The Other Side

Written by Jacqueline Woodson

Narrated by Toshi Widoff-Woodson

Clover always wondered why there was a fence that separated the black side of town from the white side. When a young white girl, from the other side starts to sit on the fence her curiosity, and a friendship, develops.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Weston Woods
• Release date: Jan 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780545836265

Reviews for The Other Side

[tbegum1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book so much! After carefully analyzing it, I noticed the small things that made the book what it is. I loved how the two girls became such good friends and their color differences didn't matter to them. It was truly a beautiful book and held such a great and deep meaning.

[afussell-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of a little black girl and a little white separated by a fence. They have many things in common and become friends regardless of their race. This is an important book to read to children middle aged and younger. It encourages friendship no matter the race.

[ecarlson2014 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This picture book tells the story of a young black girl who wonders about why the blacks and the whites have to be separated. She sees a white girl on the other side of the fence and finally decides to sit and play with the other girl.

[vwhitt_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my favorite book by Woodson because it’s a story about children seeing past color. This story helped me to realize the depth that children’s literature authors go to in their books. Clover and Annie live on different sides of a big fence. All the girls want to do is play together. But because the adults are not able to see past differences, the children are warned not to go over the fence. This doesn’t stop them. They start talking and sitting on top of the fence, the neutral area, together. Eventually Annie and Clover decide that the fence will not stop them from being friends. They being playing together and even inspire other children to play with them as well. The theme of this book encourages readers to look deeply at people, and look past the surface.

[bereneezypie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This books takes place during a time when segregation was very much still in place in society. Woodson tells the story of two girls, Clover and Annie, who become friends, despite both of their mother's telling them to essentially stay away from the other. This story shows the innocence of children and how powerful it can be - especially when overcoming social norms.

[whisper1_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a pure delight to combine the writing of Newbery honor winner Jacqueline Woodson and the award-winning illustrations of E.B. Lewis.This is a small book that melds the words and images to make a stellar story with a great moral.From a distance Clover can see a white girl standing by the fence. Clover's mother warns not to go near the fence because it isn't safe.Clover watches the child from the safety of her swing. She watches the girl who jumps and plays in water puddles while Clover is told to stay inside.One day Clover ventures near the fence and learns that Annie's mother has said the same thing. Her mama told her not to go on the "other side."The separation of a fence represents 1950's and the ignorance of racism. This is a tale of children who do not listen to words but instead believe with their hearts.As a compromise the children do not go over the other side, but instead sit side by side on the fence throughout the summer.Eventually Clover's friends sit on the fence as well.While small in the number of pages, this is not lacking in the depth of a wonderful story.

[paulaanweiler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A friendship is formed while crossing racial barriers, when two young girls take it upon themselves to meet in the middle. This book is a good way to help children overcome cultural and personal obstacles.

[bsalomon_5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A white family and a black family live next door to each other, but the little girls are not to go over to each others houses. The little girls decide to sit on the fence together, so they can hang out and not break any rules. The little girls create a friendship through the hard times they face. This book is a great read aloud for grades 2nd through 6th, but more meaningful to the older audience. The illustrations are great and really give the words meaning.

[brittasorensen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this story, set in a highly segregated town, a black girl and a white girl play on either side of the segregating fence, and slowly get to know each other and become friends. They have to overcome barriers to their friendship on all sides and learn that they cannot tear down the fence or completely change their communities, but they can sit on the fence next to each other and be friends.I love the realistic illustrations. They use perspective so well, and the line of the fence cuts harshly across many of the images, symbolizing the division between white and black people in this community. The author does a great job of realistically portraying children's actions and dialogue. The girls are sometimes shy, confused, rude, brave, and friendly, and a mix of all of these at different times, just like real children. They are confronting a huge issue, but they talk around it and approach it sideways, like real children usually do. I love the message that friendship can help you come up with creative and brave solutions, even if you can't change the unfair realities in front of you. I love the message that thinking creatively can help you surmount problems that seem insurmountable.

