Light in the Darkness: A Story about How Slaves Learned in Secret

by Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome (Illustrator)

Rosa and her mama go to school together—in the dark of night, silently, afraid that any noise they hear is a patroller on the lookout for escaped slaves. Their school is literally a hole in the ground, where they and other slaves of all ages gather to form letters out of sticks, scratch letters in the dirt, and pronounce their sounds in whispers. Young Rosa is eager to learn the letters and then the words, because after the words comes reading. But she must have patience, her mama reminds her, and keep her letters to herself when she’s working on the plantation. If the Master catches them, it’ll mean a whipping—one lash for each letter. No matter how slow and dangerous the process might be, Rosa is determined to learn, and pass on her learning to others.

Genres: Picture Books, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Cultural, Fiction, African American, Historical

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2013

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arms reach up to help us down. First me, then Mama. We squeeze into the center of a pit barely big enough for us to stand in. Branches move back into place, making a roof that pricks our hair.

After long days of serving their owners, slaves would gather in pit schools to help each other learn to read. This book is a result of research the Lesa Cline-Ransome was doing for a book about Frederick Douglass. She discovered his writings about pit schools. It is humbling to think about how determined and brave these people were in their pursuit of education. This author/illustrator combination never fails to teach me something new. I love sharing their books with kids during Black History Month and all year long.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I loved so much about this book was the fact that it showed how much slaves were willing to risk to learn how to read and write. I think sometimes when education is provided to you and it's a norm it can be taken for granted. I'm so grateful that my parents instilled the need for me to focus on getting an education. It has inspired me to continue to learn every day of my life.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Arms reach up to help us down. First me, then Mama. We squeeze into the center of a pit barely big enough for us to stand in. Branches move back into place, making a roof that pricks our hair.

After long days of serving their owners, slaves would gather in pit schools to help each other learn to read. This book is a result of research the Lesa Cline-Ransome was doing for a book about Frederick Douglass. She discovered his writings about pit schools. It is humbling to think about how determined and brave these people were in their pursuit of education. This author/illustrator combination never fails to teach me something new. I love sharing their books with kids during Black History Month and all year long. *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to your kids when they complain about school. When they rebel, emind them that learning once was rebellion. I love this story, and all three of my children sat quietly listening to me read, mesmerized by the story, the pictures, and the risks the slaves took to learn. It also led to a great discussion about what learning could do for them, and why learning could be so threatening to their masters that they would punish them for it.

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Lesa Cline-Ransome was doing research for another picture book about Frederick Douglass, when she came across information about pit schools. These were essentially large holes dug into the ground, where slaves of all ages gathered at night to learn to read and write. A fascinating piece of U.S. history I did not know about! The fact they were worked to exhaustion during the day and, I imagine, sleep being their one moment of reprieve, yet they would give this up in order to learn (and being discovered could result in whippings or even death)? Amazing. This shows how much value was placed in literacy, even in those conditions. The pictures in this book by James E. Ransome are absolutely stunning. -Sara Z.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it's risky, Rosa and her mother slip out of their beds in the slave quarters during the night to attend school. If the master catches them, they know they will be whipped, and yet, the lure of literacy makes them take those risks. Rosa is eager to start learning how to read, but their teacher, Morris, first uses sticks to form letters and has his students trace the shapes and practice saying them. After coming close to being caught by men looking for slaves in places where they aren't supposed to be, no one goes back to school. But Rosa is desperate to learn how to put those letters into words, and she and Mama head off to the pit school once again. This inspiring story, filled with luminous illustrations that show mingled fear and determination to read, is inspiring, and Rosa's voice rings true. I had never heard of these pit schools, holes dug into the ground and covered with tree branches to disguise the night schools that met whenever it was possible. To pay such heavy prices for a little bit of knowledge reminds readers not to take lightly the freedom their own education offers them.

[Michelle Schnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

1.) Opening:

Begin by writing the following quote by Miles Davis on the board and ask students to brainstorm what it could possibly mean.

“Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery.”

How can knowledge be a form of being free?
What does “ignorance” mean? (Help students arrive at the correct definition.)

What is slavery? What does it mean to be a slave? (Help students arrive at the definition: slavery is anytime your choices are taken away. Anytime you have to do something or cannot say “No” to something, anytime your options are taken away.
Use the example of being a “slave” to Diet Pepsi. I have to have it. I have no choice. =)

However, if your mom tells you to do something, do you have a choice? Can you tell her, “No”? Then does that make you her slave? What is the difference? (Help them arrive at the correct answer.)

How can ignorance be a form of slavery? (Help student arrive at a correct definition.)

So is being smart a way of being free?

Are the smartest people the people who are the most free?

We are about to read a book where slaves, who were not allowed to learn or go to school, risk everything to learn. They give up sleep and sneak out of their homes and sit in a ditch just so they can learn and fill their minds’ with knowledge, because they believe that having a brain full of knowledge is a way to be free up here (point to head) even if your body is not free.

