As Fast As Words Could Fly

Title: As Fast As Words Could Fly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Pamela M. Tuck
Major Awards: New Voices Award
Age Group: 3rd-5th grade

This is a story about a young boy named Mason during the time of segregation. His father was a part of a civil rights group, and he helped them out by taking notes of things his father told him, and then writing letters to President Lyndon B. Johnson. One day, his father surprised him with a typewriter so that he could continue to help his father, but with more ease. Mason started high school, but after a few short weeks, his father said that there was no reason for Mason and his brothers to be going to a school twelve miles from home when there was a high school three miles from home. He stated that they were now registered at the white school three miles away. The boys were fearful, but wanted to please their father. As expected, school life at the new school was tough. The brothers did not get the same amenities as everyone else and were treated with little respect. Mason did extremely well in school, and loved typing class the most. One day in typing class, the teacher told the class that there would be a typing tournament and that the fastest typer in her class would be nominated to go. Of course, Mason was the fastest and thus got to go. His peers didn't understand why a person of color would be representing their school, and even the principal was unhappy about it. The tournament was easy for Mason, and in the end, he received first place. Nobody cheered for him, but Mason learned how special he was because of his accomplishments. 

I would like this book in my classroom! It shows students how tough life was for people of color during segregation and makes the students realize how lucky they are to have the schooling privileges that they do today. It also shows how important persisting through times of distress is, because so many opportunities and growth can happen because of it.

I think that third through fifth grade are the best ages for this story. It is pretty lengthy and discusses some harsh topics, so I think that by third grade, they would be able to handle its content. It definitely is a mature topic being discussed in the story, so I think that it would be up to the teacher to decide if her class/student had the maturity to read the story. It also has some language in it that is not acceptable to be used in society today, so the teacher would definitely need to address that with her students. 

In my classroom, I could talk to my students about African American heroes who have helped desegregate America over the past fifty years. I would talk to them about the bravery and courage these people showed. I could also have my students pick a hero and write a letter to them, thanking them for their deeds.