Panhandle Dreams

By Gwen Parker Ames

Martin Luther King Jr.'s powerful "I Have a Dream" speech gained greater notoriety after his untimely death in the sixties. Millions of black Americans were motivated to grab a piece of King's dream... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595234739
• ISBN13: 9780595234738
• Release Date: August 2002
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Panhandle Dreams-a good piece of American history

Panhandle Dreams is a novel told through the eyes of tvelwe year old Indigo. The story covers the stormy time of American history -the assossianation of Martin Luther King. The book is mainly concentraded on the effect of the assossianation on the Douglas family. In addition, it deals with identity, serching for self, finding your roots,and friendships. Panhandle Dreams is well-written and full of details novel. The author makes the characters alive.

"An Excellent Piece of American History"

After Martin Luther King's death a storm broke in the Douglas' family. Truth and hidden secrets were exposed. Indigo, the main character, being twelve years old, narrates the feelings and the reactions she faced during the unveiling of her family's secrets. Self-growth, cultural discovery, race acceptance and problem's solving are the main subjects discussed in "Panhandle Dreams". This book is a well written novel in which an African American family tries to deal with the death of their "King", and how a twelve years old girl discovers the importance of Martin Luther King and the effect he have had in her family.

A Page Turner with Insight

The book combines a great plot with good character development and a strong feel for the place and time (Tallahassee, Florida, in the wake of Martin Luther King's assassination.) I enjoyed it thoroughly, and wondered about the characters afterward. They really stayed with me.

BookReview

Panhandle Dreams, written by first time author Gwen Parker Ames,is a dark and moving story that spans several generations of anAfrican-American family. The chapter names are paraphrased fromMartin Luther King, Jr.'s powerful "I have a Dream" and "I havebeen to the Mountaintop" speeches. The story begins with afocus on Indigo, a twelve-year-old girl living in raciallysegregated Tallahassee, Florida, and her family's reaction tothe assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Through a series of overheard conversations, family remembrancesand flashbacks, we learn of Indigo's parents and grandparents,their choices, their limitations, and the often oppressiveconditions under which they lived their lives. The story is complex and subtle, covering both the personalevolution of its main characters and the social evolution of acountry and a society. It is at times disturbing and raw,piercing the soul with its incisive commentary on pastinjustices too many would rather forget. And yet, the poignancywith which Ames handles the personal relationships of all of thecharacters brings them into a three-dimensional world rarelyaccomplished by a first time author. Panhandle Dreams is highly recommended for adults and youngadults, particularly mature high school students ready for abook that will challenge their sense of history, prejudice anddiscrimination, because of its ability to emotionally move thereader through a series of personal insights.

Personal Cost of Injustice

The author brilliantly captures the long-term effects racial injustice has on its characters. The subtle reminder that African Americans may be silent about injustice but they are always one step away from exploding is carried throughout the book. Indigo's denial of what the death of Dr. Martin Luther King really means to her family is another example of how people cope with things out of their control. Throughout the book, African Americans struggle for freedom from oppression. This idea is cleverly intertwined with a number of characters facing hidden truths that will set them free. The unexpected results touch every African American deeply and challenge them to face their reality with courage. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has felt the sting of injustice. Regardless of race, this book is an excellent reminder that words and actions, no matter how insignificant, can change someone's life forever.