Mama’s Window by Lynn Rubright (Lee and Low, 2005) tells the story of “Sugar” Martin, a young black boy who lives with his uncle in a Mississippi Delta swamp. For as long as Sugar can remember, his mother has worked to raise funds for a stained glass window for the Sweet Kingdom Church. Some think her idea is foolish, but she insists that the window is important, that beauty is important.
After his mother’s illness and death, Sugar clings to his mama’s dream. When he discovers that the church has used the money to pay for bricks instead of a stained-glass window, he is broken-hearted. Will mama’s dream ever be realized?
St. Louis storyteller Lynn Rubright does a wonderful job recreating early 20th century life on the swamps of the Mississippi Delta. Loosely based on the childhood of minister and civil rights activist Owen Whitfield, Rubright’s story was inspired by her research for a documentary on the Missouri sharecropper protest of 1939 (which was organized by Whitfield). I met Lynn Rubright at a recent Missouri SCBWI conference, and found her warm, funny, and utterly charming. Her novel also charms with a sweet tale of family, hope, courage, and generosity.
