Unlike the Logan children, T.J. isn’t at all concerned about helping out his family, in this book, that’s a sign of bad character. It’s also why 

       T.J. reveals that the night men tarred and feathered a black man, Mr. Sam Tatum, after Sam called Mr. Barnett, the owner of a convenience store, a liar. The Logan children are relieved that the night men weren’t seeking revenge for the bus incident, though Little Man is especially disturbed by the concept of tarring and feathering. He says it would be impossible to get clean again. 
      T.J. says he left his cap in the other room and leaves to retrieve it. When he doesn’t return quickly, however, the Logan children wander into Mama's room and discover him snooping through Mama’s things. T.J. denies that he was snooping for test questions though.

    The next day T.J. sneeks out a copy of the answer key. Stacey tells T.J. to put it away, T.J. refuses to do so. As Mrs. Logan approaches the two boys, T.J. slips Stacey the answers. Mrs. Logan asks why he has the answer key he doesn't want to tell on T.J., so he does not reply. Mama then grabs a belt and without a thought about it whipped Stacey in front of the whole class. T.J. runs to the Wallaces store and Stacey runs after him. Stacey punches T.J. square in the face. 
 Mr. Morrison tells the Logan children to get into the wagon and he tells them they have to tell their Mama where they were at.
 When Mama comes home, Stacey confronts Mama of where he was at. Mama becomes upset then Saturday she takes them to the Berry's house. They then see Mr. Berry who was burned by Mr. Wallace himself. The children become frightened that that might happen to them. Mama goes around to some of her students houses and tells them to not go to the Wallace Store. Mama plans on boycotting the Wallace Store.