Black History Month 2011: SLJ's Picks
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Looking back over the past 12 months we've been impressed with the number and quality of children's and young adult books published on African-American history and culture. So, in celebration of Black History Month 2011, we'll be tweeting a review of one of favorite titles each day. We'll stack the reviews, so the current day's selection is on top; to read about our previous selections, just scroll down. By the 28th, you'll have an impressive list of titles to share with your patrons and colleagues and a super collection development tool. Feelings of fear and apprehension resonate in the poetry, in the sad and hopeful voices of the men, women, and children who gave up all they knew and journeyed to an unknown future. Simple words declare their reasons for going with quiet dignity, "Goodbye crazy signs, telling me/where I can go, what I can do" and share the immense pain of leaving. "Mama's making me go./She wants me to be happy/and safe. But I see the sadness/lying deep in her eyes." Gilchrist's illustrations gracefully complement the poetry; mixed media collages incorporating line drawings, muted watercolor washes, newsprint clippings, photos, and sepia-toned illustrations depict warm family representations as well as stark depictions of desperation and anger. Greenfield's lyricism and her clear, narrative style make this book a solid choice for independent reading and for reading aloud. The Great Migration: An American Story (HarperCollins, 1993), illustrated with Jacob Lawrence's bold and moving paintings and including a verse by Walter Dean Myers, also portrays this historical event, and can be used in conjunction with Migration.-Carol Kolb Phillips, The Library, East Brunswick, NJ The prose account of Fitzgerald's life often includes sound effects that recall her unique vocal style. For instance, she does not run away from the orphanage, she dashes off in a "skit-scat skedaddle." Snatches of famous songs are woven throughout the narrative, thereby lending Fitzgerald's voice to her story. Meanwhile, Qualls firmly establishes himself as a leading illustrator of jazz biographies for children. He uses rich reds and blues to illustrate the history of this quintessentially American art form, just as he did for Jonah Winter's Dizzy (Scholastic, 2006) and Carole Boston Weatherford's Before John Was a Jazz Giant (Holt, 2008). His mixed media of acrylic, collage, and pencil capture the richness of Fitzgerald's life and song. The back matter provides plenty of resources for further reading, listening, and Web exploration.-Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY Delphine, 11, remembers her mother, but after years of separation she's more apt to believe what her grandmother has said about her, that Cecile is a selfish, crazy woman who sleeps on the street. At least Cecile lives in a real house, but she reacts to her daughters' arrival without warmth or even curiosity. Instead, she sends the girls to eat breakfast at a center run by the Black Panther Party and tells them to stay out as long as they can so that she can work on her poetry. Over the course of the next four weeks, Delphine and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, spend a lot of time learning about revolution and staying out of their mother's way. Emotionally challenging and beautifully written, this book immerses readers in a time and place and raises difficult questions of cultural and ethnic identity and personal responsibility. With memorable characters (all three girls have engaging, strong voices) and a powerful story, this is a book well worth reading and rereading.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library Hill, Laban Carrick Hill. Dave the Potter. (Little,Brown, 2010). Illustrated by Bryan Collier. Collier's earth-toned watercolor and collage art extends the story, showing the landscape, materials, and architecture of a South Carolina farm. Alert readers will find hidden messages in some of the collages, but what stands out in these pictures are Dave's hands and eyes, and the strength of his body, reflected in the shape and size of his legendary jars and pots. A lengthy author's note fleshes out what is known of the man's life story and reproduces several of his two-line poems. A photograph of some of Dave's surviving works cements the book's link to the present, and lists of print and online resources encourage further exploration. An inspiring story, perfectly presented and sure to prompt classroom discussion and projects. Outstanding in every way.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD "The little piano girl" gradually makes a name for herself in town. "Her music rolled and slid and jumped along, zigzagging and giant-stepping until it grew too big for where she was...." An afterword explains how Williams, who was also a composer and arranger, influenced the careers of male jazz greats "long before feminism was even a word." By focusing on her childhood, the authors make a little-known life both accessible and entertaining for young readers. Potter's signature gouache illustrations—from the period clothing and expressive faces to the whimsical music in the air—hit the perfect note.