The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

This vivid story will stick with readers long past the last page. African American readers will recognize themselves and their families in the warm, playful banter and dialogue, and in the exchanges the characters have with the wider world. The chapters set in the 1950s provide a compelling history lesson for today's kids. The Parker Inheritance - by Varian Johnson 10.89When purchased online In Stock Add to cart About this item Specifications Dimensions (Overall): 8.3 Inches (H) x 5.6 Inches (W) x 1.3 Inches (D) Weight. This is a perfect combination for a decades-long mystery to finally be solved. Candice and Brandon have a lot in common their love of books, their desire to solve puzzles, and their inquisitive, critical-thinking minds.

Though the multimillion-dollar prize for solving the puzzle (promised in the found letter) is a somewhat unrealistic fairy tale element, it adds fun, ups the stakes, and spurs suspense. Part mystery, part history lesson, The Parker Inheritance is as satisfying as placing down the last piece in a 500 piece puzzle. In the earlier history, some light-skinned blacks opt to pass as white, the African American characters are aware of relative skin shade, and though some fight for school integration, others have strong affection for their all-black schools and communities. Varian Johnson is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Parker Inheritance, which won both Coretta Scott King Author Honor and Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor awards, The Great Greene Heist, an ALA Notable Children’s book, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book, and a Texas Library Association Lone Star List selection, and the graphic novel Twins co-created with Shannon. Author Varian Johnson does not shy away from difficult issues, and his take on race is nuanced. In The Parker Inheritance, the two main kids are smart, savvy, and plucky as they puzzle out a mystery and bring to light a racist incident that reverberated through their town more than half a century ago.

This page-turning mystery skillfully braids two time periods for maximum suspense, while offering candid, complex portrayals of racial interactions and history.

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson