Alligator Bayou (by Donna Jo Napoli)
common sense media says
Moving, tragic tale of racism in Jim Crow South.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there are discussions of lynchings, some of them rather violent. There's also frequent usage of derogative racial terms.
Educational value:
The novel does a great job of discussing the other driving factors of racism in the South during the post-Civil War era -- economics and fear. It also touches on a not-often-talked-about target of racism in the South during those times -- Italian immigrants.
Positive role models:
There are great examples of people who stand up for the right thing and who are kind within the story. No one race is portrayed as all bad or all good.
Violence:
There are some mild scuffles between boys; these fights result in some blood from the wounds inflicted. There are mentions of a mass lynching that took place in another town with a brief description of the bodies, and then later another lynching takes place and we hear about the bullet-riddled condition of the bodies.
Sex:
A crush develops between two teenagers and they engage in a few kisses.
Language:
While most of the language is fine, there is some name calling. There are also frequent uses of derogatory names for people of Italian and African decent.
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Adult men and teens drink alcohol but culturally it's normal for them to do so. One scene shows teens smoking, but the book takes place during a time where this would not have been unusual.
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