Sugar

By Jewell Parker Rhodes,

Book cover of Sugar

Book description

Ten-year-old Sugar lives on the River Road sugar plantation along the banks of the Mississippi. Slavery is over, but laboring in the fields all day doesn't make her feel very free. Thankfully, Sugar has a knack for finding her own fun, especially when she joins forces with forbidden friend Billy,…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked Sugar as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Wow, I love this book. I read it out loud with my daughter when she was in seventh grade. It’s the story of a 10-year-old girl, Sugar, who works on a plantation with other Black laborers post-Civil War. She’s an orphan, witnessing first-hand the white plantation owner and his family in the midst of a total meltdown brought on by fear and greed. It’s an effective juxtaposition set against Sugar’s supportive and loving community which widens to include Chinese immigrants who arrive to help in the fields. At first, the Black and Chinese laborers regard each other with skepticism, but…

From Melissa's list on total family meltdowns.

Want books like Sugar?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Sugar.

Browse books like Sugar

Book cover of Ghost
Book cover of Rain Reign
Book cover of Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,174

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Chinese Americans, Louisiana, and plantations?

Louisiana 118 books
Plantations 31 books