Parents need to know that the way slaves are treated is disturbing -- they are beaten into unconsciousness, treated like animals with no feelings, and separated from their families. Readers will encounter the whipping of slaves, a forced fight in which a slave loses an eye, the death of a baby in a rainstorm, and a suicide.
Positive messages:Told through many differing voices, this book examines the issue of slavery in a unique and thoughtful way. Despite the difficult subject matter the anti-racism message is undeniably strong.
Positive role models:Pervasive racism, as whites discuss how blacks don't have theintelligence or emotions of whites, characters admire the KKK, and ingeneral treat slaves as animals or dimwitted children.
Violence:Whipping of slaves, a forced fight in which a slave loses an eye, the death of a baby in a rainstorm, a suicide, a son punches his father.
I began reading this book in what began as sun filled morning with just a few clouds. As read the novel, it began to rain and my heart grow as somber as the tale Lester begins to tell. As a native of South Carolina and an African American I truly appreciate how this story weaves the history of blacks and their relationships with each other and whites of the times. This novel will begin a conversation of healing and understanding for a terrible time in American history.
this is a book u can really get a feel with. it cathes your eye and has your attention. i believe many young and old would really connect with this book. if there was a book i had to choose to do a report on it would this book. thank you julius lester for writting such a great book.
I really really enjoyed this book. There were some times where the racism made me mad, but it really gives you a new perspective on how people think. This book helps you to understand how hard it really was, and sometimes still is for people of different races to live with eachother. It really opends your eyes up
The book was realy good and my teacher Ms. Petrin pick it out for our Language arts class,we read the book together and everyone thought it was a realy good book. we did vocabulary on the book and we also did true or false quizes on the book it took us about 15 days to complete the book.Julis Lester did a great job on the book.
This Is the BEST book I have read within the last past 15 years! I LOVE the book Day of Tears! It tought me so much, I had to buy it! I even got others to read! When I grow up I want my children to read this book! It makes you Laugh, Cry, and Think. Thank you so much Julius Lester for your Wonderful writing!
i love this book but i don't lik the slave sellers or the people who think it's right to sell slaves. But i think that everybody should give it a try it'a a very talented book and is one of the best books i'v ever read. it's very educational and tells about the past and why and how slaves got out and had a good rest of ther life. (that's always good to here). <3 Bridget<3