Trouble's Child
Published on 19. January 2016
157 pages
978-1-5040-2789-2 (ISBN)
Description
Fourteen-year-old Martha is torn between her love for her myth and superstition and her hunger for knowledge and adventure
The superstitious folks of Blue Isle believe that a child born in a storm is born to trouble. But fourteen-year-old Martha only wants to go to high school, not end up making quilts and married to some local island boy. Getting an education means leaving the island, where she was raised by her grandmother Titay-and where she's expected to follow in Titay's footsteps as a midwife.
When a stranger washes ashore, Titay and Martha rescue him, but the other islanders fear he's brought sickness and death to their home. Martha is fascinated by the young man, Hal Saunders, who's saving up to go back to school for marine biology. Little by little, he opens her eyes to a bigger world, making her more determined than ever to follow her dream. Soon Martha will face the toughest challenge of her life. Which path will she choose? And what if she makes the wrong decision?
The superstitious folks of Blue Isle believe that a child born in a storm is born to trouble. But fourteen-year-old Martha only wants to go to high school, not end up making quilts and married to some local island boy. Getting an education means leaving the island, where she was raised by her grandmother Titay-and where she's expected to follow in Titay's footsteps as a midwife.
When a stranger washes ashore, Titay and Martha rescue him, but the other islanders fear he's brought sickness and death to their home. Martha is fascinated by the young man, Hal Saunders, who's saving up to go back to school for marine biology. Little by little, he opens her eyes to a bigger world, making her more determined than ever to follow her dream. Soon Martha will face the toughest challenge of her life. Which path will she choose? And what if she makes the wrong decision?
More details
Person
Mildred Pitts Walter (b. 1922) is a civil rights activist and award-winning author. She voted for the first time for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She taught as an elementary school teacher in the Los Angeles City school district and participated in the first Head Start founded by the University of California, Los Angeles. While teaching, Walter also actively worked to achieve justice and equality for all during the civil rights movement with her husband, Earl Walter, chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE.) After retiring from the classroom, she became a children's book writer.
Walter's writing has been honored with many awards, including the 1987 Coretta Scott King Award for Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World, the 1993 Christopher Award for Nonfiction for Mississippi Challenge, and the National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Book Award. In 2005 the National Council for the Social Studies honored her again with the Elementary Honor Book Award for Alec's Primer, and in 1996 she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Most recently, she was acknowledged by the National Women's Law Center for her role in training freedom riders in the 1960s, with the honors presented by President Barack Obama. Walter has also been interviewed for the Smithsonian African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Washington, DC, for her civil rights contributions. She now resides in San Mateo, California.
Walter's writing has been honored with many awards, including the 1987 Coretta Scott King Award for Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World, the 1993 Christopher Award for Nonfiction for Mississippi Challenge, and the National Council for the Social Studies Carter G. Woodson Book Award. In 2005 the National Council for the Social Studies honored her again with the Elementary Honor Book Award for Alec's Primer, and in 1996 she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. Most recently, she was acknowledged by the National Women's Law Center for her role in training freedom riders in the 1960s, with the honors presented by President Barack Obama. Walter has also been interviewed for the Smithsonian African American Historical and Cultural Museum in Washington, DC, for her civil rights contributions. She now resides in San Mateo, California.
Content
- Cover Page
- Praise for the Writing of Mildred Pitts Walter
- Title Page
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- About the Author
- Copyright Page
