Lesa Cline-Ransome is the author of more than twenty books for young readers including the award-winning Finding Langston trilogy. Her work has received a plethora of honors, including dozens of starred reviews, NAACP Image Award nominations, a Coretta Scott King honor, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and a Christopher Award. Her work has been named to ALA Notable Books and Bank Street Best Children's Book lists and she lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
★ "Cline-Ransome’s mastery of first person narration and her gift
for dialogue present a close-up look at Chicago’s African American
community in the 1940s. . . . While readers will miss this group of
Cline-Ransome’s memorable characters, Clem’s story is a satisfying
end to the series." —The Horn Book, Starred Review
★ "Like the other two entries, this novel with its parallel
narrative addresses tough situations with care, including parental
grief and depression, the threat of eviction, domestic abuse, the
emotional and physical abuse of children, the impact of racism, and
negotiating problematic friendships. A compelling work whose
intriguing characters readers will miss when they turn the last
page." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
★ "Cline-Ransome offers unusually perceptive portrayals of his
family members, their interactions, and their strong, ongoing, but
largely unspoken grief. Clem’s engaging first-person story, written
with simplicity and emotional clarity, provides a rewarding
conclusion to this historical fiction trilogy."—Booklist, Starred
Review
★ "[Lesa] Cline-Ransome skillfully brings the era of 1944 middle
America to life, giving readers a glimpse of an often neglected
part of history—growing up Black through the segregation and
discrimination in the North during this time period. . . .
Exceptional characters and the chance to explore the previous
volumes will leave readers wanting more. The historical aspect of
the novel encourages further exploration of the era and a greater
understanding of race in America during this time. This whole
series deserves a place on library shelves everywhere."—School
Library Journal, Starred Review
★ "In addition to exploring Clem’s relationships with his friends,
Cline-Ransome offers unusually perceptive portrayals of his family
members, their interactions, and their strong, ongoing, but largely
unspoken grief. Clem’s engaging first-person story, written with
simplicity and emotional clarity, provides a rewarding conclusion
to this historical fiction trilogy."—Booklist, Starred Review
"Cline-Ransome incorporates events of mid-century American history
so seamlessly, young readers may not realize they're absorbing real
historical facts. . . . Works beautifully as a stand-alone or as a
companion to the earlier novels in the trilogy."—Shelf
Awareness
"In this final title of Cline-Ransome’s historical fiction trilogy,
Clem steps fully into the limelight, and the Thurbers’ story
sensitively explores another facet the Black community on Chicago’s
South Side during the 1940s, as government bias against Black
servicemen causes a proud family to lose its tenuous grip on
prosperity."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
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