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Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

(1993, Fiction - Historical Fiction, Written by Deborah Hopkinson, Illustrated by James Ransome)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Enslaved girl's courage will engage older kids.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    This book introduces the concept of slavery to young children.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Clara is taken away from her mother.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Parents need to know that this book downplays the horrors of slavery in consideration of its young audience. Children will become engrossed in the expressive paintings and the tale of a heroine's determination to reach freedom and find her mother.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Sweet Clara's courage. What was at risk for her as she sewed her quilt and later as she fled? Parents also can start a discussion about how slavery disrupted families, with consequences reverberating through generations.
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    treeman1234
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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