[kwhite18 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautifully illustrated book with a beautiful message. When flipping through this story, you will see large and detailed illustrations that can tell the story without needing to read the words. The pictures show a young African American girl looking into her backyard where she sees a young Caucasian girl on the opposite side of a fence. Though they were separated at first and warned against going near one another, they eventually became friends. The big idea behind this story seems to be that differences don't make people incompatible. These girls were warned against being friends because they were different, but that didn't stop them from being friends in the end! This plot kept me engaged, hoping that the girls would overcome their obstacles before the story ended. This plot was organized with appropriate conflict. Finally, the language in this story was very passionate about change and acceptable. While keeping this story appropriate for children, there seems to be an underlying message of acceptance. On the last page, the main girl Annie says "one day this fence will be torn down". This message may seem simple to a young reader, but it has a strong theme of change. The fence, while in the story is a real fence, seems to also be referring to racism and a hope that it will soon end. This book would be a staple on a classroom bookshelf.

[michelleraphael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A beautifully written book about blacks and whites trying to be friends during an early time. Two little girls want to play together but a fence splits them. The fence represents more then just a fence in this touching story.

[kloupe1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was first read to me without the illustrations being shown, and it was amazing that when read again, the difference the beautiful illustrations make. This book is from front cover to back, about the relationships that can be formed out of two different groups of people, out of feared people. This book would go great with a lesson about segregation and the impact it had on everyone, especially children.

[krausch-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book about segregation. In this book there is a fence that separates the black and the white from one another. One day, a little black girl named Clover, notices a little white girl named Annie, sitting on top of the fence. Clover finally gains courage and goes up to Annie and asks why she is on the fence. By the end of the book Clover is right next to Annie on the fence. I would read this book to a class because it shows that children, for the most part, see passed color and other physical things and just become friends.

[kdufrene-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is about a young black and white child. These two girls live separate lives and also have a fence that divides them. They soon become curious with one another and start talking with a fence still dividing them. Soon the fence has no meaning to them and they play together. This book would be great to read to students to help them understanding how life was like during this time frame and that everyone should be allowed to be friends with whoever they choose.

[kirkonly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazing book about a young black girl, clover, who is told not to cross over the fence in their yard. On the other side is a white girl, Annie, who is always playing and asks clover if she could play with her and her friends. Throughout the book Clover watches Annie until they finally talk. This is a great book about breaking barriors.As a student i loved reading this book. The illustrations drew me in and the words kept me reading. This book takes me back to the times when racism was more appart in everyday life than today. I get a glimpse into a child's life and how they saw the color of a persons skin.As a teacher this is a great book you use in read aloud. We can talk about racism and peoples differences. An activity that i can use with this book is to have my students make their own fence and discuss things that they think are on the other side for them and how they can make that fence go away.

[derbygirl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

(easy, multicultural) The Other Side follows the story of two young girls, Clover and Annie, who are able to reach over racial bounds, both literally and figuratively to befriend each other. Part of this book's excellence is the obvious intuitive communication between author and illustrator. Picture placement was done in a manner to be most effective with the text. The fence in the book is a major symbol as well as placement of the children on the pages. The fence symbolizes racial prejudice and eventually the children (majority African- American & 1 caucasian) are able to scramble on top of it and sit there together. This is accomplished only after several months of looking at each other afar and wondering about the other. They don't ever go over onto the other side, just stay on top. And the last line is, "Someday somebody is going to come along and knock this old fence down". A perfect ending.

[emilysadler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really loved this book for its point of view on racial segregation and the writing techniques. It describes the life of a young black girl whose neighbor is a young white girl. The girls are separated by a fence which they are not allowed to cross, but neither understand why. They find a solution and sit on top of the fence instead. Soon all of the black kids sat on the fence with Annie the white girl and they got along. By reading in the perspective of a young girl who does not fully understand segregation, the reader understands why segregation is illogical and ethically wrong. The writing was very simple, like the thoughts of a young person. Young children will be able to relate to the simplicity of the language. I also loved the ending of the book when the Annie says, “someday somebody’s going to come along and knock this old fence down.” This foreshadows an end to segregation and the reader fully understands what the fence represents in the story. The fact that the book ends with a proposal rather than a solution shows that segregation was a long fought battle that could not be resolved by two young girls. The message of this book is that sometimes rules do not make sense and need to be broken in order for society to move forward. This can be related to current events such as immigration and gay marriage.

