34 pages • 1 hour read
The Glory Field
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Book Brief
400
Novel • Fiction
South Carolina • 1860s
1994
Middle grade
12-15 years
800L
Super Short Summary
The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers follows the struggles and triumphs of an African-American family from slavery to equality, through six interconnected stories spanning 1753 to 1994, from Sierra Leone to Harlem. Sensitive topics such as enslavement, racial injustice, addiction, and violence are depicted.
Challenging
Emotional
Inspirational
Bittersweet
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
1,730 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Walter Dean Myers’ novel, The Glory Field, garners praise for its rich, multi-generational narrative and vivid portrayal of African American history. Reviewers applaud the depth of characters and historical insight, though some critique its complex timeline as potentially confusing. Overall, it's a compelling, educational read recommended for young adults.
Who Should Read The Glory Field?
The reader who would enjoy The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers is typically interested in multi-generational family sagas, African American history, and courageous personal stories. Fans of Alex Haley's Roots and Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry will find its intricate narrative and historical depth compelling.
1,730 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Lizzy Lewis
Lizzy Lewis
A thirteen-year-old girl who is a slave on the Live Oaks Plantation; she is very close to her adoptive family and later becomes involved in the Union Army during the Civil War.
Elijah Lewis
Elijah Lewis
The son of Lizzy and Richard, he is a fifteen-year-old working the land on the Glory Field in 1900 and is deeply aware of his family's history and the significance of the land.
Luvenia Lewis
Luvenia Lewis
Living in 1930's Chicago, she is the entrepreneurial and ambitious daughter of Elijah and Goldie, who starts her own business and navigates the racial dynamics of the era.
Tommy Lewis
Tommy Lewis
A young man in 1964 who is an excellent basketball player and a student in South Carolina; his arc follows his growing awareness of and participation in the Civil Rights Movement.
Malcolm Lewis
Malcolm Lewis
A fifteen-year-old in 1994 living in Harlem; he is a student, musician, and works part-time in his great-aunt’s cosmetics factory before embarking on a character-building journey to a family reunion.
400
Novel • Fiction
South Carolina • 1860s
1994
Middle grade
12-15 years
800L
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