Going North

Written by Janice N. Harrington and Jerome Lagarrigue

A family journeys north, facing segregation and uncertainty in search of a better life.

4.1 Goodreads · 138 ratings

40 pages· 1,015 words· Est. 8 min read-aloud· AD530L

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon.

Bookroo's summary

In the 1960s, Jessie and her family leave Alabama's familiar fields for Nebraska's promise. As they travel through the segregated South, they confront challenges at every turn. With most places off-limits, where will they find rest and sustenance? Amidst the journey, Jessie wonders if the North will truly offer the life they seek. Will they find acceptance and opportunity, or will the road ahead hold more trials? Experience their pioneering spirit and the rhythm of hope in this evocative tale of courage and change.

From the publisher

An African American family becomes a new kind of pioneer Leaving behind Big Mama, loving relatives, and the familiar red soil and cotton fields of Alabama, Jessie and her family are going north to Nebraska. They are pioneers searching for a better life, one with decent schools and jobs. But traveling through the segregated South is difficult for an African American family in the 1960s. With most public places reserved for whites only, where will they stop to get gas and food? Lyrical free verse and evocative paintings capture the rhythm of the road and a young girl’s longing as she wonders: Will I like it there? Will I like the North?