The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson and E.B. Lewis, ill. New York: G. P. Putnam Sons, 2001.
ISBN: 0-399-23116-1 Subjects: Segregation, Friendship Grades 5-6
Watercolors tell the story of two lonely girls, one black and one white, form a friendship over the fence of segregation.
Literary Device: metaphor of the fence.
Q/P: 5/3
bvg, 7/31/09
Woodson, J. (2001). The other side. Illustrations by E.B. Lewis. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.
Artwork: Realistic watercolor paintings
ISBN-13: 978-0-399-23116-2
Illustrated in realistic watercolor paintings, The Other Side depicts a bygone era when girls wore dresses and blacks and whites did not mix. A fence, symbolic of the segregation of the day, separates the yards of two young girls, one white, one black, who have been told not to go over the fence to play. These girls meet and gradually begin to build a friendship that consists of spending time together sitting on the fence (in order to be in compliance with their mothers’ rules); others soon join them. The story ends with one girl saying “Someday somebody’s going to come along and knock this old fence down.” And indeed, time has shown that that fence of segregation is still coming down.
Curricular connection: Civil rights/ Grade 11/ CA HSS 11.10Subjects: Friendship; Race relations
Theme: The end of segregation begins when we refuse to accept it.
Theme Discussion: The theme of Jacqueline Woodson’s The Other Side is simple indeed. As two young girls of long ago, one black and one white, question the fence that divides their yards, so should we all question the racial tension that divides the world. Just as Annie says to Clover, “Someday somebody’s going to come along and knock this old fence down,” and the reply comes, “Yeah . . .someday.” Although the fence is not completely down even now, banding together to fight prejudice and racism will make the difference – and it can begin as simply as two girls, perched on a fence, sharing a chat. Particularly striking is that Annie, the white girl, seems to have no other friends in the book, while Clover is often pictured with four friends. A strong subtext is also how much the girls are alike, in their thoughts and pleasures, so much more alike than they are different.
Literary Devices: Metaphor; Symbolism
Category: Historical Fiction
Age Level Recommendation: Upper Elementary
Rating: 5Q/4P
AAS 5-4-08
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