—Barbara Auerbach, PS 217, Brooklyn, NY Lanesha is a wonderful character who exudes resilience and fortitude in the face of a catastrophe as well as a personal vulnerability in terms of her status as an orphan and an outsider. Words, numbers, and colors as seen through her eyes show the magic and wonder that exists in everyday things. The unique writing style even allows the unlikely combination of elderly Mama Ya-Ya's heady scents of Vicks Vapor Rub and Evening in Paris perfume to seem wonderful and inviting. Although the outcome of Hurricane Katrina is known, the writing allows the unavoidable tragedy to unfold in such a haunting and suspenseful manner that the extreme sense of foreboding and ultimate destruction is personalized and unforgettable. Heartbreak and hope are reflected in Lanesha's story, which will capture even reluctant readers due to the inventive storytelling and the author's ability to bring history to life.-Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ Read an interview with Jewel Parker Rhodes in Curriculum Connections. Tavares, Matt. Henry Aaron's Dream (Candlewick, 2010). Illustrated by the author. After high school, Aaron joined a Negro League team, the Indianapolis Clowns. It was apparent that his talents would take him to the major leagues. Older teammates cheered him on, though "it was already too late for them." A large watercolor illustration captures the poignant scene as his teammates watch Aaron, who has just hit a towering fly ball, start to circle the bases. In both the Negro Leagues and the minor leagues, Aaron and his teammates met racism and hardship. White fans jeered, segregated restaurants and motels turned them away, and ballplayers often slept on buses while traveling between games. Tavares ends his account in 1954 when Aaron, having won a starting position on the Milwaukee Braves, met his hero in an exhibition game in his hometown. In 1974, he surpassed Babe Ruth's home run record, and he continued to speak out about racial injustice. Well-written text and brilliantly composed art highlight the poignancy and triumph in Aaron's story. This rousing tribute should resonate with a wide audience.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Adoff, Arnold and Kacy Cook, eds. Virginia Hamilton: Speeches, Essays, and Conversations. (Scholastic, 2010). The pieces do indeed trace the development of her ideas, as she explains parallel culture, addresses the perceived difficulty of some of her fiction, and develops theories of fiction. A constant thread is the central importance of her home, Yellow Springs, OH, where her grandfather was brought to freedom by his fugitive slave mother, and of her extended family, especially her mother. Brief essays by her colleagues and her two children, a sketch and time line of Hamilton's life, a list of all her books and major awards, along with tributes from editors, are appended. This important volume belongs in every library serving adults who read children's literature.—Margaret A. Chang, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams Golio's lyrical text sings with delicious description, and Steptoe's wildly colored mixed-media illustrations show the hues of the boy's imagination, with Hendrix always standing out from his surroundings.The story itself focuses on the musician's rise to fame, with a supplementary note and a bibliography providing more detailed background information. His tragic death is dealt with in a separate author's note, accompanied by a list of resources about substance abuse. A fascinating "Illustrator's Note" illuminates the process behind the intriguing artwork and underscores the book's theme of exploring the creative process. This book is likely to fascinate older children and reluctant readers who might be familiar with Hendrix's music, and could easily be tied into art and music curricula.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD Books play a role in the young man's development; biographies of Napoleon and Isaac Murphy (an African-American jockey) inspired Johnson to become a great man himself. Smith's brisk, rhythmic text captures the boxer's energy and vigor. For example, "But what Jack wanted most/was to be a great man/so he challenged the times./But it was Jack who was challenged/when he faced the color line." Evans's illustrations perfectly complement the text, using bold colors and strong brushstrokes to convey the athlete's larger-than-life personality. An endnote entitled "And Then What Happened?" provides an overview of the rest of Johnson's life. This book is sure to be championed by reluctant readers with energy and restlessness just like Johnson's, but it is a strong selection for library and classroom read-alouds as well.—Mary Landrum, Lexington Public Library, KY With swirling swabs of color that masterfully intertwine with sometimes thin, sometimes thick lines, Brian Pinkney cleverly centers the action and brings immediacy to the pages. Both the words and the art offer many opportunities for discussion. The book concludes with a civil rights time line and an update on the aftermath of the lunch-counter struggle.