Finding Langston
Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome is a reprint edition published by Holiday House on January 7, 2020. This 112-page book, written in English, follows the journey of eleven-year-old Langston as he navigates the challenges of moving from Alabama to Chicago’s Bronzeville district in 1946. After the death of his mother, Langston struggles with feelings of loss and isolation in a bustling new environment, where he misses his family and familiar surroundings.
Readers will find a poignant exploration of Langston’s experiences during the Great Migration, highlighting themes of social change and personal growth. As he grapples with loneliness and bullying at school, Langston discovers solace in the Chicago Public Library, where he learns about the poet Langston Hughes, who deeply influenced his mother. This narrative delves into the historical context of the time, offering insights into the African American experience and the significance of community and identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
Winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
When eleven-year-old Langston’s father moves them from their home in Alabama to Chicago’s Bronzeville district, it feels like he’s giving up everything he loves.
It’s 1946. Langston’s mother has just died, and now they’re leaving the rest of his family and friends. He misses everything–Grandma’s Sunday suppers, the red dirt roads, and the magnolia trees his mother loved.
In the city, they live in a small apartment surrounded by noise and chaos. It doesn’t feel like a new start, or a better life. At home he’s lonely, his father always busy at work; at school he’s bullied for being a country boy.
But Langston’s new home has one fantastic thing. Unlike the whites-only library in Alabama, the Chicago Public Library welcomes everyone. There, hiding out after school, Langston discovers another Langston–a poet whom he learns inspired his mother enough to name her only son after him.
Lesa Cline-Ransome, author of the Coretta Scott King Honor picture book Before She Was Harriet, has crafted a lyrical debut novel about one boy’s experiences during the Great Migration. Includes an author’s note about the historical context and her research.
Don’t miss the companion novel, Leaving Lymon, which centers on one of Langston’s classmates and explores grief, resilience, and the circumstances that can drive a boy to become a bully– and offer a chance at redemption.
A Junior Library Guild selection!
A CLA Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, with 5 Starred Reviews
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2018
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Finding Langston” about?
Who is the author of “Finding Langston”?
When was “Finding Langston” published?
What is the ISBN for “Finding Langston”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
