Documenting the struggles of growing up in the segregated South, this historical fiction text is based on a true story of one family’s path to the ballot box. Author’s note on the struggle for voting rights

This is a heartwarming story. The day Granddaddy was allowed to vote was so eye opening. The events that led up to him voting just shows how important that right is to many people. His suit was ironed, his grandson took along a camera, and they made their walk to the polls. Sadly Granddaddys excitement was crushed and he was not able to vote, but years later when his grandson got the chance to vote he took along his Granddaddy's picture to honor him. This book can be used to educate students on the struggles some people had to vote and the heartwarming relationship between a Granddaddy and his grandson. It also can be used for skills such as onomatopoeia. It also has very good illustrations. ( )

Granddaddy's Turn is an eye opening book. it is the story of an older black man who took his grandson with him the day he was allowed to vote. His wife ironed his suit for him and gave the grandson the camera. They walked for a long time to get to the polls and before the grandfather could put in his ballot, he was asked to read some long words. The grandfather did not know how to read those words, so the white man ripped up his ballot and sent him away. Years later, the grandson was able to vote and brought his grandfather's picture with him.
This book tugged on my heartstrings because the grandfather was so excited to be able to vote and then so let down when he was turned away. It shows the injustices of the past and the advancements we have made in society. I am so thankful to sit in a classroom with black people by my side. We have a lot to improve on, but books like these show children that change is possible and necessary. ( )

I liked this book for many reasons. I really liked the figurative language the author uses. For example, in the beginning the author writes, "I woke up to the cock-a-doodle-doo of my pet rooster . and the chucka, chucka of my grandaddy's tractor." The use of onomatopoeia really helps to engage readers. I also like how the characters are very well developed. Instead of the book just starting at the voting booth, the author shows readers what life was like in the house and helps readers have a better understanding of the time period that is being discussed. The book also pushes readers to think about tough issues such as how African Americans at one point in history did not have the right to vote. The writing is also well paced. The author took their time with explaining all the important pieces without overwhelming the readers. ( )

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons such as the illustrations and the message behind this story. I also like last page gives some information about the time back then when African Americans couldn’t vote. This will help readers better understand why they couldn’t vote back in those times. The illustrations show what African Americans had to do back then such as hard labor and how they were treated. For example, the illustration on one page shows the boy and his grandfather working when the sun came up and the next page shows the grandfather working hard but the illustrations also show them having fun such as fishing. The text help describes what is going on in the illustrations. the last page gives some helpful information on the time period of 1950 and 1960, saying that the civil rights movement helped dismantle the walls of racial segregation in the United States brick by brick. The last vestige of resistance in this struggle was voting rights. I really enjoyed this story because the boy in this story goes with his grandfather when he goes to vote and takes a picture of him with the ballot but when they got there they wouldn’t let him vote because he couldn’t read. The grandfather had passed away before laws allowed African Americans to vote. So, when it came to the boys turn to vote he took the picture with him and voted with the picture of his grandfather in his hand saying it was the grandfathers turn to vote. The message of this story is that even though someone isn’t with us, we can still have them in our hearts and our memories and be able to carry that with us when we get to do new things. ( )