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA This wide-ranging four-volume set covers the years 1619 (represented by a letter from John Rolphe to Sir Edwin Sandys mentioning of the arrival of "20 and odd Negroes" at Point Comfort, Virginia) through to 2009 with the "U.S. Senate Resolution Apologizing for the Enslavement and Racial Segregation of African Americans." Among the sources highlighted in full or part are laws, narratives, proclamations, addresses, reports, and Supreme Court opinions. Features that will help readers interpret and understand each work include: cogent overviews that provide context and background, detailed notes about the author and the intended audience, a section-by-section analysis of the document, a glossary, time lines, "essential quotes," questions for further study, and black-and-white photos and reproductions. The 125 selections include a 1791 letter written by Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson; Frederick Douglass's famous "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" speech delivered on July 5, 1852, to the Ladies'Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York; "Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889-1918," a publication of the NAACP "intended to provide statistical and factual information" to support the association's initiation of an antilynching campaign; and the 1863 "War Department General Order 143" which was established "to organize and provide uniform recruitment and governance of black troops." In these pages students will also hear the voices of Angela Davis, Anita Hill, William Lloyd Garrison, Marcus Garvey, Jesse Jackson, Henry Box Brown, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Colin Powell, Sojourner Truth, and Barack Obama, and read excerpts from James Weldon Johnson's "Harlem: The Culture Capital"; the 1965 "Moynihan Report," and The Civil Rights Act of 1964. Volume four contains a guide for teachers that corresponds to the National History Standards published by the National Center for History. Divided by era, this resource lists standards and recommends a few focus questions for each that incorporate student research and material in the set. Purchase of Milestone Documents includes free online access to the full set through the "Salem History" database until the end of 2011.—Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal Growing up in the early 1900s, the biracial Manley often ran into discrimination and heard, "That's just the way things are." However, she organized boycotts and stood up for her rights and the rights of her players. Even after black ballplayers gained admission to the major leagues, Manley advocated on their behalf until the Hall of Fame began to induct and recognize "her players." This appreciative biography gently limns the spirited individual behind these accomplishments. At the ballpark, Manley chose to sit in the stands "where the seats vibrated from foot-stomping excitement," and when the score was close, she peeked between her white-gloved fingers. Both author and illustrator are on top of their games as they bring this inspiring story to life. A winning picture-book biography.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Read an interview with Audrey Vernick in Curriculum Connections. A one-page concluding summary discusses the importance of The Green Book, which was in use from 1936-1964, when the Civil Rights Act was finally signed, banning racial discrimination. The realistic illustrations are done in oil wash on board, a self-described "subtractive process." The picture is painted, then erased to "paint" the final product. Overall, there is a sepialike quality to the art, giving the impression of gazing at old color photos. This is an important addition to picture book collections, useful as a discussion-starter on Civil Rights or as a stand-alone story.—Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA Read more about Ruth and the Green Book in Curriculum Connections. Appropriately, the narration is told from a group perspective, which reflects the broader experience of enslaved African Americans—a theme continued in his full-bleed illustrations of figures cloaked in the anonymity of night. Though subdued in palette until the eruption of color as the figures reach the threshold of freedom, the author's collaged nocturnal paintings shimmer with an arresting luminescence. Two constants leap out from almost every page: the stars above and the bright, fearful eyes of the fugitives. When the travelers at last lift a newborn baby to the rising sun, readers will celebrate along with the protagonists and with their fellow members of the human race.-Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI Read an interview with Shane W. Evans in Curriculum Connections. What makes this such a captivating read is that the book has a jigsaw-puzzle feel as the authors connect seemingly disparate threads and bring readers to the larger picture by highlighting the smaller details hidden within. A variety of primary source material such as photographs, interview excerpts, and maps are included throughout, making this an indispensable part of any history collection. The chapter entitled "How We Researched and Wrote This Book" will be of particular interest to teachers and librarians.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA Read an interview with Marc Aronson and Marina Budhos in Curriculum Connections. Alcorn's prose is spirited and playful; as Odetta wins renown, her music unites people of all races. One brilliantly composed scene finds her amid a cotton field, her billowing sack teeming with birds she is waving aloft. An author's note lends context and perspective; additionally, there is a list of recommended recordings. This is a rousing introduction to a musical trailblazer whose career and accomplishments deserve widespread recognition.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA For two years, McCoy made drawings and eventually a model of an oil cup to supply lubrication to the moving parts of the engine. Wisely, he patented his invention and convinced his employer to give it a trial run. The train to Kalamazoo arrived at its destination in record time without having to stop to oil the engine machinery. The narrative includes fictionalized dialogue and clear explanations about how the machinery works and concludes with an inspiring message. "When Elijah got older, he encouraged children to stay in school and to follow their dreams too." Expressive watercolors, some full page and some full spread, capture the time period, allowing readers to imagine what life was like in this era, and add energy and touches of humor.—Linda L. Walkins, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Brighton, MA Read an excerpt from Simeon's Story in Curriculum Connections. In the latter half of the book, Adoff introduces blues performers Bessie Smith, Lonnie Johnson, Son House, Ma Rainey, Robert Johnson, Johnny Lee Hooker, B.B. King, and Muddy Waters, stepping down on the "Chicago/train/station/platform/with a suitcase/of Mississippi River/with a suitcase/of Mississippi/Delta with a suitcase of Mississippi/dripping/on side/walk/s." As with Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers's Blues Journey (Holiday House, 2003), this splendid addition to American history units should resonate with a wide audience. Adoff comes full circle with this stirring poem: "And we have always sung about hearts and healing/broken pieces into new and beating creations when/eyes open to first light of morning sun shining/in my back door/shining/in my back door./Shining/shining:/Always."—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Follow School Library Journal on Twitter. Subscribe to School Library Journal's (free) newsletters here.
de la Pena, Matt. A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis. (Dial, 2011). Illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
Gr 3-5-With stunning art and dramatic storytelling, Nelson and de la Pena recount the story behind the 1938 boxing match between American champ Joe Louis and "Hitler's German," Max Schmeling. As the nation edged closer to war, Joe Louis felt the weight of expectations on his shoulders, along with the aspirations of his race. He had already overcome obstacles: in childhood, he was ridiculed for his stammer: "words spinning just beyond/ Joe's grasp." Salvation appeared at the boxing gym, where he worked tirelessly and "grew into his body," especially his oversize, strong hands. "Back then blacks didn't win decisions/Not against whites/Joe had to let his fists be the referees." He accumulated a string of wins and his fame grew, until Schmeling humiliated him in a stunning upset in 1936. Two years later, a rematch was scheduled in front of 70,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, while an even larger radio audience listened intently. Nelson's artful compositions, rendered in oil on wood, heighten the drama. Juxtaposing light and dark, the artist enlarges on the theme of Louis's "shadow boxing" career: from a "childhood in shadows," Joe gradually stepped out of the shadows until his momentous victory banished them. This well-crafted work brings this pivotal period in history to life; pair it with George Sullivan's Knockout: A Photobiography of Boxer Joe Louis (National Geographic, 2008) for the rest of his story, along with context and perspective.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CAGreenfield, Eloise. The Great Migration: Journey to the North. (HarperCollins, 2010). Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.
K-Gr 8-In eloquent verse, Greenfield narrates the story of the migration of more than a million African Americans from the rural South to the industrial North in search of opportunity, employment, and fair treatment during the years 1915-1930. The poems are arranged under five headings that represent the stages of the journey: "The News," "Goodbyes," "The Trip," "Question," and "Up North."Orgill, Roxane. Skit-Scat Raggedy Cat: Ella Fitzgerald. (Candlewick, 2010). Illustrated by Sean Qualls.
