Richard Wright and the Library Card

by William Miller

Other authorsGregory Christie (Illustrator)

Hardcover, 1997

Status

Available

Call number

J2T.407

Publication

Lee & Low Books (First Edition)

Description

Based on a scene from Wright's autobiography, Black boy, in which the seventeen-year-old African-American borrows a white man's library card and devours every book as a ticket to freedom.

Collection

Juvenile

Barcode

467

Language

English

Original language

English

Physical description

30 p.; 10.25 inches

ISBN

1880000571 / 9781880000571

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User reviews

LibraryThing member jredway

This is a story of a young black man with a desire to further his knowledge of reading. It is set in the early 20th century when African Americans had very little freedoms and face complete segregation. Richard, the young man, as a young child discovers a passion for reading, and when he learns to

read, he is desperate to read anything he can get his hands on. However, his family cannot afford to buy him any books and laws prevent him from barrowing them. As Richard grows older and pursues a better life, he finds work with a white man who helps him to check out books from the library. The books Richard discovers change his life and his perspective of others.

This is a moving book a how passion and perseverance pays off. It makes me think twice of how I take reading for granted. I really like that the story provided another perspective of how segregation and racial injustice affected people in the past. I also thought the illustrations made the story come to life. They provide a widow in the surrounding of that time period.

I would definitely use this book the course of Black History month to demonstrate the extent of segregation. Child now can check out books as please, and think this book would help them identify more with the past. I would also use this book to help inspire children to read. If they knew how difficult it was for someone like Richard to even get a book to read, they might feel lead to do more reading themselves.

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LibraryThing member carpeapr

“Richard Wright and the Library Card” is a great story about Richard, who had a passion for reading, thanks to his mom reading him the newspaper everyday as a child. Richard felt that it was more out there for him to explore and read, especially at the library. But growing up at a time where

Jim Crow laws were around and racism was everywhere, going to the library was impossible. Through much adversity, Richard Wright was able to receive a library card and was the first black man to receive a library card. His passion for reading and writing led him to fulfilling his dream of becoming a writer. This African American biography shows that with passion and dedication, anything is possible. The strong message of following your dreams made this also a great children’s book.

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LibraryThing member GRgenius

Richard Wright was a young black man with the desire to read. The problem? Due to the times, he was not permitted to use the local library...until one day a man with an open mind lent him a helping hand. A great story that shows the power of reading not only over the imagination and throughout

history, but also as a means of having the ability and confidence to reach for your dreams. Recommended for new readers of all ages as well as those that simply enjoy reveling in the wonder and joy that is reading....

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LibraryThing member Nhritzuk

This book was inspiring and reminds us to be grateful for the books and education that we have. Christie uses acrylics to create a realistic seeting in the 1920-30's time period.

LibraryThing member nellysanchez

Richard Wright and the Library card is story of an African American that touches my heart when I was reading his experience. He grows up in a farm where his grandfather used to tell him stories about the war; farm etc and his mother read the newspaper every day. When he grows up he realized that he

was not able to get a library card and use the local library. When he was working he found a very amiable white men who was able to help Richard to get book from the library by letting him used his card. He brings the book to his house and he pass all night reading and discovering new staff that will open his mind. This book was a great inspiration for me because with passion and determination we can go so far as we want.
This book open your mind and teach you the importance or the privilege that we have today to easily get a library card and borrow books to enrich our knowledge. I will motive my student to use their library card to read and read a lot of books to learn new thing that will increase their Knowledge and the way to see life.

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LibraryThing member dukefan86

Interesting story, loosely based on Richard Wright's life, about how he was inspired to read from a young age, and gained access to books.

LibraryThing member matthewbloome

This was a great biographical account of Richad Wright, the author, during his time working for a optical company and his endeavor to gain access to the public library, off limits to him because of his skin color. It is an inspiring story, despite the general attitude of the white people that

Richard encounters. Jim Falk is the white co-worker that allows him to access the library through a little trickery, claiming that Richard is checking out books for him because he's too busy to do it himself. I really liked this story and I hope that others feel the same way about the story because it really deserves the acclaim.

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LibraryThing member DakotahEpple

I would use this book to help children understand a different time period.

LibraryThing member KelseyAnnB

I thought this book did a great job of showing what a person can do if they really put their mind to it and the kindness that we can all show each other. I also thought that is was cool that they listed off the names of the authors that Richard was reading--I think even mentioning them is

beneficial to readers of this book who my want to go on and read at a higher level one day.

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LibraryThing member bokeef2

Richard Wright and the Library Card
Bryan O'Keeffe

This book was absolutely phenomenal. I really enjoyed reading this book. I had never previously heard of this book but I now love it. I had no idea that this was based on a true story. After finding out this was based on a real person I had no

problem believing that Richard was real. I think it also helped by having the book in a realistic setting in 1920s America. That really helped putting the setting in a time that Blacks were still struggling. I think that helped with the plot and having Richard not able to check out books first. But I was really glad that he was able to read books at the end. The illustrations were really good and went well with the book. I could not tell what they were made with or not but I really enjoyed them. They were not sloppy at all and enhanced the story. I really enjoyed the message the author provided; never give up no matter what.

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