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emordnilap's review
3.5
really interesting concept however it had some weird patches in its content and tackling that.
theybedax's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This was an interesting example of school integration in the 1970s. Budhos does a great job of painting that picture and getting into the mindset of a 7th grader and the confusion a fear that each day can bring.
This was an interesting example of school integration in the 1970s. Budhos does a great job of painting that picture and getting into the mindset of a 7th grader and the confusion a fear that each day can bring.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
Schools in New York are desegregating in 1971, and Jamila, Josie and Francesca's plans to attend their primarily white neighborhood school in Queens are dashed. Instead, they'll be bused to a primarily African-American school an hour away.
The rising 7th grade best friends, each of mixed racial and cultural backgrounds, go three very different ways -- one to private Catholic school, with uniforms and bean bag chairs, and the others to the new public school, JHS 241, where one will enter the regular school population and the other will stay in the SP, or Special Program of accelerated curriculum (mostly math).
The three stay friends, through thick and thin, not always liking each other or the choices they make, but they're there for each other when it matters most -- and the new friends they make.
While their parents bandy around the rhetoric, ideals and aims of desegregation, the girls live it, in the worst possible environment (middle school is h*ll for most students, period), and it comes at a steep price -- but it has its subtle joys, as well.
The story tackles many important issues in addition to prejudice, which is confronted on almost every page. For instance, one girl is "ability tracked" in math. It's the practice of placing students in math classes according to prior testing results, thus limiting what students can achieve by limiting their progression through math classes. My son experienced this in middle school, when his principal suddenly limited the math offered to all 8th graders in order to increase the school's standardized testing scores. It has devastating effects on achievement in high school and for college recruitment.
The girls also explore their budding sexuality. There is a scene that could be interpreted as the aftermath of a sexual assault, but nothing is graphic by any means and what exactly happens is left to interpretation. Better readers will pick up on it, and teachers should be prepared to discuss what their students think has happened to the girl (it's ambiguous), how the other girl treats it, and the importance of reporting sexual assaults.
The end was bittersweet.
TEACHERS NOTE: There is an excellent set of ideas for lessons using The Long Ride, Exploring Race, Class, and School Integration with The Long Ride.
It was featured in a School Library Journal blog post and consists of a long, very good list of "Teaching Ideas and Invitations," but does not offer actual lesson plans for teachers to use. There are also, currently, no comprehension questions offered for this book, as it's so new.
If you teach this book and write lessons you'd like to share, or a set of comprehension questions to evaluate your students' progress in the text, please post a comment and let me know. I've love to hear from you!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
The rising 7th grade best friends, each of mixed racial and cultural backgrounds, go three very different ways -- one to private Catholic school, with uniforms and bean bag chairs, and the others to the new public school, JHS 241, where one will enter the regular school population and the other will stay in the SP, or Special Program of accelerated curriculum (mostly math).
The three stay friends, through thick and thin, not always liking each other or the choices they make, but they're there for each other when it matters most -- and the new friends they make.
While their parents bandy around the rhetoric, ideals and aims of desegregation, the girls live it, in the worst possible environment (middle school is h*ll for most students, period), and it comes at a steep price -- but it has its subtle joys, as well.
The story tackles many important issues in addition to prejudice, which is confronted on almost every page. For instance, one girl is "ability tracked" in math. It's the practice of placing students in math classes according to prior testing results, thus limiting what students can achieve by limiting their progression through math classes. My son experienced this in middle school, when his principal suddenly limited the math offered to all 8th graders in order to increase the school's standardized testing scores. It has devastating effects on achievement in high school and for college recruitment.
The girls also explore their budding sexuality. There is a scene that could be interpreted as the aftermath of a sexual assault, but nothing is graphic by any means and what exactly happens is left to interpretation. Better readers will pick up on it, and teachers should be prepared to discuss what their students think has happened to the girl (it's ambiguous), how the other girl treats it, and the importance of reporting sexual assaults.
The end was bittersweet.
TEACHERS NOTE: There is an excellent set of ideas for lessons using The Long Ride, Exploring Race, Class, and School Integration with The Long Ride.
It was featured in a School Library Journal blog post and consists of a long, very good list of "Teaching Ideas and Invitations," but does not offer actual lesson plans for teachers to use. There are also, currently, no comprehension questions offered for this book, as it's so new.
If you teach this book and write lessons you'd like to share, or a set of comprehension questions to evaluate your students' progress in the text, please post a comment and let me know. I've love to hear from you!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
answertherairai's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, rounded down. I have more to say, I think - but not the time/words right now, I'll come back to this with an edit.
em_and_em's review against another edition
3.0
I received an arc of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked how this book was different and how it included the bussing and its related controversies. On the other hand, it was a little hard to get into and the cover didn't seem super historically accurate- other than that, it's a good book!
I liked how this book was different and how it included the bussing and its related controversies. On the other hand, it was a little hard to get into and the cover didn't seem super historically accurate- other than that, it's a good book!
opalchainsaw's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
amdame1's review
4.0
Three bi/multi-racial girls have all been best of friends in their neighborhood school in NYC in the 1970's but a new integration plan has them taking the bus to a school over an hour away. One girl's parents decide to have her go to a private school nearby instead. The other two endure the bus ride and swear to maintain their friendship. However, one of the girls is drawn in by the Latinx crowd and the other slowly becomes friends with a boy but they can only be friends at school.
Girls are in middle school, so will not hold much appeal for high school solely due to age difference. As with most historical fiction, may require a hand sell; could be a niche audience - which is a shame as I enjoyed getting to know the characters while lamenting a world where such things happened and continue to happen. The relevancy remains. A strong novel about friendship, race, and family.
Girls are in middle school, so will not hold much appeal for high school solely due to age difference. As with most historical fiction, may require a hand sell; could be a niche audience - which is a shame as I enjoyed getting to know the characters while lamenting a world where such things happened and continue to happen. The relevancy remains. A strong novel about friendship, race, and family.
librarianelizabeth's review
5.0
The best part about this was that it was a properly young teen novel! Navigating junior high! With all its mess and challenge. With the added challenge, and rarity of telling the story of an integrating junior high school, and kids who are mixed-race in the early 70's. Well done, authentic and good stuff. Will hand to teens and teachers for sure
neverwithoutabook's review
3.0
I’m going to be honest, this story didn’t pull me in at all and the pace was slow. I had to set it down for a bit then comeback to it. Now that I’ve completed the book, I’m still not sure how I feel about it. The story, plot, characters, something is missing. Overall I didn’t love or hate this one.
inlibrisveritas's review
5.0
4.5 Stars
Such an amazing book. So much of this book hit home for me. I rarely see mixed-race characters in books, let alone in contemporaries, and because of that I rarely see my own experiences in media. The Long Ride gets it in one, and really shows the challenges of being mixed race in a time/area where it's not seen as normal. It's wonderfully written and a must-read for adults and young readers alike.
Such an amazing book. So much of this book hit home for me. I rarely see mixed-race characters in books, let alone in contemporaries, and because of that I rarely see my own experiences in media. The Long Ride gets it in one, and really shows the challenges of being mixed race in a time/area where it's not seen as normal. It's wonderfully written and a must-read for adults and young readers alike.
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