[richgeorge-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book about two girls from different backgrounds who despite cautions from both of their mothers, strike up a friendship and break the "color" barrier.

[lgrube4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a great story. I really liked how it deals with the history of racism. The illustrations were cool colors and detailed which set the mood to be calm. The book was about a long fence that separated two girls' houses, one white one black. The girls always looked at each other over the fence and when they asked why they couldn't go over to the other side their mother's always said "because that's the way things have always been". One day the two girls decided to sit on the fence together, because their mother's had never said anything about sitting on it. They eventually got their other friends to join in and sit on it, and the races were mixed for the first time. At the end of the book one of the girls said "someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down". This was great symbolism, because the fence symbolized racism, and how one day it's going to be knocked down too. I really loved this story because it was heartfelt and realistic. My favorite part was when the girls met on the fence and talked for the first time. I think that this is a great book for children of all ages because it shows that everyone's equal no matter what side of the "fence" you live on.

[foster7_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Told that "it wasn't safe," to "climb over that fence when you play," Clover became curious. She watched the other young girl, on the other side of the fence. One day, they met at the fence line, and introduced themselves. Annie, a white girl, asks Clover, a black girl, to join her on top of the fence (since they were both told not to cross it). From that moment, they were friends, and often sat together on the top of the fence. In the end, Annie says that "someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down," to which Clover replies, "Yes, someday." Jacqueline Woodson manages to convey such a powerful story, by simply having two girls sit side-by-side on a fence. Through Woodson's words, we are able to see how cautious the girls were. They spent a great deal of time watching each other. Eventually, when they met at the fence that day, their worlds changed instantly. With ease, they got along and sat together. E.B. Lewis' watercolors further this notion. For the first half of the book, we only see the girls on opposite pages, never on the same page. And, on nearly all of those pages, they are looking at each other. On the day that they meet, we see their two smiles, and soon after, their extended hands, as they both hop up onto the fence. In one picture, where they are sitting together, we can see Clover's mom looking over her shoulder at the girls, as she's hanging laundry on the clothesline. From that simple glance, readers can imagine what the mother is thinking, or at least what the mother is thinking about. Young readers will hopefully identify with the girls, and agree with their points of view, thinking that, of course, the two girls should and would befriend each other.

[hschmill22 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In this book there are two little girls, one is white and one is black. They are neighbors but there is a very strong fence that separates their yards and also their friendship. Both of their parents warned them to not cross the fence. They spent a lot of time staring at each other from their side of the fence. They never crossed. Eventually, they decided to speak to each other. They sat on the fence together and talked as friends. This book teaches young children about how segregated things were in the past. It shows them that you are not born a racist but you are instead taught to be one. The two girls had no clue as to why they could not be friends with each other. They only knew that they were both the same age and wanted to play jump rope with each other in the back yard.

[aconant05 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fence separates the white and black children, and they are not allowed to cross it. However, there is no rule saying that they cannot sit on the fence. By bending the rules, children build real friendships despite skin color.

[barrettolivia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Clover is a young African American girl who desires to meet her neighbor, Annie, she sees everyday on the other side of the fence. Annie is around clovers age, but she differs from Clover in the sense of their ethnic backgrounds Annie is white. Clovers mom realizes that Clover wants to become friends with Annie, but the mother is weary upon her daughter crossing the fence. The fence symbolizes racism, and the desire for the children to cross the fence represents the endeavor to push past racism. In the end, we see Clover and Annie sharing a fence together, and the mother resists any interjection. This book is simple enough on the surface for kids, but provides a deeper insight for older/more advanced readers. This story creates a hopeful outlook on the situation of race differences, and ends on a happy and encouraging note.

