Fire from the Rock

Fire from the Rock is a 2007 novel by American author Sharon Draper. The book was named a 2008 Notable Social Studies Committee Trade Book for Young People and was among the 2008 New York Public Library Best Books for the Teen Age. Fire from the Rock is a work of historical fiction that follows 15-year-old Sylvia Patterson as she and her family navigate the tension in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the months leading up to the historic racial integration of Central High School. One day, her teacher, Miss Washington, tells her that she is putting her name on the list of students who could be selected to integrate Central High. As the deadline approaches, Sylvia and her family must contend with the uptick in racist harassment in Little Rock as members of the white community are forced to reconcile with the reality of integrated schools. While she is flattered to be named to the list, Sylvia is not so sure she wants to be among the first Black students to attend Central High School. Though she knows it is time for school integration to happen, she must decide what is best for herself and her community. Sylvia grows and changes as she struggles with the challenges of racism and sexism along with all the anticipation and excitement of being a teenager in 1957.

Plot Summary

Sylvia Patterson is a typical teenager who enjoys school, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends. The year is 1957, and Central High School in her town of Little Rock, Arkansas, is preparing to integrate Black students. After dragging its feet for two years after the court order, the Little Rock School Board has finally decided that it is time to integrate the schools.

Despite living in a loving family home, Sylvia is confronted with the very real violence of racism when her eight-year-old sister, Donna Jean (DJ), is attacked by the Crandalls’ dog. It turns out that Mr. Crandall trained his dog to attack Black people, and DJ is just the latest victim. Sylvia’s older brother, Gary, is outraged and wants revenge, while their mother cares for the injured little girl and quotes relevant proverbs from the Bible. Sylvia initially wants to call the police, but her father, a minister, says doing so won’t make a difference. Like Gary and her Aunt Bessie, Sylvia is fed up with the lack of change in Little Rock, and all three question whether religion and faith are enough to fight the dangers of racism.

Sylvia’s family regularly discusses matters of race and discrimination around the breakfast table before school. Sylvia hears her brother insist that his name be on the list of Black students who will integrate Central in the fall. Her father doesn’t think that racial integration is such a good idea because Black children will miss out on the opportunity to go to school with teachers and students who foster a sense of pride in their heritage, history, and culture. Gary believes that segregated schools only keep the Black community separated from the white community and all its resources. Sylvia sides with her brother to some extent and explains to DJ that integrated schools would mean that Gary gets all the keys to all the doors just like the white students have now. She wonders out loud if maybe school integration is an idea whose time has come.

At school, Sylvia excels in English and social studies, and she loves to write poetry. Her poetry gets her noticed by her teacher, Miss Washington. One day, Miss Washington pulls her aside and tells her that the middle school would like Sylvia to represent them in the integration of Central High. Sylvia is flattered but asks that Gary be on the list instead. Miss Washington explains that Sylvia is the one they want. Sylvia agrees to talk with her parents about it, but she is very concerned about how Gary will take this news.

While trying to figure out the best ways to combat racism in Little Rock, Sylvia is also excited about the attention she is getting from a certain boy in her class named Reggie Lewis. As Sylvia and Reggie become officially boyfriend and girlfriend, Sylvia worries about what the fall will bring if she attends Central High and Reggie does not.

One of Sylvia’s closest and oldest friends is a white, Jewish girl named Rachel Zucker. Rachel will also be attending Central in the fall. Her family owns the grocery store where the Pattersons do their shopping. As Sylvia deals with escalating instances of racism and harassment in the community, she knows that Rachel will always be her friend. Rachel’s father is a Holocaust survivor who bears the infamous concentration camp tattoo on his forearm. Sylvia knows Rachel’s family has also faced discrimination for who they are. This is confirmed when someone paints swastikas on the store’s front door. Not long after this, Sylvia and Rachel just barely survive the firebombing of the grocery store. In the aftermath of the bombing, Sylvia sees Reggie’s blue sneakers running away from the scene.

Convinced that hatred is the cause for the bombing, Sylvia is forever changed by the reality of this violence. When she learns that Reggie is the one who accidentally bombed the grocery store, Sylvia knows things will never be the same. Reggie reluctantly confesses to the crime and pledges restitution for the families involved. He drops out of school and gets a job to pay for the damages.

Following her recovery from the bombing and from learning the truth about Reggie, Sylvia announces that she will take her name off the list. She decides to stay at the segregated high school to take advantage of the nurturing and safe environment for as long as she can. In the first days of the new school year, Sylvia watches the Little Rock Nine eventually make it through the doors of Central High and forever change history. They had to fight angry white mobs and armed military personnel to do it, but they made it through. While Sylvia’s personal journey does not end up in the halls of Central High, she does end up a witness to this history and a member of the community that went on this journey of integration together.