My Name is Not Friday

Dion Graham's soft voicing of 13-year-old Samuel brings out all the heartache in his young life. Near the end of the Civil War, the free black orphan is sold into slavery by the priest in charge of the orphanage where he lives, condemning him to a life of hardship. This is a time when slaves are being pushed ever harder in order to maintain the lives of their owners. Graham's expert pacing, inflection, and lightly accented speech capture the pathos of this intolerable situation, allowing listeners to feel the cruelty of being forced to live as the property of those who can even take away one's own name. An excellent choice for middle grade units on slavery, the book and Graham's narration will aid young people in the exploration of this shameful chapter in American history. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Starred review from November 9, 2015
Middle-grade author Walter (Close to the Wind), writing his first book for teens, pulls readers into life on a Mississippi cotton plantation in the final years of the Civil War. Twelve-year-old Samuel is a free-born, orphaned, and literate black boy who is sold into slavery. He's renamed Friday by a slave trader and bought by a relatively progressive slave owner whose young stepson befriends him. Samuel quickly realizes that he cannot escape the plantation and becomes a dutiful, hardworking member of the slave community. Sustained by his religious faith, Samuel is thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate, and he soon gains the respect of both the white owners and his fellow slaves. When he decides to teach the slaves to read and write, in spite of his conflicts about "lying and cheating to do God's work"âas well as breaking the lawâthe story's movement and suspense escalate. Walter masterfully constructs the world of the plantation and presents a large population of complex and distinctive characters, resulting in a rich, thought-provoking, and deeply satisfying book. Ages 12âup.

Starred review from September 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Samuel, almost 13, and his younger brother Joshua are orphans but born free and growing up educated. During the Civil War's final year, Samuel takes the blame for mischief that he's convinced that Joshua committed, and finds himself betrayed by the priest who has raised him. He's stripped of everything familiar and renamed Friday-for the day he's auctioned off as a plantation slave. As much as he suffers and witnesses the degrading abuse of others, Samuel shares moments of deep connection with fellow slaves and even with the young master. Throughout his captivity, Samuel never stops making good-behavior bargains with God to keep Joshua safe until their promised reunion. British author Walter's second remarkable novel arrives from across the pond to entertain, enlighten, and inspire stateside readers about their own American past. Narrator Dion Graham elevates the written word with a mesmerizing performance. VERDICT A multilayered epic that weaves together history and humanity while confronting the elusive grays between right and wrong, this work proves to be a significant, resonating addition to the Civil War canon for middle grade audiences. ["Lyrically written historical novel": SLJ 11/15 starred review of the Scholastic/David Fickling book.]-Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC

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