Jabari Asim

This narrative of the utter horror of plantation life for enslaved people - the endless work, punishment, rape, selling off of family, is so painful that the only relief, for those in the system before the Civil War, is dreaming of escape and then attempting it. The small group who runs - they are the Stolen, oppressed by the Thieves - are led by a preacher, Ransom, who by his occupation is permitted to travel throughout the South and whisper into the ears of those who dare to listen. The show more tale is monumentally memorable and enhanced by the joyous cover illustration by Jacob Lawrence from his Harriet Tubman series, representing little Zander, the youngest escapee and the one who hears and follows the Ancestors who tell him to fly. show less

Jabari Asim's Yonder is the story of five Stolen escaping from the plantation of the Thief who claims to own them. Putting it in language we hear more often, it's the story of a group of runaway slaves fleeing their master. See what difference the language makes?

The story Yonder relates, narrated by multiple Stolen, is deeply engaging. What I want to focus on, however, is the power of language that runs throughout the novel. It's not just the Stolen/Thief labels. Cannonball Greene, owner of show more the plantation, has convinced himself he is engaged in a scientific study of the soulless beings his god has seen fit to bless him with, coining new terms for their various forms of inferiority. The Stolen, each given seven words at birth from seven different Stolen, recite those words at the beginning and end of each day and at times of crisis. They don't tell themselves they come from Africa—in their wording they come from Strength. And when—if—they reach Yonder (Canada) they will rename themselves.

Changing the language with which a story is told, as Asim does, can make that story new, can make that story truer, can flip the perspective through which that story is experienced by readers. I'm still searching for my own language to discuss Yonder, but this is the point I'm currently at. When I find better words, I'll come back to revise.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own. show less

This beautiful story is a celebration of the incomparable John Lewis. I love reading this book to students as an illustration that life is long and you can be destined for great things, even while "preaching to the chickens". I think this book is a beautiful illustration of the early life of one of the greatest civil rights leaders and shows how small acts can be acts of resistance and heart. This story has beautiful watercolor illustrations and beautifully documents Black excellence, even show more with modest beginnings. This is a great book to pair with a unit on civil rights or virtue of the month teachings. This is also a great book to pair with understanding John Lewis's body of work as a civil rights leader and activist. show less

Absolutely spellbinding...before I even begin...READ THIS BOOK. I highly recommend it. This is a set of interwoven stories in which everyone is searching (whether consciously or unconsciously) for that beacon of hope. The characters (and there are a lot of them) were amazing! The stories and the prose were well written and very captivating. I could not put this one down and when I did finish I was overwhelmed with joy. I mean I was smiling from ear to ear after reading this. Asim used humor, show more sincerity, and poetic language to explore sensitive topics like rape, domestic violence, racism, police brutality, and adolescence (to name a few). It was written so well that at times I forgot that I was reading fiction.
Through the short journey, I found myself becoming attached to the characters. I would like to see this as a mini series or on television. I would also like to teach this in my classroom someday.

Go get it, NOW! (sorry I didn't mean to yell :) show less