Whitewash

by Ntozake Shange

Book Overview

A young African-American girl is traumatized when a gang attacks her and her brother on their way home from school and spray-paints her face white. Based on a true story. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802784909
• ISBN13: 9780802784902
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Walker & Company
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 10.9" x 9.8"
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5

Customer Reviews

Powerful story, Great to use in a classroom of all ages

Whitewash is a story based on a similar incident that happened in the Bronx in 1992 when an elementary school aged girl's face was assaulted and had her face painted white. Though one reviewer found this book too violent for "impressionable minds" I find this book important because it is powerful and it SHOULD force impressionable minds to confront issues such as racism. I am elementary school teacher and this is a wonderful book to use a classroom. It can be used in classrooms with high school and college students as well. Also parents who are looking for a book that does not skirt issues, this is a great book to read to your kids when you are reading to share important issues such as the racism that continues to exist in our society. If you want a way to really address social justice issues in a classroom or with a group of children this book will not disappoint you. Because this book is powerful, it should lead to much to discussion so if you are going to read this book to children make sure you are fully prepared to engage the children in a lively discussion. This IS NOT a book to just read for fun. You are not doing you or the children you read this book to, any justice if you do not discuss the issues this book presents. I know the book is quite costly so I suggest picking up this book from the library. This book is must read.

Amazingly Powerful Story

This is such a POWERFUL book! This unforgettable story addresses the effect race, prejudice, and discrimination has on children. It is an example of how traumatizing these types of incidents would be for a young child to experience. By painting a black persons face white is stripping them of their pride and identity. It is important for children to learn at an early age that everyone is equal and should be treated fairly. Children should be educated about various races and cultures so that they are more accepting of difference. Thess are valuable lessons for children to learn and the sooner the better. This is a story of Helene-Angel, a girl damaged by a terrible racial incident. Helene-Angel and her older brother Mauricio were walking home from school when a gang surrounded them. The boys called them racial names and shoved Mauricio out of the way while they painted Helene-Angels' face white. Even after her grandmother scrubbed her face, she could still feel the itchy white paint. Her grandmother recalls the stories she told them about the beat-up bleeding black children in the South, but she had never seen a black girl painted white. Helene-Angel would not come out of her room for a week, her grandmother left food by the door and whispered sweet things to her. She reminded Helene-Angel that she was beautiful, brave, and a hero of her race. On Monday, her grandmother made her come out of her room and told her to be strong. Helene-Angel went outside to play with her classmates, who were very supportive. She held her brothers' hand and said, "WE'VE GOT A RIGHT TO BE HERE, TOO."I highly recommend this book! Five stars doesn't do this book justice...it gets that for the illustrations alone. This is essential reading for children and adults.