It is about a young African prince who is captured and taken to America as a slave.
He masters a trade, purchases
his freedom and dies free in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, in 1801.

Follow a young African boy through this capture, imprisonment, sold into slavery, earning freedom, and becoming a successful model citizen. ( )

Excellent! I read it aloud and all my children loved it. The development of the main character was handled beautifully. ( )

Newbery Medal 1951. Biography of a son of a king who was stolen and sold into slavery before the revolutionary war. Shows how racial differences have always been a problem in the US, even when people were free and contributing to the community. ( )

This book won the Newbery Medal in 1951. Mistakenly classified as nonfiction, it is really a biographical novel or, more accurately, historical fiction. Amos Fortune (c. 1710 - 1801) was a real person, but very little is known of his life.

Indeed, in an interview in The Writer in March 1998, author Elizabeth Yates said she was inspired "when I was standing by the stone that marked the grave of Amos Fortune in the old cemetery in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Reading the eloquent though brief words about a man whose life spanned from Africa in 1715 to America in 1801, I wanted to know more, to find the story within those lines."

About all that was available was Fortune's homestead (now private property) and some documents at the Jaffrey Public Library, such as his will (written and signed in 1801), some receipts (for loans, medical services, and purchases, including those that bought the freedom of two wives), two letters of apprenticeship of young men to Amos the tanner, and an unsigned letter of manumission for Amos, written by Ichabod Richardson in 1763. Yates adds another owner and another wife for Amos, as well as a king father and lame sister in Africa, but there is no evidence for any of these.

This book wasn't thrilling, but it wasn't boring either. It provided insights into life in colonial New England. Descriptions of the processes of bark tanning and the vendue of the poor were particularly interesting - the latter was something I'd never heard of before. The audiobook narrator Ray Childs' bass was perfect for Amos Fortune, but not so good for the female voices.

This book has received a lot of criticism, particularly since the early 1970s, for being racist and/or white-supremacist, primarily because Amos is so accepting of his situation. You can read more about this in my post on the book at the Newbery Project. I agree with critics who feel that books with other viewpoints about slavery should be presented along with this book. Suggestions include Paula Fox's The Slave Dancer, (a Newbery winner in 1974), The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Christopher Paul Curtis' Elijah of Buxton (a Newbery Honor Book in 2008), and Julius Lester's To Be A Slave (a Newbery Honor Book in 1969).

In the same 1998 interview mentioned above, Yates tells of a question from a group of fourth-graders:

"'Have you ever regretted anything you've written?' came the next question. Again, I sent my mind back over the years and their books. The answer was at hand, and it was No, for I have had a rule with myself that nothing ever leaves my desk unless it is the best I can

The idea that took hold of me as I stood by that stone in the old churchyard and that became the book Amos Fortune, Free Man was written in 1949 and published a year later. All the pertinent, reliable material that I could find went into the book and became the story. It could not be a biography but an account of a man's life, with facts assured and some imaginative forays based on the temper of the times. The research, the writing, was done long before the Civil Rights upheavals of the 60's. I might today write a very different story, but that was then."

It would be quite interesting to read a different version of Amos Fortune's story, one that might address some of the concerns of the critics.

© Amanda Pape - 2010 ( )

We used this as supplemental reading while studying American history. It is the engaging story of a man who was born in Africa, captured and traded as a slave, and never gave up the dream of freedom. ( )

Amos Fortune wasn't born into slavery, but was taken from his village, along with his family, friends and fellow villagers. Once he reached the states, he was determined to save as many of his villagers as possible, being in slavery made this difficult. As a slave, he did all he could to help others. Once he was able to buy his freedom, he would work and work until he could give freedom to other slaves.

Born the son of the King of an African tribe, when he was 15 he was herded up with other village members, shackled and held as cargo in the ship until reaching New England whereupon he was sold on the slavery block.

This is his story from the time he arrived on colonial soil through the years he was a slave who eventually was freed, married and owned property.

This is a story of hope and courage. This is a story of the tragedy of slavery and the bravery of those who bore the burden.

A 1951 Newbery medal book deserving of this honor. ( )

This book was won the 1951 Newbery Medal and I think writing styles have really changed since then. This book is written an omniscient POV which I didn't like. But it is a biography worthy of being told and worthy of being read. The story of Amos' journey as a young African prince captured in 1725 and sold into slavery, taught to be a tanner, and eventually given his freedom where he continued to ply his trade to provide for his family. It is a touching, inspiring story of triumph and the way it is written provides a good glimpse into the Colonial period. ( )

This book is a very good but showing how a once young prince soon to become king of his people in an African Village was taken to become a slave. Amos works hard for his owners and proves that he can learn trade and save money to free slaves by purchasing them. He works hard to earn respect from all men with his skills.

