The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney garners praise for its vivid prose and insightful depiction of a young girl's resilience in war-torn Sudan. The verse format and accompanying illustrations are lauded for enhancing the narrative's emotional depth. However, some readers find the pacing uneven and wish for deeper character development. Overall, it is an evocative and powerful read.

A reader who would enjoy The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney is typically a middle-grade to young-adult reader interested in historical and cultural narratives. Fans of A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park or Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai would appreciate its themes of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney follows 12-year-old Amira, a Sudanese girl from South Darfur, whose life is turned upside down when the Janjaweed militia raids her village, forcing her community to flee in search of safety. Amidst the turmoil, Amira dreams of education and a better future, despite the resistance from her mother. The story explores themes of conflict, resilience, and hope. The novel contains mentions of animal cruelty, graphic violence, and death.

Inspirational / Hopeful / Emotional / Contemplative / Challenging

Andrea Davis Pinkney

Middle grade

Novel/Book in Verse

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Teaching Guide

Before You Read

Explore The Red Pencil reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The Red Pencil | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Red Pencil and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Red Pencil Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Our Farm”

Part 1, Chapters 1-32

The Red Pencil Part 1, Chapters 1-32 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 33-79

The Red Pencil Part 1, Chapters 33-79 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Kalma”

Part 2, Chapters 80-112

The Red Pencil Part 2, Chapters 80-112 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 113-145

The Red Pencil Part 2, Chapters 113-145 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 146-180

The Red Pencil Part 2, Chapters 146-180 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Red Pencil Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Red Pencil Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Red Pencil Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Red Pencil Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Red Pencil Essay Topics

The Red Pencil Further Reading & Resources

The Red Pencil Teaching Unit

Introduction

The Red Pencil Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

The Red Pencil Reading Context

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

The Red Pencil Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Answer Key

The Red Pencil Reading Questions Answer Key

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

The Red Pencil Discussion/Analysis Prompt

Activities

The Red Pencil Activities

Essay Questions

The Red Pencil Essay Questions

Exam Questions

The Red Pencil Cumulative Exam Questions

Exam Answer Key

The Red Pencil Exam Answer Key

The Red Pencil

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Red Pencil?

Reading Age

Book Details