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Book Review By Kim Fedder
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

This is the story of two young black men who are very different but both face the same issues of racial oppression in the era preceeding The Great Depression. Grant Wiggins is a young teacher who is in love with a married woman. He believes that the only way to escape racism is to leave the town of Lousiana where he grew up but has very bitter memories of. Grant is very insightful and intelligent and this is why he is asked by his aunt Tante Lou and her friend Miss Emma to spend time with Miss Emma's godson Jefferson.

Jefferson is also a young black man who has struggled with predujice, but unlike Grant this struggle will ulitmatly cost him his life. Jefferson was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was sentenced to death for the murder of a liquor store owner and two other men. At Jefferson's trial his lawyer defends him by saying that he was no smarter than a hog and a hog couldn't plot a crime. Jefferson is sentenced to death but he takes the hog comment to heart. His godmother Miss Emma does too and this is why she summons Grant to speak with her godson before his death so he can "die a man."

Grant who is a very selfish character is nervous to speak with Jefferson because he doesn't want to get close to someone who is going to die. Grant's aunt forces him to visit Jefferson and by the third visit Grant is making progress with him.

Grant has evolved as a character and grown very clost to Jefferson over the months awaiting his execution. When the day of the execution arrives Grant makes his class at school kneel until he receieves word from the courthouse that the execution is complete. Finally the final word is in that Jefferson is dead.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Political/social activism Yes
Plotlet:
Ethnic/Regional/Religion
Crime & Police story Yes
Story of
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - society
Age: - long-lived adults
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - below average

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 6 ()
United States Yes
The US: - Deep South
Farm/Ranch? Yes
Farm/Ranch: - lot of descript of crop raising

Writing Style
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - descript of kissing
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