Yard War

Excerpt from an email I wrote recently.I’ve been listening to my Amazon Echo Dot read Taylor Kitchings’s book "Yard War." I’ve got the hardbound version also, but for some reason I never read it. My Echo Dot has opened a new world. It’s an old world hidden by my bad eyesight.In the book Taylor’s protagonist’s family is Baptist. I thought Taylor’s family was Episcopalian like me. I’m older than Taylor. I live in Greenwood; he lives in Jackson. When I lived in Jackson we never talked about colored people. I’m sure that I’ve told you my views about non-whites. I was entering Dollar Tree. There was a colored woman and I held the door open for her. Her smile was radiant. Her “Thank you” was her gift. Her eyes told me that I was different, and she entered.Taylor’s protagonist Trip has grown up in an affluent neighborhood with the money necessary for their position... just like Taylor. Trip’s father is also a doctor. Trip is baffled by the treatment of colored people. Years ago when we saw more of each other, we never discussed race matters. I’m rather outspoken with my feelings about racism. Each person should be considered on their own merits... sometimes it takes a good while to know a person, i.g., me and Bob. "Yard War" is a beautiful work. I’m not judging the literary quality. It took a lot of courage on Taylor’s part. What’s wrong with humans...? Humans are the only animal that socially discriminates based on color... a simplistic statement, but true. Unfortunately true.Read Yard War. Also check out Cicero’s (106 B.C. – 43 B.C.) On Friendship.More later.

I thoroughly enjoyed Taylor Kitchings' book! I remember the town, the times, the pain, and the hypocrisy during the civil rights struggle in Mississippi. I recommend it for summer reading for both boys and girls ages 8-12. The girls may not enjoy all the football, but it won't hurt them. It's important that today's kids and their parents understand what it was really like.

I know that this was written with the young reader in mind, but adults should read this to better understand what it was really like at this period of time in the deep south. also, it was a really good read. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip back in time.

The book was a good learning lesson on what went on it the civil rights era. This book was a loved book by my friends who loved it as well.

great book for young and old. a peak into childhood in the South and life lessons intertwined superbly.

A Harper Lee style story. Intersting

This book is probably one of the best historical coming of age tales I have ever read. The author does a magnificent job of capturing the period, and gives his young narrator a voice that is authentic and compelling from page one. When I requested this book I had no idea what it was about. I was expecting just a common story of school conflict. What I discovered was a surprisingly effective examination of one boy's experience in the South as the country was trying to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1964.Yard War is a powerful story that will resonate with and educate young readers unfamiliar with the period. The language will likely startle and offend readers, as the characters use racial slurs that were common during this period. Their inclusion is not gratuitous and only adds to the authenticity of the story. The author perfectly captures Trip's feelings as he grows more aware of the world around him and makes that ever important discovery that adults don't have all the answers and that sometimes their answers are wrong.With characters that are well developed, dialogue filled with energy, and a huge amount of heart, this story of A Yard War brings a very important part of history to life for children in grades 5 to 8. It's hard to believe that this is the author's first novel. I will be eager to see what he offers up next. This is one you shouldn't miss.

For the target audience – readers age 8-12 years of age - “Yard War” provides a very relatable perspective on history and on race relations following the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Taylor Kitchings understands readers in the target audience and writes with knowledge of the subject matter and the attitudes that were prevalent in the Deep South during the mid-1960’s.A seventh grader, Trip Westbrook lives in Jackson, Mississippi. The son of a doctor, his only personal contact with “…colored people …” is with “…Willie Jane…Meemaw’s maid or a waiter at the club or a guy at the Texaco…” Naïve about race relations and the attitudes of others, Trip thinks of Willie Jane not as working for the family, but as “…my other mama…” He believes that if someone were to visit his neighborhood, his school, or his church, they would find nice people not people “…trying to hurt colored people…” When Trip invites Willie Jane’s son Dee to play football with him, Trip’s friends at first resist but because of his skill, eventually accept Dee. As Trip and Dee develop a deeper friendship, the conflict with Trip’s grandparents and the threats toward the Westbrook family intensify. Circumstances result in their taking a firm stand against racism.Using the first person narrative in “Yard War”, Taylor Kitchings creates a very personal and very compelling story. Trip is maturing and beginning to have more his own opinions about what is right and what is wrong. Yet, Trip retains some of the naiveté – he believes his Pawpa when he is told that if he found a good “colored person” he would take him to lunch at the Country Club. When Trip takes Dee to the Club, he is surprised that Pawpa does not mean what he said. “Yard War” is an excellent story and one that teaches some of the history of race relations to the target audience. It depicts generational conflicts realistically and the personal sacrifices that resulted for many affected individuals. The hypocrisy of church-going individuals, including his grandparents, who taught children “…Jesus loves all the children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white …” troubles Trip. Trip’s mother represents those individuals whose dilemma is that they are caught between respecting their parents and doing what they know is right. His father, whose background is not one of privilege, wants to protect his family. Dr. Westbrook must decide between whether to do so at the cost of compromising his personal beliefs and integrity or whether to take a stand against injustice and prejudice.Language, racial references, and attitudes portrayed through “Yard War” are realistic. While the terms used in the novel are not used today, they were common at the time the novel takes place. “Yard War” provides an excellent opportunity for parents to discuss with their children the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the changes in attitude that have taken place and the changes that have yet to be effected.