Goin' Someplace Special

Author: Patricia C. McKissack

Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney

Peach’s Picks Rating:

 

Year of publication: 2001

City of publication: New York

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 0-689-81885-8

Author website: No personal website available, but information about the author can be found at http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3372 and http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/catalog/author.pperl?authorid=20049

Illustrator website: http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/

Media used for illustrations: Pencil and watercolor on paper

Annotation: Set in 1950s segregated Nashville an African-American girl takes a bus ride downtown to “Someplace Special”. During her journey she faces indignities, but is determined to reach her destination.

Personal reaction to the book: Tricia Ann, a 12-year-old African-American girl, wants to take the bus alone downtown to “Someplace Special.” Mama Frances, her grandmother, is hesitant about letting Tricia Ann make the trip unaccompanied. Tricia Ann pleads and offers reasons she should be allowed to go. Finally, Mama Frances acquiesces and reminds Tricia Ann to “hold yo’ head up and act like you b’long to somebody” (page 3). Tricia Ann is making this trip in 1950s segregated Nashville when Jim Crow laws are in full force. Mama Frances knows that Tricia Ann is likely to experience discrimination and humiliation on her journey, but still allows her to go. Tricia Ann sets off smiling brightly in a lovely turquoise dress with yellow details, wearing her hat and carrying her pocketbook. She faces one humiliation after another. Fortunately, after each incident she encounters someone who encourages her to keep going. She arrives safely at “Someplace Special” – the public library. A sign above the red door states “PUBLIC LIBRARY: ALL ARE WELCOME”. In the last illustration, Tricia Ann smiles with reverence at the library, glowing with the accomplishment of arriving independently and the anticipation of entering. The text flows smoothly and illustrations match the text perfectly. Southern dialect is sprinkled through the story; for example, “Carry yo’self proud” (page 8), but does not become cumbersome to read aloud or difficult to understand. It offers a flavor of the 1950s South. Those unfamiliar with the term “Jim Crow” will need explanation to understand life in the South during this time period. The discussion of Jim Crow laws may lead to meaningful dialogue about United States history and Civil Rights. An author’s note explains that this story reflects McKissack’s life as an African-American girl growing up in 1950s Nashville and the life of African-Americans living in the South in general at the time. Pinkney’s water colors are beautiful and detailed. Tricia Ann is depicted in her Grandmother’s kitchen which is filled with fresh vegetables about to be cooked, reflecting the warmth and security her grandmother’s house offers (pages 1-2). Mama Frances lovingly ties the lemon yellow belt on Tricia Ann’s turquoise dress before sending her on her journey. Tricia Ann’s bright dress stands out on each page, spotlighting her along the journey to “Someplace Special”. The illustrations show 1950s fashions, cars, “Whites Only” signs, as well as other signs of the times. In the end, Tricia Ann arrives at “Someplace Special” as a girl who has gained confidence and self-reliance in the face of adversity. This book reads aloud well and can be viewed by a large group or examined individually for detail. It lends itself to discussion of Civil Rights and the importance of libraries.

Further discussion of artwork:

Kathleen T. Horning the author of From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books discusses the composition of picture books in chapter 5. In a subsection titled “Composition” she states, “An artist must carefully plan how to arrange the visual elements on a page to create the desired mood or effect. This is rarely done without a lot of thought. In fact, if you look carefully at the composition of an illustration, you can generally see several design principles at work” (page 98). One of the design principles discussed by Horning is dominance.

The principle of dominance is apparent in Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations created for Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack. This principle is utilized in the full page spread where Tricia Ann stands in a hotel lobby at the front of a group of white adults. The hotel manager dominates the scene. The reader’s eye is drawn to the manager because he is shown larger than anything else on the page. Also, he wears a dark jacket showcasing him against the lighter background. He dominates Tricia Ann in a threatening manner by standing in front of her with his arms outstretched pointing at her.

The principle of dominance is also used throughout the book when illustrating Tricia Ann. The reader’s eye is drawn to her in each scene. Dominance is created using bright colors for her clothing. She is more brightly colored than shapes and people around her. Dressed in a vibrant turquoise dress with a bright yellow border, yellow sash, and a yellow hat with a red ribbon she stands out on each page. The reader’s eye follows her throughout the book.

Again, the principle of dominance is used on the double page spread where Tricia Ann visits the Peace Fountain. The fountain is larger than any other object in the picture. The reader’s eye focuses on the fountain. The fountain symbolizes peace, something Tricia Ann will not find until see reaches her destination, the public library.

Reference

Horning, K. T. (2010). From cover to cover: Evaluating and reviewing children’s books (revised edition). New York: Collins.

General curricular connections:

• Segregation
• Civil rights
• Historical fiction 

Specific example of curricular connection matched to State Standards:
Subject: History
Grade level: 11

Standards:

California State Standards

History – Social Studies Content Standards for Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade 12

Grade 11 United States History and Geography: Continuity and Change in the Twentieth Century

11.10 Students analyze the development of federal civil rights and voting rights.

2. Examine and analyze the key events, policies, and court cases in the evolution of civil rights, including Dred Scott v. Sandford, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, and California Proposition 209.

(Specifically, Plessy v. Feguson)

Recommended grade levels:

School Library Journal recommends this book for use with grades 3-5

Booklist recommends this book for use with ages 5-8

Peach’s Picks recommends this book for use with grades 3 and up

Awards/Recognitions:

Booklist starred review

Coretta Scott King Award, Illustrator Award Winner, 2002

ALA Notable Children’s Books Award, Younger Readers, 2002

Note: This book is included in Assignment 2.

Sophisticated language: Page 7; “She recalled the first time she and Mama Frances had taken this bus ride, and her grandmother had told her, 'Those signs can tell us where to sit, but they can’t tell us what to think.”

Repetition: After each experience with discrimination or humiliation, Tricia Ann encounters a person who encourages her to keep going: Mrs. Grannell, Jimmy Lee, Mr. John Willis, Blooming Mary, Mama Frances’ words of support ringing in her mind

Metaphor: Page 29; The library is referred to as “a doorway to freedom.”

Book cover picture retrieved from http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/frameset.html