To Be a Slave

To Be a Slave compiles firsthand accounts from former slaves alongside historical commentary by Julius Lester. Tom Feelings' stark illustrations complement the text throughout this groundbreaking 1968 work. The book presents authentic slave narratives drawn from various historical sources, allowing readers to understand slavery through the direct words and experiences of those who lived through it. Lester provides context and historical background to frame these personal testimonies. Since its publication, To Be a Slave has garnered numerous accolades including the Newbery Honor medal, School Library Journal's Best Book of the Year, and the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. The book has maintained its significance in children's literature for over five decades. This work stands as a crucial historical document that bridges the gap between past and present, offering young readers an unvarnished look at a defining period in American history through authentic voices and experiences.

Readers consistently mention the book's emotional impact through its use of first-hand slave narratives. The collection of personal accounts resonates with students and adults alike, bringing historical facts to life through individual stories. What readers appreciated: - Raw, unfiltered primary sources - Clear organization by topic/theme - Accessibility for middle school through adult readers - Historical photographs and illustrations - Lester's connecting commentary between narratives Common criticisms: - Some found the content too intense for younger readers - A few readers wanted more context around specific accounts - Several noted the difficult language in original narratives Ratings: Goodreads: 4.26/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (280+ ratings) From reviews: "The first-person accounts hit harder than any textbook" - Goodreads reviewer "Should be required reading in schools" - repeated in multiple Amazon reviews "My 7th graders connected with this more than other historical texts" - Teacher review on Goodreads

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs The personal narrative of Harriet Jacobs tells her story of escape from slavery through her own writings and letters from 1861.

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington Washington's autobiography chronicles his journey from enslavement to becoming an educator and leader through detailed personal accounts.

12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Northup's memoir documents his experiences as a free man kidnapped into slavery, providing direct testimony of the slave trade and plantation life.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass This foundational text presents Douglass's path from slavery to freedom through his original writings and speeches.

The Life of Olaudah Equiano by Olaudah Equiano Equiano's autobiography from 1789 records his experiences from capture in Africa through slavery and eventual freedom through first-person narration.

• The book earned Julius Lester a Newbery Honor in 1969, marking it as one of the first books about slavery to receive this prestigious children's literature award • Illustrator Tom Feelings spent time in Ghana studying African art and culture, which deeply influenced his powerful black-and-white drawings in the book • Many of the firsthand accounts featured in the book come from the Federal Writers' Project of the 1930s, which collected over 2,000 interviews with former slaves • Julius Lester's father was a Methodist minister who had experienced Jim Crow laws firsthand, inspiring Lester's lifelong commitment to civil rights and storytelling • The book's innovative format of weaving together primary sources with historical context helped establish a new standard for how difficult historical topics could be presented to young readers