Literary Devices in Tar Beach
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
Cassie divides her time between the New York nighttime sky and her apartment down below. Since she's so close to the George Washington Bridge, we can make an educated guess that her family lives in...
Narrator Point of View
When you see the word "I" all over the place, it's a very good sign you're dealing with a first-person narrator. Our narrator, Cassie, even introduces herself, so we know exactly who's talking. (Ho...
Genre
Tar Beach is a children's picture book that's based on a fine artwork. Right off the bat, that gives us a clue that this story will combine different things in interesting ways. The author uses ele...
Tone
You can feel the happiness in Cassie's words and see it in the colors on every page. Just beneath the surface, though, there are hints of trouble. Daddy's having a hard time at work, and he left th...
Writing Style
Tar Beach's illustrations they draw on folk traditions like quilting, and use a colorful, flat style that's often associated with folk art. When Cassie flies over the city, for instance, she doesn'...
What's Up With the Title?
We hope that by now this is clear, but we'll say it one more time: Tar Beach is the rooftop of Cassie's apartment building. She and the Lightfoot fam—Mommy, Daddy, and Be Be—like to hang there...
What's Up With the Ending?
Tar Beach deals with some tough themes—racism, parental abandonment, financial hardship—so it's important that the story ends on a positive note: Cassie and her brother flying "among the stars....
Tough-o-Meter
So, here's the thing: the reading level in terms of words and vocabulary isn't hard. But kids are probably going to need adult help to understand what's really going on. This is a subtle story abou...
Plot Analysis
Do You Remember the Time? Cassie begins her story by telling us that she will "always remember" Tar Beach. We can't say for sure, but if we had to bet, we think she's speaking as an adult looking b...
Trivia
Faith Ringgold was born one year before Cassie, in 1930. They also share the same birth month, October. (Source)
People don't often hang out on the rooftops in New York City anymore. The reason? A...
Steaminess Rating
We're in the children's section, remember? If you want to read some Judy Blume, you're gonna have to show some I.D.