Review of Tattered Coat

Post by **Bertha Jackson** » 03 Jun 2022, 14:42

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tattered Coat" by Mike H. Mizrahi.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Hickory Crabtree witnesses the murder and robbery of a white woman. He knows if he goes to the law, he will get another beating from his father for getting them involved. He returns to the camp he calls home and encounters his drunk father, who blames him for losing his job at Roane Iron Works. After he awakens from the severe beating his father gives him, Hickory decides to hop a train to Chattanooga and snoop around to see what he can find out about the murder. At the depot, he overhears three men claiming to witness the murder of the white woman by a black man named Charles Washington. Hickory knows the record needs to be set straight because the man who killed the woman and her dog was white. Before he can do anything, his father finds him and takes him back to their camp. Will Hickory escape his abusive father? Will he prevent an innocent man from being hung for murder? Why did the men blame Charles Washington for the murder? Read Tattered Coat by Mike H. Mizrahi to find out?

This historical fiction will take you back to 1905 Tennessee, where racism, discrimination, and segregation were prevalent. Trains, airplanes, automobiles, and telephones are new inventions. Women and people of color are prevented from achieving the American Dream because they are not allowed to vote, and people of color cannot choose where they will sit on a trolley. This story is told through the eyes of Hickory, Anna, and Ray, with each chapter being devoted to one of them. The interactions between these three characters will keep you turning the pages in this fast-paced, well-written book. Although each chapter focuses on a different character, Mike H. Mizrahi did a fantastic job tying each chapter together and keeping me intrigued by leaving each chapter with a cliffhanger. The author's writing style allowed each chapter to change its character's grammar and dialect.

The most negative aspect of this book is the topic. The Jim Crow laws, segregation, discrimination, and abuse were clearly explained and made me wonder how people could treat each other this way. The author uses humor throughout the book to help alleviate tension. One example is the description of one man as "his mouth would gallop fast as a racehorse at the track." The only confusing aspect of this book was the intertwining of Earl and Gunner's names. An explanation of this would benefit the reader because I could only assume that since he led two secret lives with different families, he also changed his name between the two.

With only a handful of errors, I can safely say that a professional editor has edited this book. Because of the editing and the smooth-flowing plot, I gladly give this enjoyable book 4 out of 4 stars. There is no reason to give this book a lower rating.

I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction about the lives of people who, after they survived and remembered slavery and the Civil War, were treated unequally using segregation and discrimination laws. If religious content that focuses on faith, prayers, and vigils offends you, you may want to avoid this book. Sensitive readers need to be aware that this book includes not only racism and discrimination but also graphic child abuse.

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Tattered Coat
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Elenimo Chembe · Post by **Elenimo Chembe** » 06 Jun 2022, 05:13

Hickory is an interesting character. His life and family background is something I can relate to.

Hogwarts03 · Post by **Hogwarts03** » 06 Jun 2022, 06:14

I agree that racism, segregation and discrimination are extremely hard topics to read and write about, and should be approached with full disclosure. This book, according to your review, seems to address these issues directly and truthfully with no bearing around the bush. I enjoy historical fiction and I think this book would be a great source of education for many people. Thank you for the well written review.

Cocobutta · Post by **Cocobutta** » 06 Jun 2022, 10:20

Hickory sounds an interesting character. The prevalence of racism and discrimination in older times is always shocking to read about. I would love to find out if justice prevailed in the story or the black man was still punished therefore I will definitely be reading this book. Thanks for the review.

Nomalizo Manaka · Post by **Nomalizo Manaka** » 08 Jun 2022, 04:58

Thank you for the review,hickory's life is very painfully, it's a pity the life we live now is not very much changed from his, racism and discrimination between white and black people devastating..!

I wish there will be a time when,all this will be history, I mean completely history!

Waliyat_24 · Post by **Waliyat_24** » 15 Jun 2022, 08:29

Though this novel is set in the olden days, this event still do happen. Racists are always ready to crucify a black man just because he’s black, even if he’s not fault.