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Though it is 1912, Lena has been raised in a sheltered environment without knowledge of racial hatred. Now Lena's family has moved to Texas where slavery was never an issue and Lena goes to school with the local children, but when she wins a contest quoting the most Bible verses she realizes the jealousies that begin to show in the community can be tinged with real fear. Her father's work ethic shows up a local white share cropper and Lena's innocence is destroyed, but her father's ability to forgive and see the good in people even as they do harm is her biggest life lesson. ( )

Words by Heart is about a girl named Lena. She still lives in the time were there is racism. Lena is trying to win a bible quoting contest to make her papa proud of her. After she wins no one really likes he because of the color of her skin. She moves into a neighborhood and her family is the only african american there. Now she needs to forgive the people that hurt her.

Annotation: Lena tries to excel by memorizing all of the Scriptures for a contest but after she wins she learns about racism in the new town they live in where they are the only black family.