Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Historical Fiction

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Justification: A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Finding Langston is a highly acclaimed elementary aged book. This novel has easily become one of my favorite books in children's literature and I'm so glad I selected it for the Historical Fiction genre choice.

Evaluation: A beautifully rendered story about an 11-year old boy named Langston who leaves Alabama with his father in the Second Great Migration to the north. They were among over 7 million blacks who participated in this migration in search of a better life. Father and son find their way to, and settle in, Chicago where Langston is called "country boy" and teased in school. Langston finds sanctuary in his local public library. At first, he doesn't know if he's allowed inside. Libraries were segregated and mainly for white folks only in Alabama. Not only is he welcome inside, but Langston learns the branch of the Chicago public library was named after an African American doctor, Dr. George Cleveland Hall. With the help of a librarian, he begins to learn more African American history and celebrated African American authors. What has the most influence on the young boy's life is when he discovers volumes of poetry by his namesake Langston Hughes.

At first, Langston hides his books under the covers and reads at night by the ambient light of the window while Daddy sleeps. Langston doesn't want to rock the boat and potentially upset his father by reading. He also keeps his discovery of the library a secret from his Daddy. Father and son are coping with the loss of the matriarch of their family-- Teena--who perished in Alabama. Daddy and Langston are starting out anew on their own in Chicago and are learning, each in their own way, how to deal with their grief. Langston feels his Mama would have approved of his reading but that Daddy would see it as a waste of time.

Cline-Ransome's prose is expertly interspersed with poetry from Langston Hughes. Langston tell his father the poems remind him of home and of his Mama, "because he writes poems about being colored and living up North but missing the South and feeling lonely."

Langston struggles to make friends in school and is constantly bullied. He seeks comfort in the beauty of the public library and the company of books. In his grief, Langston reveals to his father that he's been reading poetry and he even reads a poem out loud for him. The novel concludes with Daddy walking with Langston to the library.

Conclusion: Finding Langston addresses themes such as bullying and self-esteem while exploring the intricacies of grief, friendship, and family relationships. Cline-Ransome brings Langston to life through lively, poignant conversation and the first-person point of view. We see genuine interactions with his father, the librarian Miss. Cline, and his newfound friend, Clem. Elementary through middle school age students will be intrigued by Langston’s story and find that his experiences open the door to in depth discussions about child/parent relationships, death, and friendship.

Reference: Cline-Ransome, L. (2018). Finding Langston. New York : Holiday House.