After previously reading Chains and Forge, the first two books in the Seeds of America trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson, I recently finished the last book, Ashes. An excellent, excellent series that everyone should read. This should be required reading for all students, starting in middle school.
The three books are historical fiction that follows the lives of three young slaves, Isabel, Ruth, and Curzon. Isabel and Ruth are sisters. Curzon is a friend they find in the first book. The first book starts out just before the start of the Revolutionary War when Isabel is about 12 years old and Ruth is about 7 years old. Curzon is about the same age as Isabel.
Throughout the series, the three escape their owners, are captured, escape again, join in various roles in the war, and must navigate through the promises and lies of the both the British and Continental armies as they seek true freedom. It's a harrowing story of life as a young slave in the early years of America.
Too often the history books whitewash away the role of slaves during the Revolutionary War and focus too much on the successes of the Continental Army, completely ignoring that humans of a darker skin color were owned by those who were white.
Please, read these books! You can buy the books, but I guarantee you will most likely find them at your local library.
No comments:
Post a Comment