McKissack, Patricia C. Away West. Illustrated by Gordon C. James. Viking, 2006. 0670060127.
$14.99. 121 p.
Reviewer: Thomasania Leydsman
Reading Level: Primary, Intermediate
Rating: Outstanding
Genre: Historical fiction;
Subject: African Americans--Juvenile fiction; West (U.S.)--History--1860-1890--Juvenile
fiction; Brothers--Juvenile fiction; Books--Reviews;
African-American history comes alive in this story as two of the three Webster brothers
wrestle with their futures. Each brother has a different view of their respective destinies.
Fourteen year old Everett is torn between leaving and remaining on the family farm, left to him
and his older brothers by their late father. A farm owned by African-Americans was a precious
thing after the Civil War, but already, the oldest brother Cole, has left to seek his fortunes in the
Army, leaving the farming to Gus and Everett. Gus feels that they owe it to their father to make
the farm a success, but Everett does not want the life of a farmer.