Gr 3-6-As the title cleverly indicates, this book describes how the poor, "raggedy cat" scat-sang her way into jazz history. Orgill begins with Fitzgerald as a child dancing to her mother's records and closes with the 21-year-old woman joining the Chick Webb Band in Harlem. The interim includes frank, but not frightening, descriptions of Ella's tenure in an abusive orphanage and of the impoverished days when she slept where she could and sang on the streets for money.Williams-Garcia, Rita. One Crazy Summer (HarperCollins, 2010).
Gr 4-7-It is 1968, and three black sisters from Brooklyn have been put on a California-bound plane by their father to spend a month with their mother, a poet who ran off years before and is living in Oakland. It's the summer after Black Panther founder Huey Newton was jailed and member Bobby Hutton was gunned down trying to surrender to the Oakland police, and there are men in berets shouting "Black Power" on the news.
K-Gr 4-The life of an astonishingly prolific and skilled potter who lived and died a slave in 19th-century South Carolina is related in simple, powerful sentences that outline the making of a pot. The movements of Dave's hands are described using familiar, solid verbs: pulling, pinching, squeezing, pounding. Rural imagery—a robin's puffed breast, a carnival wheel—remind readers of Dave's surroundings. The pithy lines themselves recall the short poems that Dave inscribed on his pots.Ingalls, Ann and Maryann Macdonald. The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend. (Houghton Harcourt, 2010). Illustrated by Giselle Potter.
Gr 1-5—Based on the early life of African-American jazz legend Mary Lou Williams, this appealing story offers insight into the making of a musician. At age three, Mary amazes her mother, a church organist, by playing back a tune as she sits on her lap. When the family moves from Atlanta to Pittsburgh during World War I, they must leave the organ behind, but that doesn't stop Mary from hearing music in her head. When a woman from church invites her in for some ice cream, the child can't help but notice the piano, and when Lucille requests a tune, once again Mary amazes. "Soon people were paying her to play...as much as fifty cents!" At school, Mary's teacher asks her to play marches: "sometimes she slipped a boogie beat in.... The children stopped marching and danced on the stairs."Rhodes, Jewell Parker. Ninth Ward. (Little, Brown, 2010).
Gr 5-8-Communicating with ghosts, including the spirit of her mother who died giving birth to her, is a gift that Lanesha, 12, has had for as long as she can remember. The girl's beloved caretaker Mama Ya-Ya, a midwife and healer, has a gift that allows her to predict the future. When she begins to sense that a big storm is coming to their much-loved New Orleans neighborhood, both she and Lanesha must trust in their senses and in one another to survive.
Gr 3-5-This picture book pays homage to Aaron's strength of character and determination to play major league baseball. In 1940s Mobile, AL, young Aaron dreamed of playing though ballparks posted "Whites Only" signs and his father warned him, "Ain't no colored ballplayers." Then Mobile opened a "Colored Only" ball field, and, in 1947, Aaron learned that Jackie Robinson would play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.McCully, Emily Arnold. Wonder Horse: the True Story of the World's Smartest Horse. (Holt, 2010). Illustrated by the author.
K-Gr 2-Based on the true story of a remarkable self-made man whose love for animals won him fame and fortune, this book is sure to grab young readers. Bill "Doc" Key was born a slave but had a special way with animals even as a youngster. Following the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, he worked as a veterinarian and preached the gospel of kindness to all creatures. Despite the racial climate in the Jim Crow South, he joined a medicine show and became wealthy selling a liniment that he invented for both animals and humans.With his newfound wealth, Doc bought a racehorse and bred her in hopes of producing a champion. When the foal was born, his twisted legs meant racing was not in the cards. But Jim Key was an unusual and smart horse, and his antics tickled his owner. Doc set about teaching him to pick out letters, colors, and to count and do arithmetic, and he mastered all of these tasks. Could this horse really do the things he was said to have done? Was it trickery on Doc's part? A team of Harvard professors was brought in to determine exactly what Jim Key could and could not do. McCully's signature watercolors make this title as beautiful as it is fun to read, and its humane message is an important one.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VAAdult—This volume of 33 speeches, essays, and interviews was selected by editors Kacy Cook and Arnold Adoff, Hamilton's husband, from the more than 150 manuscripts left by the author after her death in 2002. Spanning 30 years, the collection includes her Arbuthnot lecture, as well as acceptance speeches for every major literary award: the Newbery Medal for M. C. Higgins the Great (she was the first black writer to receive the medal), the Coretta Scott King, Boston Globe-Horn Book, Hans Christian Andersen, and Wilder awards, as well as the Regina Medal.
