--- product_id: 13047146 title: "Alligator Bayou" price: "€ 37.93" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/13047146-alligator-bayou store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Authentic Southern setting Historical immigrant narrative Explores racial & social justice Alligator Bayou **Price:** € 37.93 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Unlock the untold immigrant story that every millennial manager needs on their shelf! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Alligator Bayou - **How much does it cost?** € 37.93 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/13047146-alligator-bayou) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Compact & Impactful Read:** A quick yet powerful weekend read that leaves you reflecting on America’s complex past and present. - • **A Riveting True-Story Novel:** Dive into a gripping 1899 Southern immigrant saga that blends history with unforgettable storytelling. - • **Award-Worthy Social Insight:** Ranks top 250 in Teen Historical Fiction on prejudice and immigration—join a community of socially conscious readers. - • **Perfect for Thoughtful Young Readers:** Ideal for ages 9-13, this book sparks awareness on race, immigration, and social dynamics with accessible yet profound prose. - • **Culturally Rich & Linguistically Authentic:** Experience masterful use of Italian and African-American Vernacular English that brings characters vividly to life. ## Overview Alligator Bayou is a historically grounded novel set in 1899 Louisiana, telling the story of a Sicilian immigrant family navigating racial tensions and social challenges in the Jim Crow South. Written for young readers but rich in cultural and linguistic authenticity, it offers a compelling exploration of immigration, identity, and systemic injustice, backed by real events and praised for its emotional depth and educational value. ## Description An unforgettable novel, based on a true story, about racism against Italian Americans in the South in 1899. Fourteen-year-old Calogero, his uncles, and his cousins are six Sicilians living in the small town of Tallulah, Louisiana, miles from any of their countrymen. They grow vegetables and sell them at their stand and in their grocery store. Some people welcome the immigrants; most do not. Calogero's family is caught in the middle of tensions between the black and white communities. As Calogero struggles to adapt to Tallulah, he is startled and thrilled by the danger of midnight gator hunts in the bayou and by his powerful feelings for Patricia, a sharp-witted, sweet-natured black girl. Meanwhile, every day, and every misunderstanding between the white community and the Sicilians, bring Calogero and his family closer to a terrifying, violent confrontation. In this affecting and unforgettable novel, Donna Jo Napoli's inspired research and spare, beautiful language take the classic immigrant story to new levels of emotion and searing truth. Alligator Bayou tells a story that all Americans should know. Review: excellent for pre-teens - Summer reading has been hit-and-miss. _Alligator Bayou_ was a read for my summer book club, and would otherwise not be my standard fare. What a wonderful suprise, then, to enjoy it so much. Set in 1899 Louisana, the story revolves around a family of Sicilian immigrants who are attempting to live the "American dream," part of the immigration story that is so often romanticized. But this is the Deep South, just one year after the Plessy decision and in the midst of one of the nation's worst depressions in a quarter century. To boot, the Sicilians are unaware of the racial - and economic - boundaries in their adopted country. Told through the eyes of 14 year-old Calogero Scalise, Napoli does a top-notch job in showing the complexities of the Jim Crow South as well as the challenges immigrants face as they seek to make their way in America. The book is written for younger (ages 9 - 13) readers given the complexity of the sentence structure and plot - but Napoli (a linguistics professor by trade) also shows a mastery of AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) and Italian in the dialogue, and clearly - brutally - brings to light what life was like in the South at the start of the last century. What is perhaps most shocking, however, is that the story she has written here - of Sicilians not seen as "colored" (to use the term of the day) nor as "white" (thereby not granted the social status of "Americans") and the persecution they suffered is based largely on real-life events. At issue, of course, is not so much "race" as the maintenance of power (particularly economic power) by the elite. Power that was held and perpetrated by dividing the poor along "racial" lines (poor whites over poor African-Americans, poor immigrants somewhere in the middle ... divide and conquor, let them fight among themselves in order to preserve the status quo at the top of the social and economic heirarchy.) This is the sort of story I wish was taught more to our youth at an earlier age. Of special interest for older (older than 13) readers is the bibliography Napoli provides at the end of the story, outlining the real events that inspired the story, as well as a list of articles and websites for readers to delve more deeply into the story. Its a short read - maybe a lazy afternoon (or weekend) - but certainly worthy of attention. Review: Alligator Bayou - I loved this book.Even tho it was a novel,it had historical significance.i thought it was well written and great content,it was easy to read and kept my interest. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #2,043,459 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #118 in Fiction About Emigration, Immigration & Refugees for Young Adults #220 in Teen & Young Adult 19th Century United States Historical Fiction #472 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Prejudice & Racism | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 stars 41 Reviews | ## Images ![Alligator Bayou - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81rK5uDaGqL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ excellent for pre-teens *by D***N on August 18, 2010* Summer reading has been hit-and-miss. _Alligator Bayou_ was a read for my summer book club, and would otherwise not be my standard fare. What a wonderful suprise, then, to enjoy it so much. Set in 1899 Louisana, the story revolves around a family of Sicilian immigrants who are attempting to live the "American dream," part of the immigration story that is so often romanticized. But this is the Deep South, just one year after the Plessy decision and in the midst of one of the nation's worst depressions in a quarter century. To boot, the Sicilians are unaware of the racial - and economic - boundaries in their adopted country. Told through the eyes of 14 year-old Calogero Scalise, Napoli does a top-notch job in showing the complexities of the Jim Crow South as well as the challenges immigrants face as they seek to make their way in America. The book is written for younger (ages 9 - 13) readers given the complexity of the sentence structure and plot - but Napoli (a linguistics professor by trade) also shows a mastery of AAVE (African-American Vernacular English) and Italian in the dialogue, and clearly - brutally - brings to light what life was like in the South at the start of the last century. What is perhaps most shocking, however, is that the story she has written here - of Sicilians not seen as "colored" (to use the term of the day) nor as "white" (thereby not granted the social status of "Americans") and the persecution they suffered is based largely on real-life events. At issue, of course, is not so much "race" as the maintenance of power (particularly economic power) by the elite. Power that was held and perpetrated by dividing the poor along "racial" lines (poor whites over poor African-Americans, poor immigrants somewhere in the middle ... divide and conquor, let them fight among themselves in order to preserve the status quo at the top of the social and economic heirarchy.) This is the sort of story I wish was taught more to our youth at an earlier age. Of special interest for older (older than 13) readers is the bibliography Napoli provides at the end of the story, outlining the real events that inspired the story, as well as a list of articles and websites for readers to delve more deeply into the story. Its a short read - maybe a lazy afternoon (or weekend) - but certainly worthy of attention. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Alligator Bayou *by T***Y on April 26, 2013* I loved this book.Even tho it was a novel,it had historical significance.i thought it was well written and great content,it was easy to read and kept my interest. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fiction based on fact *by K***R on April 29, 2014* Not many people realize the lynchings of Italians were just as prevalent as lynchings of Africans in America. In fact, the greatest lynching America was the lynching of Italians. In this coming of age tale set in Louisiana, we see the roots of prejudice in he South. It's all about money and power. It is a blight on our country that is still there today with those that want to deny others what they received so that they do not give up their perks. Christian country, my ass. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/13047146-alligator-bayou](https://www.desertcart.at/products/13047146-alligator-bayou) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-07-13*