Common Sense Media Review
By Li Lai
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Vivid family saga spans centuries of Black American history.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 15 kid reviews
Kids say the book has sparked a divided reaction among readers, with many teenagers appreciating its historical themes and messages about resilience, while younger readers and some adults found it boring or difficult to follow. The engaging portrayal of black history and the emotional depth of the characters resonated with many, yet some reviews described it as vague and tedious, suggesting it may not appeal to everyone.
- engaging themes
- historical context
- mixed reactions
- character depth
- difficult pacing
- boredom
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Walter Dean Myers' THE GLORY FIELD begins in 1753 with the enslavement and forced journey of a young boy named Muhammad Bilal from Sierra Leone to Curry Island, South Carolina. From there, six generations of his family face challenges amid the onslaught of racial injustices during American slavery, Reconstruction, the civil rights movement, and the crack epidemic of the late 20th century. Through it all, Bilal's descendants find love, joy, and triumph in the darkest of places.
Is It Any Good?
In this deeply moving, centuries-spanning saga, readers can feel the pain and terror -- and the hope, love, and joy -- of a Black family with roots in coastal South Carolina. The Glory Field -- as the Lewis family named the land given to them after the Civil War -- nurtures six generations of sons and daughters. Myers impressively works digestible stories of the Lewis women and men into the broader backdrop of Black American history. Luvenia's desire to chart her own path in Chicago parallels The Great Migration, when millions of Black people left the American South. Tommy's decision to chain himself to a local sheriff in protest overlaps with the events of the civil rights movement. Though these anecdotes can feel glossed over, given the depth of the historic material, Myers successfully humanizes the often inhuman scale of atrocities leveled against Black Americans since the 1700s. Despite their challenges, characters aren't defined by their traumas; instead, it's their ingenuity, familial love, and ongoing perseverance that's emphasized in this stunning tale. It's a story that will linger with readers long after they've closed the book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Glory Field traces family history. Did you enjoy reading about how each character was linked? Does it make you think about your own lineage? How might historical events have affected the choices and lives of your ancestors in their efforts to survive and thrive?
How does the larger Lewis family influence each individual character? How do you think the characters' dreams and decisions were affected by their ancestral connection to Curry Island, South Carolina?
The Glory Field traces systemic racism from the 1700s to the 1990s. In what ways does the novel show progress in racial justice over the years, and what injustices remain unchanged? What new progress, if any, has been made since the novel's release in 1994?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : History
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
- Publication date : January 1, 1994
- Number of pages : 375
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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