Slavory

The way that Ms. Yates describes Amos Fortune makes me wish I had known him. He is such a kind and wise and tender-hearted man - a true King. The story is perhaps not as realistic as it might have been in terms of describing the treatment of Black men and women but Ms. Yates focuses on the theme of true freedom - of knowing oneself and God - and it is a peaceful thing to read. ( )

ELIB 530A LibraryThing – Part E – 1st biography
This Newbery Medal winning story is about an African prince who is captured, sold into slavery and eventually buys his freedom as well as his wife and daughter’s freedom. The man who bought him was Quaker so Amos was allowed to learn to read and was treated well. Amos worked as a tanner and the book gives a glimpse of what that was like. (It was backbreaking work having to gather the bark of trees etc. and the curing shins probably smelled awful!) Amos’s character was an amiable, religious, gentle and strong man. This book seemed almost like a folktale with a happy ending but then I remembered it was based on a real man. As an aside, it was kind of cool to see that one of the men who signed his freedom papers had the same name as my son.

Amos Fortune was born At-mun, the son of a king in Africa. Before he knew it, he was seized and taken to America, to be sold as a slave. He was fortunate, however, and was sold to a kind Quaker who treated him justly and beneficently and allowed him to buy his freedom. All his life (and he lived a long life, living to nearly one hundred) Amos helped others become free, including all three of his wives. With a copyright date of 1950, I anticipated there would be lots of racist elements to this book. There were, but the book was redeemed somewhat by the depiction of Amos as a pioneer, a good man, a man who led the way for others. ( )

The life of the eighteenth- century African prince, who, after being captured by slave traders, was brought to Massachusetts where he was a slave until he was able to buy his freedom at the age of sixty.

Full of fascinating details about the tanning (leather goods) trade this memorable books reveals the struggles a free black men went through in the 1800's to make a living and have a family. An excellent book for a book report especially one in which artifacts are needed. It is biography and a ( )

Good potential to develop a theme: devoting oneself to creating freedom wherever one goes. But we weren't given enough time to understand and appreciate Amos' character. Age 15 to 90 in 180 pages! And I found it hard to discern the point of the book: to marvel at Amos' wisdom? to describe lives of slaves and freedmen? to regret our prejudiced past? I'm not sure. One final note: the scene where Amos is jovially bidding on himself at the slave auction is very creepy! ( )

A quiet Newbery, excellent biography of a remarkable man. Amos was originally purchased by a godly man (as told, purchased in spite of his opposition to slavery, because of compassion on the boy). It was in this household where Amos learned to love God and the Bible. People who dislike the book seem to identify a problem with how Amos's religion shaped his responses to life. It's hard to look into a person's life from today's perspective, particularly as it involves slavery. Yates clearly portrays the evils of inequality, of slavery. She offers commentary on religious people who used Scripture to keep slaves docile. She does not gloss over the mistreatment Amos receives, but neither does she create a character different than the one he was. Altogether satisfying, although it is probably not a book a child will read on his own and reread often.

The remarkable story of Amos, a slave in Massachusetts. Born the son of a chief in Africa, the story follows his capture and sale in America and on through his purchase of freedom. A remarkable, unique look at slavery in New England. ( )

I found this one to be a rather unusual slave story. It's the true tale of Amos Fortune, a chieftain's son who was captured and enslaved around 1725 and brought to New England, where he eventually purchased his freedom. One thing that's unusual is that it's set in New England. I'm used to the American myth that Massachusetts is the bastion of liberty, where everyone is a born abolitionist. In the early 18th Century, that wasn't the case. Another unusual twist is that the story is rather lacking in passion. While Mr. Fortune desires freedom, he's portrayed as living a quiet and humble life as a slave, methodically working to amass the money needed to purchase his liberty. He takes the racism in his society in stride, always taking the high road. Of course, this was written in 1950's, back when everybody was supposed to shut up and get with the program. Especially if your skin is dark. But despite being too soft on slavery, it's an interesting look at a noble and admirable man.
--J. ( )

This book tells Amos' story from his capture in Africa to his years of being a slave and finally to his final years as a free black man. Amos was the prince of his tribe in Africa, and it is a shock to him when he is captured for slavery. He is very lucky, though, as his owners treat him very kindly. He serves them well, saves his money, and is able to "buy" his freedom. He also buys his wives' (he was twice a widower) freedom. Amos is a gentle and kind man who respects both God and others. I highly recommend this story to both children and adults. ( )

I don't own this one, but it's one of my favorite books

Brilliant Story.Freedom Freedom Freedom!!! Blessed Amos ( )

NA