Golio, Gary. Jimi: Sounds Like a Rainbow. (Clarion, 2010). Illustrated by Javaka Steptoe.
Gr 4-8-Before he was famous, little Jimmy Hendrix tuned into a world colored with the sounds of the city outside the Seattle boarding house where he lived with his father. As a boy he strove to reproduce those sounds on his one-string ukulele, and eventually on a secondhand guitar.Smith, Jr., Charles R. Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson. (Roaring Brook, 2010). Illustrated by Shane W. Evans.
Gr 2-5-Words and text powerfully work together to tell the story of the first African-American heavyweight champion. Smith begins by telling readers that "Black Jack was his OWN man." These bold words skillfully set the tone for the tale of how a shy, fearful young man learned to fight back and become one of American history's more compelling personalities.Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down. (Little, Brown, 2010). Illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
Gr 3-6—Through effectively chosen words, Andrea Pinkney brings understanding and meaning to what four black college students accomplished on February 1, 1960, by sitting down at a Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. Her repeated phrase, "Their order was simple. A doughnut and coffee with cream on the side," along with other food metaphors, effectively emphasizes the men's determination to undo the injustices of segregation in a peaceful protest, which eventually led up to the 1966 Supreme Court ruling against racial discrimination.Finkleman, Paul, ed. Milestone Documents in African American History. (Schlager, 2010)
Gr 8 Up-Teaching students about the value of primary-source research is de rigueur today, and the Internet has vastly increased access to these resources. But locating material can be time consuming, especially for students who aren't sure what it is they are looking for, or what material exists that might add insight or depth to their investigations. The recently published Milestone Documents in African American History (Schlager Group, 2010; Gr 8 Up), a comprehensive resource covering four centuries, will be an especially valuable for these, and other, students of American history.Vernick, Audrey. She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story (HarperCollins, 2010). Illustrated by Don Tate.
Gr 2-4—Vernick's sprightly text and Tate's vibrant-hued illustrations combine in an appreciative tribute to the first woman to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Manley blazed a trail on two fronts: she fought racial injustice throughout her life; and as coowner of the Newark Eagles, a Negro League team, she succeeded in a male-dominated field.Ramsey, Calvin Alexander Gwen Strauss. Ruth and the Green Book. (Carolrhoda, 2010) Illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
Gr 1-4-Ruth's father just bought a beautiful new 1952 Buick, making it a big day for this African-American family. They are going from Chicago to Alabama to visit Grandma. Ruth is very excited to be traveling, but the family encounters "whites only" restrooms, hotels, and restaurants along the way. It's very discouraging and sometimes scary, but they learn that some friendly faces may be found at local Esso stations, which are among the few franchises open to black businessmen. At a station near the Georgia border, they are introduced to The Negro Motorist Green Book by Victor H. Green. An early AAA guidebook of sorts that listed establishments or homes that would serve African Americans-be it for general services, housing, or meals. Ruth eventually becomes the Green Book specialist in the family, helping to guide them to an auto-repair shop or an inn that would welcome them. But, the best part of the trip is finally arriving at Grandma's, as illustrated by the loving expressions on all faces.Evans, Shane W. Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom (Roaring Brook, 2011). Illustrated by the author.
PreS-Gr 3-A stellar introduction to the Underground Railroad, narrated by a group of slaves. Readers experience their escape, their long nighttime journey punctuated by meetings with friends and enemies, and their final glorious arrival in a place of freedom. Evans boils the raw emotion of the experience down to the most compressed statements, both mirroring the minimal opportunities for expression during the secret journey and also creating a narrative that invites even the youngest listeners to visit this challenging subject. For this reason, the text may be read as is to preschool audiences, while the abbreviated prose may also generate a rich discussion for older students. Evans writes simply: "The darkness..../We are quiet./The fear./We run."Aronson, Marc and Marina Budhos. Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science. (Clarion, 2010).
