92 pages • 3 hours read
Kekla MagoonA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Set in 1960s Chicago during the Civil Rights era, The Rock and the River follows Samuel Childs, son of a prominent activist aligned with Dr. King, and brother to Stick, who is involved with the Black Panther Party. Sam navigates the ideological conflict between passive resistance and armed self-defense while grappling with personal dilemmas and coming-of-age challenges. The narrative includes instances of racial violence and police brutality.
The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon has received favorable reviews for its engaging portrayal of the civil rights movement through a young protagonist's perspective. Critics praise its historical accuracy and emotional depth, although some note occasional predictability in the plot. Overall, it is regarded as a powerful and educational read about a pivotal era.
A reader who would enjoy The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon is likely interested in historical fiction, civil rights movements, and coming-of-age stories. Comparable to readers of Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and Christopher Paul Curtis's The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, they appreciate narratives rich in historical context and social justice.
Lexile Level
HL550LChildren's Literature
Realistic Fiction
Historical Fiction
Relationships: Family
Identity: Race
Life/Time: Coming of Age
History: World
Civil Rights / Jim Crow
Race / Racism