Goin' Someplace Special

1. BIOGRAPHY
McKissack, C. Patricia. 2001. GOIN SOMEPLACE SPECIAL. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689818858

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Goin’ Someplace Special is about ‘Tricia Anna, an African American girl who is growing up in the 1950’s where segregation was a big part of life. Tricia Anna had a special place that she and Mamma Frances would go together but today, Tricia Anna wanted to travel alone. Mamma Frances hesitantly decides to let Tricia Anna go by herself. As Tricia Anna ventures out she encounters many obstacles of segregation that hinder her from finding her “Special Place.” These obstacles include sitting at the back of the bus, not being able to sit on benches marked “whites only,” and being shoved into the grand hotel only to be told she doesn’t belong because of her skin color. As despair falls on Tricia Anna, she runs into Blooming Mary who helps her to find her confidence to continue her journey. As Tricia Anna sets out to find her special place once more her determination pays off and she finds herself in front of her final destination, “ The Public Library,” where it reads, “PUBLIC LIBRARY: WHERE All ARE WELCOMED.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Goin’ Someplace Special is based on Patricia McKissack’s childhood experience growing up in Nashville, Tennessee during the 1950’s. Mckissack takes the readers back to the past when segregation was a major issue and signs were hung everywhere showing places that were off limits to people of color. The author writes about the reality and what it meant for African Americans during the 1950’s through the eyes of ‘Tricia Ann a young girl who saw firsthand how she and others were treated due to their skin color. She encountered segregated seating on buses and in movie theaters, benches that read “whites only” and a young girl telling her brother that, “ colored people can’t come in the front door. They got to go ‘round and sit up in the Buzzard’s Roost.” Even though ‘Tricia Ann is hurt by these barriers, she meets Blooming Mary who helps to convince her to hold her head high and continue her journey to her special place. The author makes it very clear that the theme of this story is about segregation but it is also clear that it is about determination. Through ‘Tricia Ann’s determination and support system from home she does find her way. The dialect that Mckissack uses depicts an old southern style of the time period and language of African Americans which helps connect the reader to the time period with statements like, “hold yo’ head up and act like you b’long to somebody.” and “Don’t let those signs steal yo’ happiness.”
Jerry Pinkney’s use of watercolor illustrations brings visual imagery to the well written text. Together the text and illustrations help readers to feel a connection to the life of the American African community during the segregation era. Throughout the book, the illustrations portray the different skin-tones, hairstyles, transportation and the typical clothes worn during the 1950’s.
I would recommend this book for any library or classroom. This book would be a great way to begin a lesson for Black History Month or in discussions that deal with civil rights and segregation.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Horn Book Guide: “McKissack and Pinkney strike just the right balance in a picture book for young readers and listeners: informative without being preachy; hopeful without being sentimental.”

Kirkus Review: “Pinkney's trademark watercolors teem with realistically drawn people, lush city scenes, and a spunky main character whose turquoise dress, enlivened with yellow flowers and trim, jumps out of every picture. A lengthy author's endnote fills in the background for adults on McKissack's childhood experiences with the Nashville Public Library. This library quietly integrated all of its facilities in the late 1950s, and provided her with the story's inspiration. A natural for group sharing; leave plenty of time for the questions and discussion that are sure to follow.”

School Library Journal: “Pinkney re-creates the city in detailed pencil-and-watercolor art angled over full-page spreads, highlighting the young girl with vibrant color in each illustration. A thought-provoking story for group sharing and independent readers.-“

5. CONNECTION
Mckissack, Patricia C. MIRANDY AND BROTHER WIND. ISBN 9780679883333.
Mckissack, Patricia C. FLOSSIE AND THE FOX. ISBN 9780803702509.
Mckissack, Patricia C. MA DEAR’S APRONS. ISBN 9780689832628.