate spread under the watchful eyes of her parents and grandparents. The language is deliberate and lyrical, and the gentle pacing calls for a slow, deliberate readaloud. Ransome's oil paintings feature landscapes indicative both of the changing geography and the passing of time; while some figures are a little stiff, others are remarkable, with light falling on faces at the perfect angle and facial features carrying abundant emotion. Young listeners may need assistance to conceptualize the family relations and the passing of time, but they will nevertheless be drawn to this warm and hope-filled tale.

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