Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is the powerful story of a young girl, Cassie, and her brother, Stacey, who have to learn some tough facts of life in a grown-up world. They face some unique obstacles, being black and living in the “Jim-Crow” dominated South in the 1930’s, giving the reader a real-life glimpse into that time period of American history. They also deal with challenges that are common when children must learn to make difficult choices and must accept situations that change them from children to adults. Cassie is the 1st person narrator, so we see the whole story from her point of view. She watches her brother Stacey take grown-up responsibility, so she realizes she must make some of the same hard choices. Part of the story centers around their friend, bad-boy T.J. T.J. goes from being annoying to being really mean and spiteful, and his actions cause the whole family pain and heartache, but that is nothing compared to the ultimate consequences he must face. There are some especially intense parts of the book, where violence is brewing, and you are almost afraid to turn the page and find out what is going to happen. This is a book that stresses the strong bonds of family and friendship. Mr. Morrison is a character that impressed me because of what he was willing to risk for a family that wasn’t even his. I give this book 4 ½ stars. I don’t give it 5 stars because I felt the ending was somewhat anti-climatic and even somewhat unresolved. But that may be show more because this book has a sequel and perhaps the sequel puts the ending more into perspective. Overall, it is a book I will probably never forget and is well worth reading. show less