McKissack, Pat. 2009. GOIN’ SOMEPLACE SPECIAL. Ill. Jerry Pinkney. Aladdin Paperbacks. Fullerton, CA. ISBN 978-0-329-68437-2.

BIBLIOGRPAHY 

McKissack, Pat. 2009. GOIN’ SOMEPLACE SPECIAL. Ill. Jerry Pinkney. Aladdin Paperbacks. Fullerton, CA. ISBN 978-0-329-68437-2.  

PLOT SUMMARY 

Tricia Ann, a young African American girl, from Nashville wants to venture out on the town to “Someplace Special” on her own. Mama Frances initially didn’t want to let her go. Through her excursion in the town, she encounters Jim Crow laws on the bus, benches for whites only and kindness from other African American people who guide her along the way. Although she was taken out from white only places, she ends up arriving at “Someplace Special” otherwise known as the public library where all are welcome.  

CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS) 

This picture book by award winning Pat McKissack and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney includes overcoming adversity by African American characters who face racial discrimination during Jim crow laws in Nashville, Tennessee. This fictional story follows Tricia Ann, an authentic character that experiences discrimination on her journey to Someplace special. On the bus as she complains about how the Jim Crow laws are not fair, she remembers what Mama Frances told her, “Those signs can tell us where to sit, but they can’t tell us what to think.” We see a good balance of social situations where she experiences segregation and discrimination as well as where other African Americans help her navigate this time. She constantly thinks of Mama Francis and what they experienced together as well as Jimmy Lee telling her, “Don’t let those signs steal yo’ happiness.” 

The setting in this historical time is accurate. We see illustrations directly displaying segregation rules such as “Colored Section” on the bus, “Whites Only” on the public benches, “No Colored People Allowed” as she was turned away from a crowd she was caught in. The setting for each scene in this picture book showed important civil rights historical information. The language in this picture book reflects the language with words such as “yo, b’long, gon’, b’lieve.” The characters showed a great amount of kindness to Tricia Ann as she was learning to overcome adversity with the guidance of every character she encountered in her community.  

The overall quality of this picture book invites the reader to reflect on the life of a child growing up during the times of segregation. The reader feels compassion and shares in Tricia Ann’s social awareness of civil rights injustices for African American people during this time. The illustrations are straight forward and directly related to the part of the story being told. The characters’ way of dressing is appropriate for the times and their facial expressions are clearly illustrated to show the emotion and feeling for the story. The ending shows us Tricia Ann’s journey of “Going Someplace Special” ends on a happy note when she stops to admire the “Public Library: All Are Welcome” engraved on the wall, the one place she thought was worth traveling to. Overall, the format is appealing, the text is easy to read, and this fictional story is a worthwhile read. The author’s note at the end of the story is a great look into the author’s life. As she reflects on her own life through this fictional character, the readers will appreciate this real-life experience told by the author.  

REVIEW EXCERPTS 

ALA Notable Children’s Books, 2002 

Book Links, 01/01/07 

Booklist starred, 08/01/01 

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 09/01/01 

Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, 2002 

Horn Book Magazine, 11/01/01 

Kirkus Reviews, 09/15/01 

New York Times, 02/01/02 

Publishers Weekly, 08/06/01 

School Library Journal, 09/01/01 

Wilson’s Children, 10/01/10 

Booklist Starred (August 2001 (Vol.97, No.22): “Pinkney’s watercolor paintings are lush and sprawling as they evoke southern city streets and sidewalks as well as Tricia Ann’s inner glow.” 

Horn Book Magazine (November/December, 2001): “ There are many books about a child’s first trip alone, and many books about racism and the struggle for civil rights, but this book is about more than either: it is the story of a child facing a difficult time sustained by the support of the adults in her life.” 

Kirkus Reviews (September 15, 2001): “A natural for group sharing; leave plenty of time for the questions and discussion that are sure to follow.” 

CONNECTIONS 

Readers will have a lot of civil rights questions and so having an open discussion with questions and answers will greatly help everyone understand better the segregations signs featured in this book.  

Readers can draw a picture on their favorite part of the book, they can use watercolors to resemble the illustrations from this picture book.  

Giving readers the opportunity to look up Patricia C. McKissack on the internet would give them a better understanding of who she is. Also having other books written by her for readers to enjoy would be a plus so they can read more of her work.  

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