The Friendship

by Mildred D. Taylor

Book Overview

Another powerful story in the Logan Family Saga and companion to Mildred D. Taylor's Newbery Award-winning Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

Cassie Logan and her brothers have been warned never to go to the Wallace store.

So they know to expect trouble there. What they don't expect is to hear Mr. Tom Bee, an elderly black man, daring to call the white storekeeper by his first name. The year is 1933, the place is Mississippi,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140389644
• ISBN13: 9780140389647
• Release Date: February 1998
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 5.1" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

Alyssa's review

The story takes place in Mississippi in the 1930's. Mr. John Wallace had told theBlack sand the kids to call him "MR. John," not to call him by his first name because that's not right according to Mr. Wallace. The kids are allowed in Mr. Wallace's store. But Cassie and her brothers have been warned twice not go into the store because they will get into trouble. Then Mr. Tom Bee went into the store to buy medicine for Aunt Callie because she was very sick. Then Mr. Tom Bee went fishing. He had some fish in his hands and the kids and Mr. Tom Bee went into the store to buy some sardines and some candy canes. He handed out the candy to the kids. One of them had said no because "My hands were too dirty because " Mr. Tom Bee said, "Don't listen to them." Tom Bee and the kids went walking to the store again to buy tobacco. Cassie asked Mr. Tom Bee, "Why do you call Mr. Wallace by his first name?" "Because I had saved his life twice when he almost drowned. I gave him a place to sleep and something to eat," Mr. Tom Bee answered. In the store Mr. Tom Bee called him by his first name in front of the men. The other men said, "Are you going let him to talk to you like that?" One of his sons was looking at him mad. Then Mr. Wallace went outside with the gun and shot him in the leg. He said," You owe me, John. I saved your life twice. You will stay the same till judgment day." "Then you have to kill me here on the road," Mr. Tom Bee said. Then he said his name two to three different times. The kids started to cry and they stared at him. And there was no sound of him.I really liked the book a lot. At the end of the book was kind of sad when Mr. Wallace shot Mr. Tom Bee in the leg. I learned that most White didn't got along with the Black s at all. Also, I learned that many Whites didn't treat the Blacks right at all.

Makings of a great book

The Friendship was a really good book. We read it because it took place in 1933 and it was by the same author who wrote Mississippi Bridge. We read it in my seventh grade class, and the Whites always thought they were always higher than any Black person. Even a young White boy could be at a higher standing than a Black grown-up. The Blacks would always have to address a White man or woman with a "MRS." or "MR", but the Whites would not have to call them with a "Mrs." or "Mr." They could call them by them by their first name. See, way back then Blacks could not call Whites by their first name or else they would be in some big trouble. The Whites believed that it was respectful for Blacks to call Whites with a "Mr." or "Mrs." in front of their last name. When they were kids Mr. Tom Bee saved John Wallace's life and John promised that Tom could call him Mr. Wallace by his first name forever.This is what happened. Mr. Tom Bee called him by his first name because he saved John Wallace's life, not just once, but twice. The end was really great and John comes out and shoots Mr. Tom Bee in the knee and Mr. Tom Bee kept on hollering "JOHN, JOHN, JOHN, JOHN...." I found it quite interesting because my father is Black, and I think he probably would have done the same as Mr. Tom Bee, saving John's life. My father says, "Everyone needs a helping hand". That is why I recommend this book for everyone who can read.

Five Thumbs Up

The Friendship is about four Black kids: Christopher-John, Little Man, Stacey, and Cassie. Mr. Wallace is White; he owns the Wallace store. The friendship with Mr. John Wallace and Mr. Tom Bee started when Mr. Tom Bee saved John Wallace's life twice. Mr. John Wallace told Mr. Tom Bee he could call him "John", even though he was Black and Blacks needed to show respect to the Whites Years later Mr. Tom Bee went to the Wallace Store and called Mr. John Wallace "John". Mr. Simms told him, "You are going to let a Black man call you John?" Mr. John Wallace shot Mr. Tom Bee in his leg; because he was being disrespectful according to the Whites. I recommend this book because it taught me two lessons: first is that you should keep the promises that you say. Second is just because you're Black does not mean that the Whites can treat you like a child.

great for classroom reading

I read several of the Logan books to my 4th graders in Mississippi. It was a good learning tool for our history class. The students really enjoyed Taylor's series. It tells of the struggles of the Logan family druing the early years. The same characters appear all through the series, you really get to know them all. Great reading!

Mildred Taylor's books are for just about everyone!

The Friendship was one of the greatest books written by Mildred Taylor. I have read a lot of her books, and this is definitely a 5 star winner. It really gives you the feel of how it was to live life back in the 1930's. It has a bit of humor, suspense, and some parts were meant to make you cry.