The Parker Inheritance

 The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

1. Bibliography 

Johnson, V. (2019). Parker Inheritance. Scholastic Inc. ISBN: 9780545946179 

2. Plot Review 

This is the story of a young girl named Candice who spends the summer at the home owned by her deceased grandmother in Lambert, South Carolina. Candace finds a letter addressed to her grandmother and begins to read it and learns about a family that was treated unfairly in the late 1950’s when schools were still segregated. There are clues in the letter that when solved will lead to a fortune. Candice’s grandmother had tried to find the answers to the clues and failed and was shamefully dismissed from her public role in the town. Candice, with the help of the neighbor boy Brandon, begins researching the family and the town's ugly past and begins to find answers to the clues and eventually solves all the clues and finds the treasure that is more than just money. Candace finds that family is important as well as forgiveness. She also learns that even though secrets are protecting it is always better to be up front and honest. 

3. Critical Review 

This book was so beautifully written. The author Varian Johnson crafted this story where the chapters were printed on white pages to represent the present time and gray pages represented the past. There author gives the reader insight into the present-day characters and into the past. The author hits on topics that could be construed as sensitive, but the way he addressed them with such compassion and understanding the reader can feel and see both sides of the story. The reader can feel the unfairness of how the characters in the past were treated but at the same time even with reading about the segregation of high schools in the past, the reader still felt the community and pride of the students in the past. The conversations of the characters in the past had such varying points of view that the reader sees so many different struggles with the characters, even amongst themselves. Which answers even though skin color may be different, we all are human and have the same feelings. The author paints a vivid picture of how challenging times were in the south. In the present day, the characters were even discriminated against, but the author showed that Candace and her friend Brandon did not need to get angry for one person's ignorance, they handled it the correct way and told an adult. The author also showed how time has progressed and how being treated unfairly is no longer acceptable. 

4. Review Excerpts 

Booklist, 02/01/2018 

A dazzling and emotional read that deals with serious topics such as bullying, racism, and divorce. 

Publishers Weekly, 01/22/2018 

Johnson (To Catch a Cheat) addresses important issues gracefully, particularly having the freedom to live a life of ones choosing and the long-lasting effects of discrimination. 

School Library Journal Starred, 12/01/2017 

The plot moves along quickly and seamlessly between the past and present, with chapters from the 1950s shaded in light gray for a smart visual effect. 

Corretta Scott King Book Award: Author Honor 2019 

Odyssey Award: Honor 2018 

ALSC Notable Children’s Book Award: Commended 2019 

 

5. Connections 

6. 
   

1. The characters Candice and Brandon refer to Newbery Medal-winning mystery The Westing Game by Ellen Raskins. Read this book and describe how the two books are similar and how they are different from one another. 
2. With a partner create a timeline of Candace and Brandon solving the mystery. 
3. Brandon and Candace both had challenges with the adults in their life. Brandon with his grandfather and Candace with her father. Choose one character and describe the challenge and how you would work through the challenge if you had been in the character's shoes.