Books › Pink and Say
Pink and Say
First published 1994 · 53 pages
A heartbreaking, beautifully illustrated testament to a brief but life-defining friendship forged in the crucible of the Civil War.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting at the feet of an elder as they entrust you with a sacred, sorrowful piece of family history. The narrative unfolds with a steady, reverent pace, wrapping the reader in a mood that is at once tenderly intimate and historically harrowing. It captures the fragile sanctuary of a mother's love and the profound brotherhood between two young soldiers, only to plunge into the devastating realities of war and racial injustice. The prose carries the lyrical, earnest weight of oral storytelling, demanding to be read aloud. It is a deeply poignant experience that will leave older children and adults alike moved to tears, offering a haunting but necessary reflection on courage, sacrifice, and the enduring power of memory.
- Mood
- tender
- somber
- harrowing
- poignant
- Tone
- earnest
- reverent
- sorrowful
- compassionate
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- interracial brotherhood · the cost of war · maternal sacrifice · power of memory · courage and cruelty
- The writing
- Written with the intimate, reverent cadence of a family legend passed down through generations.
- The arc
- Begins with a fragile, life-saving connection in the midst of chaos, builds into a warm but tense sanctuary, and shatters into a devastating but unforgettable legacy.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking a deeply moving, historically grounded picture book that doesn't shy away from the tragic realities of war and racism.
Content notes
- war violence
- death of a caregiver
- racism and slavery
- child death
- imprisonment
About the book
Say Curtis describes his meeting with Pinkus Aylee, a black soldier, during the Civil War, and their capture by Southern troops. Based on a true story about the author's great-great-grandfather.
Description from Open Library.
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