Parents' Guide to

All the Days Past, All the Days to Come

By Barbara Saunders, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Young woman finds independence in compelling saga finale.

Book Mildred D. Taylor Historical Fiction 2020
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What's the Story?

When ALL THE DAYS PAST, ALL THE DAYS TO COME begins, Cassie and her brother Little Man are going home to visit their parents. Little Man has just returned from World War II in Europe. Four siblings and their spouses prepare to move out of the South, as part of the Great Migration of African Americans. Following jobs, they move through Ohio, Tennessee, Colorado, and California. Though they encounter racism in every part of the U.S., they also find "angels," helpful and welcoming people who support and mentor them. African American professionals, White immigrants who feel solidarity with them, a Mexican family, and an array of other Americans cross their paths. Cassie, mentored by both Black and white attorneys, gets a law degree, passes the bar, and gets involved in the civil rights movement.

Is It Any Good?

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Kids say (1 ):

This very satisfying story educates without lecturing. All the Days Past, All the Days to Come concludes the family saga Mildred D. Taylor launched in 1976 with Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, winner of the Newbery Medal. The book stands alone as the story of an admirable young woman building a life in a world that doesn't always grant Black people or women their human dignity. At the same time, readers who love these characters will enjoy seeing the children from earlier books take care of their parents, produce their own children, and thrive as a changing country opens new horizons for them. The book is most suitable for mature readers, due to potentially upsetting discussions of violence as well as talk of adult romance, sexuality, and marriage.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the characters in All the Days Past, All the Days to Come react to change. Which changes do the Logans embrace and which ones do they fear? What do you think makes the difference for them?

  • Cassie's brother disapproves of her life in what he calls "a white world." Her grandmother and aunt worry that she isn't looking for a husband. Where do you think Cassie gets the confidence to step outside of the family expectations.

  • In the epilogue, Cassie reports that she rode a bus over the Freedom Riders' route to attend the inauguration of Barack Obama. Why do you think the author chose to include an event that takes place about 40 years after the previous scene?

Book Details

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