Dreamland Burning

Book #24 for 2020 is Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham (Little, Brown and Company, 2017)

On January 12, 2018, I had the opportunity to hear author Jennifer Latham speak about her novel, Dreamland Burning. It’s a young adult, historical fiction novel set around both the present day and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

I remember being enthralled with her, with her voice and her tone and her empathy. The research she did for this project is absolutely incredible!

Looking back at my agenda from the meeting at which she spoke, I wrote “Greenwood Cultural Center” as a mental note to check it out, to go visit and tour, to learn more.

I never did. Life happened, my meeting agenda was efficiently hole-punched and placed in my organized binder. I filed away the new bits of knowledge, but in the recess of my mind for another day.

Strike one.

I also purchased Dreamland Burning, a beautiful hard cover, first edition, signed by the author:

I immediately started reading it. It is very engaging, told from the perspective of Rowan, and bi-racial teen in today’s Tulsa, and William, a white teen in 1921 Tulsa. Both – as well as the secondary characters – are very real. They are imperfect, they are honest, and they experience personal growth as the story evolves.

It is also difficult to read because while wonderfully written, its subject is deplorable and hard to stomach.

About 80 pages in, I set it aside for something lighter and happier. 

I’d come back to Dreamland another day.

Strike two.

Twice now I had opportunity to read about, learn about, and visualize what life was – and is – like for African Americans, for black friends and family whom I love dearly. Twice I failed. 

I don’t want there to be a third strike; I don’t want to be ignorant.

This past weekend I started back at the beginning of Dreamland Burning. Again, I was entranced by Jennifer Latham’s ability to speak through Rowan, William, Joseph, and Ruby. Even the disgustingly evil characters like Cletus Hayes and Vernon Fish serve their purpose and perform their roles immaculately. Although the characters are fictional, the history is unfortunately very accurate. It’s a gripping, educational, important book.

This time, I read every page, some more than once. 

I hope you will do the same.

Here are my 3 pieces to share:

I thought about that for a while. Dr. Woods made me want to be…more. To stretch out and aim for something better than good enough. (Rowan, page 164)

Everyone needs mentors, people to show them and push them to be more. I pray I can be that influence on others some day!

Life is fragile. Anything of immense value and worth is by definition fragile. Life is fragile, and it can change in a heartbeat. We must love accordingly, without conditions. Without biases, without judgement, and without hate. I didn’t grow up an overly religious person, but as an adult, my faith has become very important to me. The more I have read and studied the Bible, I see that we must love as Jesus loved, sinners and saints, brothers and sisters, from all backgrounds, and of all colors…red and yellow, black and white; they’re all precious in His sight.

So do I, Jen; so do I!

With love and hugs,

Ashli