Plot Summary of The Sweet Shade of a Chinaberry Tree
"In 1963 Gaynell McGowan reluctantly returns from her first year of college to her small Southern town of Beulah. She has not written her term paper for American History and must do it right away to avoid flunking the course. While researching her paper at the local African-American college, she meets Willis, a veterinary student and civil rights activist. As their friendship secretly ripens, the town learns that the school board has received a federal order to integrate the high school. Gaynell's newly minted liberal views alienate her family members as well as her best friend. "
Janice Ward Parrish, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Sweet Shade of a Chinaberry Tree
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- upbeat
Time/era of story
- 1960's-1970's
Political/social activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- minorities fighting for rights
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- scholar
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- society
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- throughout most of the book.
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 5 (an average amount)
United States
Yes
Small town?
Yes
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
- touching of anatomy
Is this an e-book?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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