Pink and Say

Pink and Say

Patricia Polacco

Philomel Books, 1994

Picture Book, Historical Fiction, Multicultural 2-5

Summary: This is a true story that has been told down through the generations in Patricia's family. This story occured during the Civil War and is based on Particia's great-great grandfather's experience.

The book starts with a young boy who is laying in the field, wounded. His name is Shelden Curtis (Say) and he has been fighting in this war for a year and just wants to go home. Then a black lad comes to his aid, giving him some water to drink. The African American soldier, Pinkus Aylee, carries Say to safety. Say unable to walk and he says, "I remember branches snapping back in my face and mouths full of dirt as we hit the ground to keep from being seen."

Pink carries Say to his own home, where his momma, Moe Moe Baby nurses Say back to health. Pink's family are all fighting in the war, even his father. Pink tells Say that when he has healed that they have to leave because they are putting Moe Moe Baby in great danger. While Say is healing, he becomes part of Pink and Moe Moe Baby's family. Pink shared with Say how this master had taught him to read, even though it was againist the law. That night, when Moe Moe Baby was reading from the Bible, Say says that he wishes he could read. Pink says that he will teach him.

When Pink and Say tell Moe Moe Baby that they are going to have to go back to war, she is very sad. Despite her sadness, she comforts Say when he tells her that is a coward because he was running away from his unit when he was shot.

The next morning marauders came to the house and Moe Moe Baby told Pink and Say to get in the root cellar and ran out the door. The marauders searched the house and then let out a war whoop with a rifle shot on their way out. When Pink and Say ran out from the cellar, they found Moe Moe Baby dead.

When they buried her under the willow tree, they set out but soon realized they were being followed by Confederate troops. When they caught up to Pink and Say, they were caught captive and taken to Andersonville which is one of the worst Confederate camps. Pink and Say held on to each other's hands until they were wrenched apart.

Say was released from the prison some months later, weighing no more than 78 pounds. He settled in Michigan, married, and fathered seven children. However, Pinkus Aylee never returned home. It was told that he was hanged within hours after he was taken into Andersonville.

Response: Pink and Say was a very heart breaking book. The fact that it was a true story makes it even more heart breaking! The Civil War was defintley a brutal and harsh time, and this book proves this. I liked the friendship that developed between Pink and Say, for they developed a true friendship. Even though Pink did not know Say in the beginning, he was willing to help him, carrying him through dangerous territories to his own home where he shared all he had with Say.

Teaching Ideas: This is a great way for students to learn about the Civil War. However, I do not think that this book should be read to a grade lower than third due to the graphic information and pictures that may be disturbing to some children. Studedents can learn basic facts such as the fact that the North was againist the South. The North was called the Union, which is who Pink and Say were fighting for. They are againist slavery, while the South is for slavery. The concept of slavery can also be introduced to students. They should realize that Pink was a slave before the war. African American soldiers were discriminated greatly againist but were also very brave and couragous. Pink tells Say that his company could not have guns at first. They had to use sticks, hammers, and sledges. When they were given a weapon, it was muskets from the Mexican War. This is an example of discrimination againist the African Americans.

The Union solider is also important for students to understand. The Union soldier was fighting in the war to defend his home and put down the rebellion of the Southern States. In contrast to the Union Soldier, the Confederate soldier was in rebellion againist the government. Students need to understand that the Confederacy wanted to seperate from the Union and this is one of the reasons they were fighting.

Abraham Lincoln and his role as president can also be taught to students. The African Americans believed in Lincoln because they thought that he wanted slaves to be free. The Confederates did not like Lincoln because they wanted slavery and did not like what Lincoln stood for.

For older students, the idea of being prisoners of war and information about Andersonville which is the cam that Pink and Say were sent can be introduced.

This heart-wrenching story is recommended for older students as well as adults. The concept of friendship and sacrifice that is portrayed through the characters Pink and Say can teach all ages!