Pink and Say

Book: Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and say. New York, NY: Philomel Books.

Summary:            An injured young white union soldier is rescued by a former slave serving in the union army. They become friends, while the white soldier recovers. They both get captured by the Southern Army. What happens?

Impression:            The boys in the story are thrust into a grown up world, because war brings out the worst in humanity. Both signed up for the Union army for different reasons, but Pink puts his family at risk for joining the Union and for rescuing Pink. While Say heals, the boys become close friends and share secrets showing that war friendships form in the unlikeliest of circumstances. The story sadly when the boys are captured and hauled off to Andersonville prison. Pink is immediately executed and Say is left to starve out his term and barely survives.            I think the book showed a depth to Pink’s character. He was more than a former slave, who had survived cruelty. He was smart, literate, hopeful, caring and protective of his mother. His family was dirt poor, but they were generous of spirit and shared food and shelter with Say. While Pink had every right to judge all whites as horrible, he cared for Say and nursed him back to health. Say was a poor white farmer from Ohio and had no encounters with slaves, but he put his trust in this former slave family. The power in the book stems from the friendship between the two boys.

Library Use:             For elementary students I would include this in a book talk about stories from the Civil War in elementary or middle school. It would be interesting to include it with stories from all sides, North, South and women and girls. The senselessness of war is hard to grasp and stories go beyond history text books and show the realness to the tragedies. For middle school students I would use this book to introduce the infamous Andersonville Prison, boy soldiers or the African American soldiers. After the book talk I would have students research these two topics and give a brief oral report.