Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

Baldwin, J. (1953). Go Tell It on the Mountain. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. ISBN 0440330076

Plot Summary 

Go Tell It on the Mountain tells the story of John Grimes, and is set in Harlem during 1935.  On this day, he is pressured by his stepfather, a deacon in the local church, to experience a conversion.  John does not take to religion like his abusive stepfather, and is unsure of what to do.  The pain of all the characters in the family is brought to light through side stories, and by the end, in church, John has an experience like he never thought he would.

Critical Evaluation 

Ostensibly about John Grimes, chapters about his elders' pasts lend insight to their pain and motivations.  The church that John cannot understand is a source of strength for his family that has experienced much death, trauma, and racism.  Through this, Baldwin sets up the church as a complicated figure in the life of African Americans during this time of segregation.  John's ultimate conversion seems violent and unwilling, suggesting that he is destined to be a part of the same story.  For a teenager trying to discover who he is, John must struggle with forces beyond his control.

Reader's Annotation 

Religious conversions are not to be taken lightly, especially when your stepfather, the deacon, tells you that its time.

Author Information 

James Baldwin was born in 1924 and died in 1984.  A native to Harlem, New York, much of his work reflects this area.  Many parts from Go Tell It on the Mountain are taken from his early life.  His mother left his father because of his drug abuse when he was very young, marrying a preacher in Harlem with whom she had other children.  Baldwin's stepfather was a tyrant, much like John's.

As he grew older, he discovered he was a homosexual, and not wanting to face the prejudice and danger of being black and gay in 1940s America, he fled to France, where he would live much of his later life.  The religion he had as a young man was renounced, with Baldwin claiming he had no religion, that he was only a writer.

Genre 

Fiction, adult title crossover

Curriculum Ties 

Reading and Language Arts, History-Social Science

Booktalking Ideas 

Travel into the minds of several characters as they are in church, examining how the place makes them feel.

Reading Level/Interest Age 

This book scored a 1030L on the Lexile Range.  It is suitable for ages 15-18.

Challenge Issues 

Racial tensions, physical and verbal abuse, violence, and rape are all addressed.

If challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly. Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone. As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.

Reason Selected

This book is very much about adolescence and becoming who you want to be, but there are bigger forces at work, highlighting the difficulty of this time for reasons readers may not be familiar with.  Time Magazine included Go Tell It on the Mountain in its 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005 list, and the Modern Library ranked it 39th of 100 on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.

References 

Go Tell It on the Mountain (novel). (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Tell_It_on_the_Mountain_(novel)