this book is about a family going through a tough time during the great depression in HARLEM (the rennaissance). the father of the family was an actor at the lafayette theater during the golden days which was happy times for harlem. but a depression hit and things became hard for may families then the theater closed which forced the father to get a job at a local donut shop. there was a tree on the side of the lafayette building that the father and daughter used to rub everyday to make wishes on. They dreamed and wished that one day he could finally act again. So much time had passed and things were so hard for the family that the mother began to lose hope of her husband ever going back to act at the lafayette. Then one day, he found a flyer about auditions for actors. He audtioned and within a few weeks he found out that he got the part in a play called shakespeares Macbeth. All the other black people felt Macbeth was for white people. They stated "we oughta only be doing plays bout us!" they thought he was going to be made out of a fool and made fun of. The man explained to them that the play would take place on the island of Haiti. African american actors from all over the world were hired to participate in the play. Harlems Macbeth was a smash on opening night.
I think when the great depression hit harlem, many families did become depressed and it was easy to lose hope about an acting position for this family. But the father taught his daughter to wish and believe that dreams do come true.
extensions ideas: The tough times during the great depression.
never give up hope.