This book, beutifully illustrated by Shane Evans shows a collection of stories and songs about slavery. It is quite a big read for young readers but it can be disected and broken down so that children can see peices of history that make up our world today from when African Americans were captured all the way to the Civil War. ( )

Excellent collection of the general history of slavery, individual stories and songs, all illustrated by bold oil paintings by Shane W. Evans. Examples of selections include the story of Olaudah Equiano's survival through the Middle Passage, Harriet Tubman's Underground Railroad, and Frederick Douglass's brave defiance of his vicious master.

A time line at the back of the book summarizes the main events of slavery in the U.S. There is also a list of sources and an index. ( )

This is an excellent book. It has colorful paintings, songs and stories to engage a reader of any age. It is organized in chronological order, starting from the capture of Africans through the end of the Civil War. The history of slave life and resistance are all told through the point of view of slaves or former slaves. There are several vignettes of famous leaders in slave resistance such as Fredrick Douglas, Harriet Tubman and Suzie King Taylor. Each of these pages has a story about the person, with a short description of their importance underneath. The stories of these people help their story stick, and lead to greater understanding. ( )