Review: Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack



Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

McKissack, Patricia C. 2001. Goin’ Someplace Special. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division. ISBN 9780689818851

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

‘Tricia Ann is anxious to go to Someplace Special, and asks her grandmother Mama Frances for permission to go alone. As a young African American girl in Jim Crow era Nashville, Tennessee, ‘Tricia Ann faces many obstacles as she makes her way to Someplace Special. Her first step it to take the bus through town, however she is forced to sit behind the “Colored Section” sign. Once ‘Tricia Ann reaches Peace Fountain, she attempts to sit on a nearby bench but is not allowed because written on the bench is the notice “For Whites Only.” Angry that she can’t sit and enjoy a fountain her grandfather helped to build, she goes to talk to her friend Jimmy Lee, a pretzel seller. ‘Tricia Ann passes by hotel doorman Mr. John Willis, but as she is speaking to him she is swept by a crowd into the hotel. She is then thrown out of the hotel by the manager who shouts “No colored people are allowed!” ‘Tricia Ann is embarrassed and upset by the treatment she has received and as she is about to give up and go home she is comforted by Blooming Mary, who tends the gardens at the Mission Church ruins. Passing by the movie theater, where African Americans had to enter through a side door rather than the front, ‘Tricia Ann finally reaches Someplace Special where everyone is welcome and all are treated equally: The public library!

3.       CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Based on the author’s memories of growing up in 1950’s segregated Nashville, Tennessee, Goin’ Someplace Special encompasses much of what the daily life of an average African American child would have been like. Themes of racism, segregation and the unfairness of Jim Crow laws permeate every page. However, despite the negative themes, strength and the promise of equality are also shown in McKissack’s text. Something as simple as a trip to the library becomes an exhausting and humiliating experience.

Despite the somber tone throughout most of the book, McKissack includes lines of hope on almost every page. ‘Tricia Ann is reminded by her grandmother to “Hold yo’ head up and act like you b’long to somebody” and Jimmy Lee reminds her “Don’t let those signs steal yo’ happiness.” The language is old fashioned, with a Southern inflection representing the dialect one would hear in Nashville, Tennessee. The names of the characters are distinctly southern and old fashioned, matching both the time period and the setting perfectly.

There is a bit of stereotyping of non African American’s in this book. Every white person ‘Tricia Ann comes across is unkind or racist, except for Blooming Mary, the caretaker of the gardens. It would have been nice to see more variety of characters rather than having most characters of one race acting kind while most of another race are unkind. At times, the plot seems to be unbelievable, with ‘Tricia Ann running into problems at nearly every turn and encountering horribly racism from nearly every character who was not African American.

Rather than being a stereotype, ‘Tricia Ann shows great strength and bravery to be willing to navigate through many racial barriers on the way to the library. Along the way, she remains respectful, but questions the fairness of Jim Crow laws segregation African Americans from everyone else. Patricia C. McKissack includes an Author’s Note at the end of her book, explaining her background and experience growing up as ‘Tricia Ann did in 1950’s Nashville.

Jerry Pinkney has created bright, glowing watercolor paintings to accompany McKissack’s story of ‘Tricia Ann’s journey to the library. Every detail is authentic to a southern town in the 1950’s, from the clothes to the cars, the buildings and the street signs. The use of watercolors gives the pictures a soft, warm glow and Pinkney dresses ‘Tricia Ann in bright, happy colors that make her stand out from the softer background colors. Rather then illustrating every African American character in a similar fashion, Pinkney is careful to show the variations of skin tones, hairstyles, and facial features within the race. Each illustration has a double page spread to accompany McKissack’s text. The most impressive aspects of Pinkney’s illustrations are the expressions seen on ‘Tricia Ann’s face as she makes her way through town, especially the final illustration. ‘Tricia Ann’s face glows with happiness as she sees the “Public Library: All Are Welcome” sign.


4. AWARDS & REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
ALA Notable Children’s Books
Coretta Scott King Award Winner: Illustration
Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee 2003-2004

Positive review in Publisher’s Weekly: “By putting such a personal face on segregation she makes its injustices painfully real for her audience. Pinkney's luminescent watercolors evoke the '50s, from fashions to finned cars, and he captures every ounce of 'Tricia Ann's eagerness, humiliation and quiet triumph at the end.”

Starred review in Booklist: “This book carries a strong message of pride and self-confidence as well as a pointed history lesson. It is also a beautiful tribute to the libraries that were ahead of their time.”

5. CONNECTIONS

* Use this picture book when discussing the Civil Rights movement and Jim Crow laws. Put yourself in ‘Tricia Ann’s shoes. How would you feel in her situation, being discriminated against?

* Classroom Activities to be used when reading Goin’ Someplace Special: http://treasures.macmillanmh.com/california/students/grade5/book1/unit1/goin-someplace-special

*Children’s books with African American characters:

Giovanni, Nikki. Rosa. ISBN 0805071067

Steptoe, John. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters. ISBN 97806880404

Woodson, Jacqueline. The Other Side. ISBN 9780399231162

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis. Something Beautiful. ISBN 9780440412106