Theodore Weld

September 1, 2013
Grades 5-8 Covering both well- and lesser-known abolitionists, these entries in the Voices for Freedom: Abolitionist Heroes series provide an extensive view of the nation's anti-slavery movement. While the books touch upon the subjects' childhood, education, and career successes and failures, they differ from traditional biographies as they focus on each individual's role as an abolitionist. Theodore Weld describes how this writer, editor, orator, and organizer, who often published under pen names (thus, becoming less recognizable today), became an architect of abolitionism. It gives considerable attention to Weld's influential compendium, American Slavery as It Is: Testimony of a Thousand Witnesseswhich remains an important document of examples of cruelty to slavesas well as consideration of other abolitionist heroes. Each title concludes with the subject's legacy on race relations. Archival photos, reproductions, maps, and copious back matter add to the richness of this valuable series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)