Almost to Freedom

This story comes from the homemade doll that a slave girls mama made. The doll witnesses some terrible things and then during the escape to freedom becomes left behind at a safe-house. There is good news though for the doll and the little girl. Time period illustrations and Authors note about the doll. Historical words and phrases review on last page. ( )

Summary: Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson tells the story of how Lindy and her family live as slaves picking cotton on a Virginia plantation, and how they escape through the Underground Railroad. The story is told through the eyes of Lindy’s doll Sally. The doll tells of how she was made by Lindy’s mother “Miz Rachel”, given to Lindy, and how she was taken everywhere with Lindy. The doll tells of how they picked cotton, how the “Massa” treated them, and how they escape through the night and made their way to the Underground Railroad. Sally gets left behind in an escape from the safe house by accident, and later retrieved by another girl who names her Belinda. The author uses the language of African-American slaves to make the story more real. The dark vivid illustrations help tell the story. The author’s notes tell of her inspiration for the story, and what is fact and what is fiction. The book gives a historical account of the Underground Railroad.

Personal reaction: I thought it was really unique to tell the story from the doll’s point of view. I don’t recall ever reading anything told from this perspective. Although Sally doesn’t know what the people think and feel, you get it from the doll’s descriptions, and the books illustrations to know what is going on in the story. I would recommend this book not only for the content, but also the unique experience of the story being told by the doll.

Classroom extension: 1. I would use this book in a study about slavery. The students could tell about a time they had to escape from something. 2. This book could also be used during Black History Month. 3. Another use for this book could be agriculture, plantations, and the American South. ( )

Great for Black History Month. Illustrations are excellent.

A story of the Underground Railroad, told from the perspectve of a child traveler's doll. The fact that this story is told through the eyes of the doll can make it more relatable to children. Perhaps they can’t imagine life as a slave, but they can relate to the love between a child and her toy. At the same time, though, this distances the reader from the danger occurring as she is not exposed to the young girl’s fear, just the doll’s fear, a step removed. At one point, it is mentioned that the girl’s father has been taken away. Normally, this would be anxiety-provoking, but because of this step removed approach, this is not so emotional. The different point of view also allows the glossing over of the entire plot. Because the doll does not directly experience slavery or the escape for freedom, the reader does not get the full experience of these events. The pictures, full of saturated colors and looking almost like paintings, do add to this, giving the story a depth that the text doesn’t. These images tell more than the words, showing the sadness and loneliness felt. However, they don’t completely make up for the lack. While the story has potential, in the end, it misses the mark. ( )

Summary:
This book is very interesting! It is about a little girl and her family in slavery. The little girl, Lindy, had a doll her mom had sewn for her. In this book, the doll, Sally, tells the story of the family and how the family started on the Underground Railroad.
Personal Reaction:
I thought this book was very interesting and had awesome illustrations. This book was written in grammer that slaves probably used because they were deprived of an education.
Classroom Extensions:
#1: I would have the children journal about their feelings about the book right after I read it to them, to get their immediate reaction.
#2: I would have the children discuss the meanings of some of the words used in the book that they may not understand.
#3: I would use this book as a supplement to a social studies lesson on the underground railroad. ( )