Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry — Mildred D. Taylor

This is a story of physical survival, but more important, it is a story of the survival of the human spirit. This is Cassie's story -- Cassie Logan, a girl raised by a family determined not to surrender their independence or their humanity simply because they are black. Cassie has grown up protected, strong, and so far, unaware that any white person could consider her inferior -- or force her to be untrue to herself. It takes the events of one turbulent year to turn her safe world upside down.