[mchapp1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I truly enjoyed Jacqueline Woodson’s story “The Other Side” because of its descriptive language, point of view, illustrations, and thought provoking content when dealing with the issue of racism and segregation. Woodson describes the scenery that surrounded the two girls through Clover stating, “Someplace in the middle of the summer, the rain stopped. When I walked outside, the grass was damp and the sun was already high up in the sky”. This description helps the reader envision the world through the same lens as Clover. The story is told in first person from the main character Clover’s point of view. This is essential to the story because it touches on what segregation felt like to a child during that era. Throughout the book both Clover and Annie question the reason for the fence and why they are not allowed to cross it. They know that they are not supposed to play together, but in their eyes they don’t understand why they cannot. And when Clover asks her mother why the only answer she is given is “that’s how it has always been”. Because the story is told from Clover’s perspective the reader is able to see that children are not born racist, it is a learned trait. The book is filled with beautiful, and vivid images that help bring Woodson’s words to life. The pictures help the reader visualize the scenery and the characters in the story, which greatly enhances the story. This story forces readers to think about difficult issues like segregation and its effect on those who aren’t racist. Segregation kept everyone apart which hindered those who wanted to befriend those whose skin was different from theirs. The overall meaning of this story is that true friendship is not defined by race, but by the quality moments that are shared. In the face of adversity true friendship will always find a way to exceed the boundaries placed in front of them.

[mdierd1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Other SideBy Jacqueline Woodson (2001)I liked The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson for two reasons. First, I liked how the fence signified the divide between Whites and African Americans. The fence was displayed on every page, and as the little African American girl, Clover stepped closer to the fence, it became bigger, and clearer. Second, I liked how Clover, and the White little girl, Anna became friends despite the racial tension that existed. Clover and Anna would sit on the fence, side my side, and share stories and laughs. Overall, the “big idea” of The Other Side is to demonstrate the idea that racial segregation is slowly, but surely coming to an end, which was represented by the friendship created by the two little girls.

[mluke04 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Other Side" is a good example of historical fiction because it is set in the time period when there was still segregation between white and black people. The characterization in this book is well done. The main character doesn't know what to do about the white girl that keeps watching her, but as she gets more comfortable with her she becomes more accepting. She is able to climb up on the fence with this white girl and not care what her other friends thought. She is a dynamic character.Media: Watercolor

[lmalak1-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was very well written. I enjoyed it a lot. One reason why I liked it was because of the simplicity of the text. Everything is stated in a way that makes it so easy to understand. We live on one side of the fence. They live on the other. And then later on, when Annie (the white girl) is sitting on the fence, she so factually states that no one told her not to sit on the fence. I love the simplicity of everything.I also love the character development in the book. Clover (the black girl) starts off being somewhat wary of Annie. As she sees her more often, her wariness grows into curiosity. In the end, I love how Clover befriends Annie despite what her other friends think.The main idea of this story is that friendship is stronger than any conflict, such as segregation.

[alliecipa · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a great story to read when learning about Civil Rights or Black History Month. Clover and Annie are two young girls who live on opposite sides of the fence and shouldn't be playing together, according to society. The two girls become friends, despite their skin color and slowly cross the fence, breaking the segregation represented by it. This is such a heart-warming book and has beautiful illustrations!

[mrcmyoung · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A young African American girl is intrigued by her white neighbor and wood like to make friends, but her mom has told her not to go on the other side of the fence. Though Lewis's illustrations set the book in the 50s or 60s, it could easily be describing race relations between modern youth and the restrictions we put on ourselves when leaving our comfort zones.

[kwiggi3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Other Side was another book from the friendship text set that I enjoyed. The thing I liked most about this book is how the author used the fence to show how society tries to separate people by their race. The author also showed how children learn biases from their parents which makes each generation close minded to the stereotypes our society has created about one another. The author truly used the tone of a young girl who did not understand the reason the fence was there and the other young girl who didn’t see the fence as a separation at all, this was apparent when the young white girl Annie said “A fence like this was made for sitting,” and “It’s nice up on this fence you can see all over.” This also showed a common ground instead of one person having to cross to the other side; instead they all meet in the middle. The main message of this story was to put aside those views that generations before us have created to meet together as people no matter what the race. At the end of the book the young girl says “Someday someone will knock this old fence down” this bold statement truly brought the meaning of the book out since the fence represents segregation and how we, just as the children did should come together to sit on the fence as one.