Most Valuable Characters
Historical Background
Literary Devices
Major Moments in the Text
Historical People
100
This character believes that "God had pointed a finger at our family." This character also provides the title for the book.
Who is Grandma India?
100
These laws were racial segregation laws enacted after the Reconstruction period in Southern United States, at state and local levels, and which continued in force until 1965, which mandated racial segregation in all public facilities in Southern states.
What are the Jim Crow laws?
100
This device is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. It is generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject.
What is tone?
100
In Chapter One, this event occurs at the park between Melba and a ride operator. It demonstrates segregation at the time.
What is Melba on the carousel?
100
This man worked as a lawyer for the NAACP during the Brown v. Board of Education court case. He also meets Melba in Warriors Don't Cry.
Who is Thurgood Marshall?
200
This character works as a teacher and has a second job to help support her family. She is reluctant to let Melba attend Central High School but supports her.
Who is Mother Lois?
200
This was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
200
This is a literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions.
What is mood?
200
In Chapter Four, a group of segregationists surround Elizabeth Eckford at this location. This scene helps the readers understand the level of racism the Little Rock Nine faced.
What is Central High School?
200
This girl was the first African American student to attend an all-white school at the age of six.
Who is Ruby Bridges?
300
This character is Melba's best friend and she attends Central High as well. This character is eventually expelled after she dumps chili on the heads of segregationist tormentors.
Who is Minniejean?
300
These were a series of psychological tests conducted by Mamie and Kenneth Clark. These tests were used in Brown v. Board of Education to show that segregation negatively impacted children.
What are the Doll Tests?
300
This is a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things or objects that are poles apart from each other but have some characteristics common between them. This device does NOT use "like" or "as."
What is metaphor?
300
In Chapter 11, a student throws this in Melba's face. This scene demonstrates the violence that the Little Rock Nine faced.
What is acid?
300
This man was part of the Indian independence movement. His practice of passive resistance and civil disobedience inspired many people, including Martin Luther King, Jr.
Who is Gandhi?
400
This character serves as a soldier in 101st division. He helps Melba become stronger and also serves as her protector. He saves Melba when acid is thrown at her face.
Who is Danny?
400
This amendment was added to the Constitution to guarantee people equal protection under the law. It was used to eliminate segregation in schools.
What is the Fourteenth Amendment?
400
This is a figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things. Unlike a metaphor, it draws resemblance with the help of the words “like” or “as."
What is a simile?
400
In Chapter 12, Melba plans this party but her friends do not come. This demonstrates how Melba's community began to distance itself from her.
What is her sixteenth birthday?
400
This woman is a Pakistani women's educational rights activist and is the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Who is Malala Yousafzai?
500
This character saves Melba when a crowd of segregationists have her surrounded. He lends her his car and begins a friendship with Melba. He lets her know what the segregationists have planned.
Who is Link?
500
This landmark case established the "separate but equal" precedent and helped segregation become legal in Southern states.
What is Plessy v. Ferguson?
500
This uses figurative language to represent objects, actions and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses.
What is imagery?
500
In Chapter 17, Mother Lois finds out this. It shows how the family members were also targeted by segregationists in order to stop the integration of Central High.
What is that she was about to be fired?
500
These two people created a series of tests to determine if segregation impacted young children. They later invite Minniejean to live with them after she is expelled from Central High.
Who are Kenneth and Mamie Clark?
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