Common Sense Media Review
Interesting story of historic slave auction.
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Based on 12 kid reviews
Kids say this book is a powerful and educational read that conveys the harsh realities of slavery through compelling narratives, although it contains strong language and violence. Many readers found it emotionally impactful, often eliciting strong feelings, and praised its ability to provide a new perspective on historical issues despite the sadness it portrays.
- emotional impact
- educational value
- strong language
- historical perspective
- youth suitability
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In 1857, Pierce Butler, a plantation owner deeply in debt due to a gambling habit, held what became the largest slave auction in American history to raise the money to pay off his debts. Author Julius Lester takes this real historical event and tells the story through the eyes of those involved, black and white, both at the time and reflecting back on it years later.
Some of these characters are: Emma, a child slave who takes care of the Butler children and is sold despite a promise to her mother not to sell her; Sampson, a slave who believes in slavery and the inferiority of his race; Sarah, oldest Butler daughter, who takes after her mother in despising slavery; and Jeremiah, a white abolitionist conductor on the Underground Railway, who sets in motion more than he had planned.
Is It Any Good?
This book's unique format creates a bit of an emotional distance that robs the novel of some of the raw power one might expect from the subject matter. Julius Lester tells the story in the form of snippets of scripted dialogue, thoughts, flashbacks, and quotes from an historical pamphlet that gives the names and prices of those sold at this auction. Though it sometimes can be a bit confusing when read silently, the format does make the story very accessible to elementary-age children, as does the author's careful avoidance of the more sensational and lurid aspects of the story.
The author skips from character to character, and time to time, never letting the reader identify too strongly with any one person. Perhaps the author felt this was necessary to avoid overwhelming young readers. In any case, this is a fascinating and engrossing look at a little-known historical event that encapsulates the institution of slavery.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the historical background of the American slave system.
How could people who considered themselves to be good, decent peoplehave treated others in this way?
How could the slaves endure it?
Howcould Sampson, a slave, come to identify so strongly with being a slavethat he resisted freedom?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Historical Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Hyperion Books for Children
- Publication date : February 5, 2006
- Number of pages : 177
- Award : Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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