Clover’s yellow house is on one side of
the fence; Annie Rose’s is on the other side, the white side. Both have heard
their mothers’ warnings not to cross over. Set in a bygone time, perhaps the
early 1950s or 60s, Jacqueline Woodson’s The Other Side is narrated by
Clover, who is quietly curious about her young neighbor and watches as she
plays in the rain and, eventually, sits atop the fence. The free-spirited Annie
introduces herself and invites Clover to join her because “a fence like this
was made for sitting on.” Over the course of the summer, Clover and Annie’s
friendship grows as they sit on the fence watching the world around them.
Finally one day, Clover’s friends join in on jumping rope with Annie and,
tuckered out, they sit in one long line atop the fence, together. “Someday
somebody’s going to come along and knock this old fence down,” Annie says.
Clover nods. “Yeah,” I said. “Someday.” Young readers will understand the
metaphorical nature of this beautiful, graceful story and the power of the
girls’ friendship. E. B Lewis’s luminous illustrations are exactly the right
complement, sustaining the gentle emotion of Woodson’s words. Ages 5 up.
