Title: The Other Side

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrator: E.B. Lewis

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001

Number of pages: 32 Pages

Tags: Culture, Diversity, Emotion, Friendship, Historical Fiction, Picture Book, K-5, Stephanie Prentice

Genre: Historical Fiction

Analysis

Clover’s mother will not allow her to cross the fence that separates the African-American side of town from the White side of town where Anna lives because she claims it is not safe. After spending the summer wondering why she is not allowed to cross the fence, Clover gets closer and closer to the fence. Eventually, Clover begins talking to Anna and their friendship grows despite Clover’s moms wishes.

This text allows readers to tap into the realities of African-Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Clover’s mother is hesitant to allow her to cross into the White part of town because of safety concerns. The depictions of African American as well as American girls allows readers to see themselves and their culture. Despite the common belief that all African Americans during this time period are poor and unprivileged, the illustrations shows Clover and her mother nicely dressed while walking through town. The pictures are very realistic, which mirrors the idea that racism and prejudice is a very realistic problem. The author also discusses the fact that Clover’s mother has bought her toys to play with inside on rainy days. The story seems to take place in a rural setting, which was usually where segregation was heavy during this time period. The power seems to lie in the hands of the White side of town because of Clover’s situation. This story acts as a door because it inspires readers to knock down the fences in their own lives.

Perceptually, the images are usually only one page with the text on the other. The first and last pages have images that cover a double page spread. Especially on the last page, the double spread picture symbolizes the growth that took place within the story. The growth of Clover and Anna’s friendship is symbolized in the pictures. At the beginning, there is tension and distance between both girls. As they continue to talk, the girls move closer together. In the story, the fence is a physical barrier between the interaction of the African American and the White populations. It also symbolically represents the barriers that people, especially African Americans, face in their lives. This title, The Other Side, also refers to another aspect of the story. This story features a main character that questions why racism and prejudice are ruling people’s lives. In this case, the character is the person on the other side of the powerful race during this time. This powerful theme carries into other aspects of life. Readers will benefit from the tolerance displayed in the story.