Being Clem
Being Clem by Lesa Cline-Ransome is the final installment in the Finding Langston trilogy, published by Holiday House on August 3, 2021. This 256-page novel is presented in English and delves into the life of Clem, a boy known for his ability to bring smiles to those around him, including his older sisters. However, his world is turned upside down when he learns of his father’s death in the Port Chicago disaster, leading to significant changes in his family dynamics and his own identity.
In this narrative, readers will explore themes of grief and resilience as Clem’s mother takes on demanding work to support the family. The story captures the essence of mid-twentieth century America, reflecting on the Great Migration and the social challenges faced by African American families during this period. Through Clem’s journey, the book offers an intimate look at personal loss while also situating it within a broader historical context, making it a poignant exploration of family and legacy.
Official synopsis Publisher
The final novel in the award-winning Finding Langston trilogy from Coretta Scott King Author Honoree and Scott O’Dell Award medalist Lesa Cline-Ransome.
Clem can make anybody, even his grumpy older sisters, smile with his jokes. But when his family receives news that his father has died in the infamous Port Chicago disaster, everything begins to fall apart. Clem’s mother is forced to work long, tough hours as a maid for a wealthy white family. Soon Clem can barely recognize his home–and himself. Can he live up to his father’s legacy?
In her award-winning trilogy, Lesa Cline-Ransome masterfully recreates mid-twentieth century America through the eyes of three boys: Langston, Lymon, and, now, Clem. Exploring the impact of the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, Jim Crow laws, and much more, Lesa’s work manages at once to be both an intimate portrait of each boy and his family as well as a landscape of American history.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Choice
A Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Book!
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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Praise for Finding Langston, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and winner of the Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction
“There aren’t any explosions in this spare story. Nor is there a happy ending. Instead, Langston discovers something more enduring: solace.”–The New York Times
* “This crisply paced book is full of historical details of the Great Migration and the role a historic branch library played in preserving African American literary culture.”–The Horn Book, Starred Review
* “This is a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it.”–School Library Journal, Starred Review
* “The impact on the reader could not be more powerful. A memorable debut novel.”–Booklist, Starred Review
* “A fascinating work of historical fiction . . . Cline-Ransome at her best.”–Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
* “Finding Langston is about cultural heritage and personal growth and, at its heart, about finding home wherever you land.”–Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
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