This fictionalized autobiography is a paean to the support that a loving mentor can provide. The main character, Lori, is being raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother offers guidance and stories of past racial injustices and recent improvements; all this helps Lori when she becomes one of the first African American students at a previously all-white high school. Lori is smart and a good student, but she is not welcome and within the first year she is expelled. The local African American community fights for her reinstatement. Although the terms of her readmission are distasteful, Lori understands the lessons her Ma has taught her. The novel focuses on Lori’s growth, but it also contains a warm, rich picture of her family and the African American community in a rural North Carolina county.
Check this title’s availability in the UNC-Chapel Hill Library catalog.
This is an excellent book that needs to be in every library, and in every school in the country.
Kudos for UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries. At a time when race is a subject that sorely needs to be explored, discussed, debated, and urged along toward more progress with calm and balance, you present readers with a book, Stay The Course, whose mentor, Ma, gives us all a lesson that has been so hard to learn. Her candor, yet heartfelt compassion and acceptance of all people, set the example of how we all should approach this difficult issue. The time is now.
Again, kudos to UNC-Chapel Hill Libraries. I hope your leadership will be followed by other colleges and schools.
The review, done UNC-Chapel Hill Library Staff was extremely well done. It truly captured the essence of “Stay the Course”. Particularly, the mentor “Ma” was riveting I highly recommend this book for all ages.
I am only eleven years old. Last summer, I participated in the reading enrichment program, “It’s Time To Read With Me!” The selected book was, “Stay The Course,” by the author, E.D. Arrington. “Stay The Course” is one of the best books I have ever read. It was amazing! I want to participate in the next reading enrichment program, It’s Time To Read With Me! and I hope the book selected is as good as “Stay The Course.”
You are a gifted person with the desire to help children enjoy reading.