First published 1930
In 1930s Kansas, Sandy Rogers is a bright, imaginative child whose family struggles with poverty and racial injustice. As Sandy navigates a world that often seems stacked against him, he finds solace in music, poetry, and the bonds of his loving, if complicated, family. But when tragedy strikes, Sandy must confront the harsh realities of his circumstances and choose between bitterness or hope. Hughes' poetic prose paints a vividly textured portrait of Black life in the Jim Crow era, exploring the resilience, strength, and occasional sorrow that shape Sandy's journey to adulthood.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, coming-of-age, family-drama, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Kansas
Period: 20th Century
148 pages · Paperback
Content warnings: racism