Books › Tar Beach
Tar Beach
First published 1991 · 32 pages
A magical, uplifting journey that transforms a city rooftop into a launchpad for freedom and boundless imagination.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a beautifully crafted story quilt, where history, autobiography, and magical realism are seamlessly stitched together. The narrative unfolds at a steady, dreamlike pace, wrapping the reader in a warm, nostalgic atmosphere high above the streets of 1939 Harlem. It is a deeply hopeful and empowering experience, capturing the profound yearning for liberty and the triumphant power of a child's imagination to claim space and overcome systemic barriers. The prose is earnest and lyrical, carrying the weight of African-American history while remaining accessible and uplifting. It will delight readers who appreciate intergenerational stories, folk art, and tales where the simple act of dreaming allows you to fly above the stars.
- Mood
- dreamlike
- uplifting
- nostalgic
- warm
- Tone
- earnest
- hopeful
- magical
- reflective
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- desire for freedom · power of imagination · overcoming systemic barriers · family bonds · claiming space
- The writing
- Lyrical and deeply woven with personal and historical resonance, reading like a spoken-word accompaniment to visual art.
- The arc
- Moves from a deep yearning for freedom and relief from family worries to a triumphant, magical realization of liberation.
- Who it's for
- Readers seeking a beautifully crafted, magical realist children's story that blends history, art, and the boundless imagination of a young girl.
Content notes
- systemic discrimination
About the book
Cassie Louise Lightfoot, eight years old in 1939, has a dream: to be free to go wherever she wants for the rest of her life. One night, up on "tar beach" --the rooftop of her family's Harlem apartment building--her dream comes true. The stars lift her up, and she flies over the city. She claims the buildings as her own--even the union building, so her father won't have to worry anymore about not being allowed to join just because his father was not a member. As Cassie learns, anyone can fly. "All you need is somewhere to go you can't get to any other way. The next thing you know, you're flying above the stars." This magical story resonates with a universal wish. Originally written by Faith Ringgold for her story quilt of the same name, Tar Beach is a seamless weaving of fiction, autobiography, and African-American history and literature. - Author website.
Description from Open Library.
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