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Exposition
Characters: Cassie Logan, Big Ma, David Logan, Mary Logan, Clayton Chester Logan, Stacey Logan, Christopher John, TJ Avery, Claude Avery, Setting: Mississippi, 1930s Conflict: They are not treated fairly. -
The Berry's Get Burned
When one of the Berry's started to flirt with a white woman, the Wallace's got angry. Because of this, they burn all of the Berry's and get away with it. -
Mrs. Logan Pastes Over Names in the Book
After Little Man finds the names in the book, he stomps on it. Because of this he gets hit with a switch. Mrs. Logan finds out about this and covers up the names with paper. -
Logan Kids Dig Hole for the School Bus to Fall Into
After the kids had had enough of the white school bus splashing them with water, Stacey gets the idea to dig a hole for the bus to fall into. It is raining a lot so the bus gets stuck and all the white children have to walk home. -
Stacey Fights TJ at the Wallace Store
Stacey gets very mad when TJ makes it look like Stacey was cheating. He meets him at the Wallace Store and beats him up. Mr. Morrison finds them there and brings them home. Eventually Stacey confesses to Mama about how they were at the store. When she finds out she takes them to the Berry's house to show them what the Wallace's did. -
Stacey, TJ, Cassie, and Big Ma go to Strawberry
When they get to Strawberry it is not how the children expected it to be. They have to park in a worse spot because they are black. When the children go to the store, the cashier helps a white girl but not them. Cassie accidentally bumps into Lillian Jean and is forced to apologize. Cassie does not want to but Big Ma makes her. When Uncle Hammer fins out about this, he goes to the Simms's but Mr. Morrison brings him back. -
Uncle Hammer Gives Stacey a New Coat, but He Gives It Away
Stacey's coat is much too small for him, so Uncle Hammer decides to get him a new one. When he wears it to school, TJ makes fun of him and says that he doesn't like it, but he really does. Stacey eventually gives the coat to TJ so the kids would stop teasing him. Mama finds out and gets very angry at Stacey. -
Cassie Becomes "Friends" With Lillian Jean
After the incident in Strawberry, Cassie learns that she should just do what Lillian Jean tells her to do. She walks with her to and from school, carries her books, listens to her drama, and does everything else she tells her to do. One day Cassie has had enough of it and tells Lillian Jean that she has a surprise for her. She actually takes her into the woods and beats her up. After this, Lillian Jean runs away crying. -
Mama Gets Fired
Mrs. Logan fails T.J. so he tells the Wallaces how she is teaching. T.J. denies doing this, but the Logan children know he did. After he tells on Mrs. Logan, Harlan Granger, Kaleb Wallace, and another man come to the school and fire her. -
Papa Gets Attacked by the Wallaces
Papa, Stacey, and Mr. Morrison go to Vicksburg to buy things they need. On their way back, the two back wheels come off,and then the Wallaces appear. Mr. Morrison tries to fight them off, but they shoot Papa and his leg gets run over by the wagon when Stacey isn't able to hold it. -
T.J. and the Simms Brothers Try to Steal the Gun
After the church service, T.J., R.W., and Melvin go to Strawberry to try to steal the pearl handled pistol. When the owner catch them, R.W. knocks them both out. T.J. threatens to tell who did it so the Simms brothers beat him up. He goes to the Logan house and the kids take him home. They find a bunch of white men setting T.J.'s house on fire and hurting his family. During this lighting strikes the field which causes a fire. -
Conclusion
At the end, the store owner dies, T.J. ends up in jail, and the rain manages to put out the fire. The Logan family is fine, and they have enough cotton left to sell.
