Bird in a Box

The Great Depression, life in an African-American orphanage in the 1930s, and the meteoric rise of the great boxer, Joe Louis, create a context to introduce three exceptional children, each of whom face challenges associated with the loss of a parent or parents. Their interactions with each other and the manner in which they address their individual challenges reflect exceptional writing and storytelling ability. There are scenes of violence, associated with orphanage life and the physical abuse of one of the children, but the redemptive nature of the full storyline lends an aura of hope at the conclusion. As someone who remembers radio days and the effect of Joe Louis on America, I hear this story ringing true historically. And as a teacher of many years, I can also say that these are real children, displaying the exceptional survival skills that many children have, despite the brutal conditions of their existence.

This is a really nice story, set back in the time of Joe Lewis. The main characters' lives are all affected by the famous fighter. I love the wisdom that the characters express. Ms. Pinkney is an excellent writer. As for the sale, it arrived quickly and in good condition.

Great little book about three lives converging at a time and place in history. Three children that are in relative isolation are connected through a thread of boxing history. A wonderful read and a great history for children and adults.

I think this would be enjoyed by middle school students, and give them background knowledge of the cultural and generational type, as well as help them understand the metaphores, etc. in the crafting of a story.

Excellent story. Perfect for my 6th grader's "book club."

Otis, Hibernia and Willie are three African-American 12-year olds coming of age in Depression-era upstate New York. Each has suffered a grave loss at a young age, with lives that have been tragically marred by abuse, abandonment and parental death.Hibernia longs to be a jazz singer. But her father is a preacher and her mother is a woman who abandoned her family to chase just such ephemeral dreams of stardom. Hibernia cannot bring herself to tell her strict and imposing father that her musical aspirations encompass so much more than just singing in the church choir. Otis is a simple kid at heart, happiest when trading clever riddles with his dad and ensconced in the loving warmth of his family. However, an accident of fate changes his life horribly in an instant, leaving him an orphan. Willie is a gifted young boxer, until his abusive father puts an end to his boxing dreams and separates him from the only person who has ever loved him --- his mother.Each of these young people remains a fighter at heart, rising above her or his individual circumstances to find hope and to dream big, much like their hero --- heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. Hibernia, Otis and Willie come together when the boys end up living together at an orphanage in Elmira, NY, not too far from where Hibernia lives with her father, "the Reverend." At the orphanage, Willie and Otis find companionship and a shared love of Joe Louis in each other. They also take delight in playing pranks on the mean-spirited and officious man who heads the orphanage. When Hibernia and the church choir visit the orphanage to perform uplifting songs for the children there, the meeting among the three brings comfort and joy into the lives of each of them. Hibernia's singing and personality captivate Otis, and her performance at the orphanage serves to give her the courage to reveal her true wishes to her father.Through all of the ups and downs of this time in their young lives, the children and the adults in their lives are riveted by the boxing prowess of Joe Louis. Today, Joseph Louis Barrow is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, and perhaps the first black man to gain national hero status among all races. Established children's author Andrea Davis Pinkney does a touching and commendable job of conveying the aspirations of a people and the excitement of a nation as they share in the joy of Louis's ascendency.In the hands of Pinkney, this story about three children and countless adults gaining inspiration, pride and solace from their hero positively sings. While purportedly about boxing and the making of a heavyweight champion, BIRD IN A BOX manages to be so much more than that --- it is an ode to the human spirit, an engaging story about human relationships, and a history lesson about an important time in U.S. history in general and African-American history in particular.Pinkney rotates among the three main narrators, with each child telling his or her own story in a distinct and engaging tone. The children are so well-developed and believable that it comes as no surprise to learn from the epilogue that their characters were based loosely on real people in Pinkney's own family. She incorporated actual radio broadcasts of Joe Louis's fights into the story, lending an authentic historical touch to the plot. BIRD IN A BOX captures the vital role played by the radio in creating a collective national consciousness, in the days before it became overshadowed by television and the Internet. The seamless blending of fact and fiction throughout the story works well to create a powerfully evocative mood of a time and a people.BIRD IN A BOX is a touching, educational and uplifting book for any young person, whether or not they are African-American or have any interest in boxing. --- Reviewed by Usha Rao

Let's go, mighty Joe,Battle like the Alamo,Hey, hey, mighty Joe,Time to bomb `em - there you go!Go, go, mighty Joe!Get `em good - there you go.Elmira, New York, 1937 - hope was in short supply, especially if you were African American. The Great Depression had hit hard. Then, Joe Louis came along. As Andrea Davis Pinkney explains in her author's note "When Joe Louis defeated James J. Braddock on June 22, 1937, to become the heavyweight champion of the world, the event instilled overwhelming pride in the hearts of African Americans ..."Willie and Otis live at the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans. Willie has a secret - he's not really an orphan, well at least not in the true meaning of the word. He's emotionally orphaned by a drunken father who went too far. His mother sent him away for his own safety. Otis, on the other hand, comes from a loving family. His daddy was fond of telling riddles. His family laughed together -until the day their truck and a hay truck made impact and his parents were lost forever. All he has left of his parents is his dad's beloved Philco radio. Hibernia "Bernie" is the daughter of the Reverend C. Elias Tyson, of the True Vine Baptist Church. Shortly after she was born, Hibernia's momma took off for New York City, in search of fame and fortune at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. The good reverend won't admit it to Bernie, but he's intently following Joe Louis' exploits on the radio he's nicknamed "Speaky".My favorite character in this story is Lila Weiss, who works at the Mercy Home - the white lady with the "onion bunions". She reminds Mr. Sneed, the owner of the home, that the children in their care are orphans, not delinquents and they need love and friendship like any other child. She goes out on a limb - literally - to make sure the "orphans" still get to be children.Bird in a Box is told from the alternating viewpoints of Willie, Otis and Hibernia; interwoven is the story of Joe Louis. Much of the Joe Louis story line is told through radio commentary taken directly from recordings of the broadcasts of Joe Louis' fights. Willie, Otis and Bernie find friendship as they cheer for Joe. Bird in a Box is a touching, middle grades novel that uses the true story of Joe Louis' quest for the heavyweight championship as a metaphor for triumphing over adversity.

This was a great book. I would tell my friends to read it also. I would like to read as mother book by this author.