Read Online The Secret Book Club by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online Page B

shot Olivia an amused glance, but Olivia didn’t return it.
    Nikki looked from Olivia to Flora, then said, “Let’s read the letters.”
    â€œI wonder what our next Saturday adventure will be,” said Ruby.
    â€œYou read, Olivia,” said Flora.
    Without looking at the other girls, Olivia opened her copy of the letter. “Wow,” she said after a moment. Then, “Wow.”
    Roll of Thunder was the story of Cassie Logan, an African-American girl growing up in a loving family in Mississippi during the Depression, and of her family’s fight to save their farm while at the same time battling bigotry and oppression during the tumultuous ninth year of Cassie’s life. The list of things to talk aboutcovered such topics as family relationships, Jim Crow laws, and the Underground Railroad.
    â€œWhy the Underground Railroad?” said Flora, looking confused.
    And Ruby cried, “Jim Crow laws! That’s a funny name. What are Jim Crow laws?”
    â€œThe Jim Crow laws are not funny, Ruby,” said Olivia.
    â€œIn my mind they are.” Ruby was picturing a human-size crow, dressed in judge’s robes, presiding over a courtroom, wings flapping.
    â€œThe Jim Crow laws,” said Olivia, “have to do with segregation and with discrimination against black people. When the laws were put in place, they were supposed to create separate but equal status for whites and blacks. The result was that black people not only had separate water fountains, separate seats in restaurants and theatres, separate schools, and so on, but that these things were not the same as those for white people. They were inferior. And the laws made black people feel like second-class citizens. How would you like to be really thirsty on a hot day and find a water fountain in a park, but then see the sign on the fountain that says WHITES ONLY ?”
    Flora thought Ruby looked a bit frightened. “Well,” said Ruby after a moment. “Well … I’m sorry I made a joke about it, Olivia. Is this really what the book is about?”
    â€œSort of,” said Flora, “but there’s so much more to Cassie’s story. Wait until you start reading about her family, especially Little Man, her younger brother. And it’s a really exciting story. You won’t believe what happens. What I can’t figure out is why we’re supposed to talk about the Underground Railroad. That isn’t part of the book.”
    â€œLet’s see what our Saturday adventure is,” said Nikki. “Read that part of the letter, Olivia.”
    Olivia scanned the letter, then said, “Okay. Here it is. ‘Two Saturdays from now, after you have read this compelling story and discussed it, sit down together and write one additional chapter to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry . Write about what you think happens to the characters in the years after the book ends. Be sure to include your thoughts about T.J.’” Olivia paused. “T.J.?”
    â€œHe’s a really interesting character,” said Flora. “You kind of want to not like him, but you can’t. I mean, you can’t hate him. Not really. Not that it’s okay to hate anyone,” she added hastily. “Well, I don’t want to give the end away, but wait until you see what happens to T.J. I know why we’re supposed to include him in our chapter.”
    â€œI’ve never written a chapter to a book before,” said Nikki. “How are we going to do that?”
    â€œWe’ll all be working together,” Flora pointed out.
    â€œIt still sounds hard.”
    â€œI think it sounds like fun,” said Olivia, who didn’t look as though she was having any fun at all at the moment.
    â€œWe’ll have to write a lot of pages,” said Nikki.
    â€œBelieve me, there will be plenty to write about,” said Flora.
    â€œIs that it?” asked Ruby. “We just write a chapter? I