I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly

I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly follows 12-year-old Patsy, a freed slave living on the Davis plantation in South Carolina during the Reconstruction era of 1865. Through diary entries, Patsy documents her experiences as she navigates the uncertain period following the Civil War. The narrative centers on Patsy's secret ability to read and write, a skill she acquired during her enslavement and now records in a diary gifted by her former master's niece and nephew. Despite having lived her entire life on the plantation, Patsy grapples with questions of identity and belonging, including her lack of a last name and family connections. Through Patsy's observations and experiences, the book depicts the social upheaval and challenges faced by freed slaves during Reconstruction. The story follows her efforts to build a future for herself and contribute to her community's advancement through education. The novel explores themes of literacy as empowerment, the search for identity, and the complex transition from slavery to freedom. Hansen's work presents an honest examination of this pivotal historical period through the perspective of a young girl finding her place in a changing world.

Readers view this book as an authentic portrayal of life during Reconstruction through its diary format. Many appreciate how it depicts literacy and education as paths to freedom, with several teachers noting they use it in their classrooms to teach this historical period. Readers liked: - Main character Patsy's determination and resilience - Details about daily plantation life after emancipation - Clear, accessible writing style for young readers - Historical accuracy and inclusion of real events Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Some found the diary format repetitive - Limited character development beyond Patsy Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (90+ ratings) Scholastic: 4/5 (200+ ratings) Multiple reviewers mentioned the book helped their students understand freedpeople's experiences post-Civil War. One teacher wrote: "My 5th graders connected with Patsy's struggle to read and her secret study sessions."

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor The story of a Black family's struggle to maintain dignity and independence in 1930s Mississippi presents themes of education and resilience that parallel Patsy's journey.

Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper This historical account follows an enslaved girl's path from Africa to America to freedom, capturing the raw experience of slavery and the quest for liberation.

Dear America: A Picture of Freedom by Patricia McKissack Written in diary format, this book chronicles a slave girl's secret writing and reading, mirroring Patsy's hidden literacy.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson Set during the American Revolution, this narrative of an enslaved girl fighting for freedom echoes the themes of literacy and self-determination.

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson This multi-generational story traces a family's path from slavery to freedom through quilting and education, connecting to Patsy's emphasis on learning and heritage.

🔹 The book is part of Scholastic's "Dear America" series, which features fictional diaries of young women during significant periods in American history. 🔹 Author Joyce Hansen has won multiple Coretta Scott King Honor Awards for her contributions to children's literature focusing on African American experiences. 🔹 Mars Bluff, South Carolina, where the story is set, is a real historical location that was home to several plantations during the Reconstruction era and still exists as an unincorporated community today. 🔹 The protagonist's ability to read and write was extremely rare among freed slaves - in 1870, only about 20% of African Americans were literate due to previous laws forbidding slave education. 🔹 The novel's title comes from a traditional African American spiritual song, reflecting the important role that music and spirituality played in slave communities and during Reconstruction.