2.) Raise questions in the reader’s mind.
Raise interest in a topic or theme.
Prompt brief sharing of personal experiences related to the topic or theme.

3.) I choose this book because it features a group of slaves for whom education means freedom and for whom freedom isn’t just literal, it is the freedom to use their minds, to fill them with knowledge. In the book the slaves say that once you learn something it can never be taken from you, everything else can, but what you know is yours forever. My text set is called “I want to be free” and each book I chose examines the many ways that individuals and entire nations or groups of people can be free or be held captive and the many ways they have sought to escape captivity. In this book they seek freedom through knowledge.

4.) (2012, December 01). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint2.com.leo.lib....#

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

1) Text to self: This book made me think about how lucky I am to have grown up with the expectation to learn. I feel fortunate that I was never deprived of the opportunity to learn to read and learn.

2) Bloom's questions:
a) When did the slaves go to school? Why?
b) Describe what is meant by "they [the slaves] are taking in learning like it is their last breath?
c) What would result if the slaves were caught learning to read?
d) What motive is there for slaves to learn to read?
e) What is your opinion of slaver, and why do you feel that way?
f) How would you rewrite this story from Morris's [the teacher's] point of view?

3) (2013, February 1). Booklist. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you know why we still need awards like the Coretta Scott King award? Because upon finishing this book, my first thought was "It's a shoe-in for the Coretta Scott King, but there's no way it'll get a Caldecott." Why, though? It's a compelling, FASCINATING story, the art is absolutely stunning, and I see this book having an audience both at school and at home. Highly recommended.

I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you or order LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS on IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/

[Maylee Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story about Rosa and mama, slaves that are forced to learn to read and write underground so they cannot be detected. It could serve as a great book for students to learn more about times during slavery.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good little story.

[Phobean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative. I found myself holding my breath while reading. Lesa Cline-Ransome is a sophisticated writer, and this is a story that can hold the attention of children and adults alike. I was so engrossed in Rosa’s efforts to learn to read, barely noticed James Ransome’s equally rich illustrations.

[Angie]

Title: Light in the Darkness
Primary
1. Reflection: Text to Text, Text to Self, Text to World connection with the book.
As and educator, I have a text to self connection with this book, but a text to text comes to mind also. This is a story of a pit school during the periods of slavery. They had dug a deep hole and covered it with branches and leaves to hide it. Rosa, her mother, and other slaves would risk being whipped or even killed to sneak off to the pit school after dark. An educated slave would be there to teach them what he knew. While we may not agree with all of the politics of our public school systems, we are fortunate to all have equal access to education. If only all of our students and teachers had the tenacity and dedication to learn and teach as these slaves had. Often we, as a society take for granted our public school system and choose to criticize instead of embrace what we have. I have used the book Up the Learning Tree when teaching about slavery in the past. It was beyond our copyright boundaries, but would pair nicely with Light in the Darkness. I also found a new book Razia’s Ray of Hope: One Girl’s Dream of an Education that discussing a girl from Afghanistan trying to talk her father and brother into letting her attend a new girl’s school. Under Taliban rule girls have not been able to attend school, just like Rosa during slavery. I felt these would pair well to discuss differences in education through time and culture.
2. Does the book expose children to multiple perspectives and values? Provide specific examples from the text to support your response.
This book does an excellent job of depicting struggles slaves faced without being too graphic for the intended younger audience. The illustrations elude to the whippings, but don’t show the effects of them. Even after the slaves fear they have been discovered sneaking off to the pit school, Rosa persists until her mother agrees to take her. The freedom to go to school is something that is often taken for granted and this book shows the lengths slaves went to and risks they took just to learn something as simple as writing their own names.
3. Write six discussion questions using all six stages of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Remembering – What is a “pit school”?
Understanding – What would happen if Rosa and her mother were caught going to the pit school?
Applying – From the information in the story, can you develop a set of instructions about how to sneak to the pit school?
Analyzing – If the Masters would have discovered the pit school, what might have happened?
Evaluating – If you were a slave, would you have chosen to go to the pit school knowing the consequences if you were caught? Why or why not?
Creating – Write a letter to the Master’s to persuade them to let Rosa and the other slaves go to school.

[Rowan Stewart]

Light in the Darkness, the heartbreaking tale of a young slave trying to learn to read, was incredible. Late at night, as Rosa and her mother sneak away to school, they fear for their lives. By day, Rosa memorizes the letters she's learned, until Mama decides it's safe enough to go to school again. I found this story to both break and warm my heart, as I believe education should never make anyone fear death, but the fact that these women were so incredibly brave and risked everything for their education was incredible.