Gr 8 Up-This meticulously researched, brutally honest, compelling book offers readers a different way to look at many events over the past 200 years or so. The title says it all. From the slave trade through abolition; from revolutions (American, French, and Haitian) to the Louisiana Purchase; from the decline of honey to the rise of saccharine, these events and many more are directly traced to the cultivation and production of sugar cane around the world. With a focus on slavery, Aronson and Budhos demonstrate how this one crop with its unique harvesting needs helped to bring about a particularly brutal incarnation of slavery.Alcorn, Stephen. Odetta: The Queen of Folk. Illustrated by the author. (Scholastic, 2010).
Gr 3-6—Through stunning illustrations and text, Alcorn pays tribute to the incomparable folksinger. When Odetta was born in 1930 in Birmingham, AL, Jim Crow laws enmeshed the Deep South. Music offered solace: "Spirituals, gospel, prison, and work songs: the cup of soup Odetta grew up on!" Alcorn's eye-catching paintings boldly blend iconic and folk elements. As a shocked Odetta watches, a water fountain's torrent of frothy letters spells out "Whites Only." Odetta's musical hero was Marian Anderson; Alcorn depicts her soaring with the sparrows in flowing angels' robes, pearls, and multicolored wings. Odetta's family found welcome in Los Angeles, where her talents came of age: "The way Odetta sang, not even Jim Crow could tell her no!"Kulling, Monica. All Aboard! Elijah McCoy's Steam Engine. Illus. by Bill Slavin. (Tundra, 2010).
K-Gr 3—An engaging biography of African-American inventor Elijah McCoy. The son of former slaves who escaped to Canada via the Underground Railroad, young McCoy was interested in how machines work. At age 16, he went to Scotland to study mechanical engineering. After his schooling was complete, he joined his family in Michigan, where he applied for work at the Michigan Central Railroad. He was offered a job oiling the train wheels and shoveling coal rather than building and designing engines. In need of employment, he accepted the "ashcat" position, and as he toiled away at the dangerous job, he realized that there had to be a safer way to keep the trains running.Wright, Simeon with Herb Boyd. Simeon's Story. (Chicago Review, 2010).
Gr 6-10—Simeon Wright was 12 years old when his cousin Emmett "Bobo" Till came from Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi for the summer. Spunky and bold, Till amused everyone with his comedic timing. It was his desire to get a laugh that led to his demise. One hot August night in 1955, Till whistled at a white female store clerk, setting off a chain of events that left an indelible mark not only on our nation's history, but on the cousin who witnessed Till's gaffe and eventual kidnapping. Wright's story is chilling, and his honest account will hook readers from the beginning. His description of growing up in Mississippi under Jim Crow laws provides the necessary background for teens to understand what transpired in the time between Till's deadly mistake and the discovery of his body days later. Wright also details the toll the murder took on his family, his eventual move to Chicago, and his unsuccessful search for justice for Emmett Till. An appendix entitled "Lies, Myths, and Distortions" serves to discredit many of the misconceptions surrounding Till's death. It ends, "If you want an accurate account of any story, go to the primary sources. They know what really happened." Truer words were never spoken.—Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, ILAdoff, Arnold. Roots and Blues. Illlus. by R. Gregory Christie. (Clarion, 2011).
Gr 4 Up—This exquisite collection of poems and paintings celebrates the history and culture of blues music. Adoff traces the horrific journey of slaves to America and the role that music played as a means of survival, of passing on "the ancestor words." Even as the lyrics describe harsh realities, the innate beauty of music made with sticks, spoons, and whatever lay at hand speaks of an irrepressible hope: "Under the hot sun: the chop chop/hoe/measures out the beats of freedom."Christie's haunting acrylic images bring to life the drama and emotion of the music, as well as the dignity of his subjects.
