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mdevlin923's review against another edition
4.0
Julius Lester has pulled together the voices and experiences of ex-slaves into a book that describes the atrocities of slavery in America.
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of slavery, told in the words of people who had been enslaved. Lester read countless narratives from a number of sources, both retold and preserved word for word. He did an excellent job of gathering, choosing, and organizing quotes. He also added narration and explanation to tie it all together. The edition I read was from the 30th anniversary and included introductions from both the author and the illustrator, which made purpose and process clear. Now 55 years old, this book holds up. Its brevity and carefulness make it accessible to young readers, but it does not shy away from the horrors of slavery.
annerco26's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
5.0
This is a young adult book that could be enjoyed by adults too. These quotations are from slaves and former slaves. A short read that could be enjoyed by anyone. It would be a great book for students studying slavery.
foosreadsandwrites's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this one! Again, I read it for work. It is a history of slavery from the perspective of the slaves themselves, using historical interviews with slaves as a basis for a description of their experiences under slavery.
librariandest's review against another edition
4.0
If you are looking for primary sources on slavery, look no further. Author Julius Lester provides context for what is basically a compilation of quotations by and about slaves. Some of these are incredibly harsh, with explicit language intact. In the introduction, Lester makes an argument that younger children can handle this harsh reality and that it does in fact make them into more compassionate people who will value truth over lies. This may be too much for children under the age of 12, but it's an indispensable resource for exposing young adults to the realities of this country's past.
By chance, I read this right before the movie "Twelve Years a Slave" is due out and so I noticed that book heavily quotes Solomon Northup, on whose autobiography the movie is based.
By chance, I read this right before the movie "Twelve Years a Slave" is due out and so I noticed that book heavily quotes Solomon Northup, on whose autobiography the movie is based.
jodij's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
What an important book! I had this book on my shelf because we homeschool. My kids have read it but I hadn't yet. A short read but an import one. Very thought provoking. Will be thinking about this read for a while.
smalefowles's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, this book is so important and so good. It's designed for young readers, but everyone should read it.
It provides a well-chosen and framed collection of quotations and narratives from enslaved and previously enslaved people over the decades, even into the post-bellum period.
Essential.
It provides a well-chosen and framed collection of quotations and narratives from enslaved and previously enslaved people over the decades, even into the post-bellum period.
Essential.
agenderberry335's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Torture, Murder, and Slavery