Growing Up in Slavery

July 1, 2005
Adult/High School -Taylor introduces these accounts with a discussion of the slave narrative as a literary genre, followed by a brief history of slavery in the United States. The 10 excerpts are arranged chronologically by original publication date and span the years between 1745 and the 1860s. Each narrative is preceded by brief biographical notes about its author and concludes with an account of the remainder of the person's life. These articulate, heartbreaking stories show slavery's effect on its youngest victims, children subjected to extraordinary toil and punishment from their earliest years. The circumstances and personalities of the authors differed significantly. One was captured in Africa and suffered the horrors of transport in a slave ship. Some toiled on large plantations, others on small farms or in city houses. Adolescent girls suffered from the attentions of predatory masters and the vengeance of jealous mistresses. Surviving brutality, fear, and deprivation, the children prevailed through courage, resolution, and wisdom. The risks taken to learn to read or to visit a beloved relative sold to a new master were incredible. Ten woodcut illustrations are included." -Kathy Tewell, Fairfax County Public Library, VA"

Copyright 2005 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2005
Gr. 9-12. Ten African Americans--among them Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, as well as less well-known individuals--tell what it was like to be a child and teenager under slavery. Taylor, who leads off with an excellent historical overview, has taken the long, stirring stories from his two-volume adult anthology " I Was Born a Slave " (1999), and he expands each smoothly and unobtrusively edited account with clear introductory notes and concluding commentary. The writers recall misery, cruelty, and horrific violence, but just as strong are their memories of courageous rebellion, both secret and open, including their shared triumph: once forbidden to read and write, they grew up to publish their life stories. The type is small, and the narratives are dense, but powerful full-page woodcuts help focus the drama. Invaluable for students in search of primary-source material, and many selections will make riveting read-alouds. A bibliography is appended. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)