This story, while amazing, was incredibly intense, and despite it's picture book appearance, would not necessarily be appropriate to introduce in a younger elementary classroom. The young girl talks about being whipped, about the patrolmen out looking for them late at night, and the harsh penalties they'll face if their master finds out they're learning to read. Although not necessarily appropriate with younger students, this story would be a good way to introduce students to the harsh realities of attempting to learn as a slave.

The images in this story were enthralling, as each one was dark, mysterious, and had a sense of danger to it. They bleed the entire pages, and as the reader turns from one page to the next, the images flow flawlessly. Many pages, because of their inherent darkness, have white text on a large background area; others, shown during the day have black text. The text in the night scenes, while slightly worried, shows hope of learning how to read despite the darkness. This hope is reflected in its color. The dark, sinister qualities of the master are shown on many of the daylight pages, a mood again reflected in the text of the story.

Although I probably won't share this book in my lower elementary classroom, I do think it's an incredible story about a young girl and the hardships she faces in her journey towards reading. I would certainly recommend this book to friends, families, and students alike.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why a four star rating?:

It was really interesting to read and learn about the pit schools that slaves had. It was something I knew nothing about and found it so inspiring that these slaves risked their lives for learning. I only wish that the book would have offered even more information.

Plot Summary:

"Light in the Darkness" describes the lengths that slaves went to, to learn how to read and write. Rosa and her mother sneak out of their cabin late at night to attend pit school. A literate slave that lives near their plantation, teaches these classes to anyone that wants to learn. A deep hole is dug in the ground and then covered with leaves and branches. Inside, slaves of all ages gather to learn how to read and write. They know that it is extremely dangerous and if they were to be caught, their lives would be in danger. Regardless, they are driven by their motivation to learn in hopes that someday they will be free.

Character Descriptions:

Rosa: Rosa is a young slave girl that can't wait to learn how to read and write. She risks her life in the pursuit of knowledge.

Rosa's mother: Rosa's mom also wants to learn how to read and write and knows how important it is that her daughter does too.

Morris: Morris is the iterate slave that learned how to read and write from his Master's wife. He runs the pit school where he teaches reading and writing to the other slaves.

Key Issues:

slavery, plantation, cabin, reading, writing, patrollers, whipping, Master, secrets, risks

[Christine Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books was about a group of slaves who were constantly living in fear of their masters but their strong desire to know how to read. Rosa and her mother run off into the night to a small cave where an individual named Morris holds a small school where he teaches individuals of all ages the letters of the alphabets. They do this almost every night but are always quiet as a mouse in fear of being caught by the patrollers who roam the night. Rosa learns quick and is always eager to go to the next session in hopes of learning how to read and write words. Although, they always have to be aware and learn while in fear, their eagerness did not stop them from learning the basic letters of the alphabet.

I enjoyed this historical fiction book tremendously. The book felt like I was watching a movie in a way with the details and the reader could almost hear the sounds the author was describing. Also, there was suspense in hope that the slaves would not be caught by the patrollers and so it was a thrill to read. Also, it was admirable to see the desire and eagerness of the slaves wanting to know how to read and risking their lives just to learn. I also enjoyed the illustrations as well, it looks like watercolors were used to bring the story to life. The text was placed directly on the illustrations but in areas where there was large open space, therefore, there was no designated place for the text. Overall, I enjoyed this story because it shows the slaves underground hidden desires and never giving up no matter what it takes.

[Vanessa Mascorro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Curricular Connection: I would read this book to 6-8th graders to they can realize how they lucky they are to live during this time, and also how lucky they are to have a free education. I would read it to middle school students because I feel like kids in these grades don’t have the motivation to please their parents, like elementary students do, or the motivation to graduate, like high school students have. So these students are sometimes “stuck”, and do not put forth the effort to learn.


§113.18. Social Studies, Grade 6, Beginning with School Year 2011-2012.
(3) The eight strands of the essential knowledge and skills for social studies are intended to be integrated for instructional purposes. Skills listed in the social studies skills strand in subsection (b) of this section should be incorporated into the teaching of all essential knowledge and skills for social studies. A greater depth of understanding of complex content material can be attained when integrated social studies content from the various disciplines and critical-thinking skills are taught together. Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(b) Knowledge and skills.
(B) analyze the historical background of various contemporary societies to evaluate relationships between past conflicts and current conditions.

[Abriana Chamberlain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light in the Darkness is mainly about slaves finding their own way of learning and teaching others to read. It starts out with a young girl named Rosa and her mother running to the middle of the fields to gather with other slaves to learn the alphabet and then to read. Every time they had the chance they would go far from the houses and meet up. They all gather to learn the alphabet from Morris. He shows them the sound and what each letter looks like. One day one of the young girls is caught and beaten. After that the meetings were canceled until it was safe again. A few weeks later it was finally okay to learn.
I loved the illustrations by James E. Ransome. I thought he did a great job of capturing the raw emotion they would have felt back then. I could feel how they reacted when one of their own were beaten just for knowing how to read. As I read this book I learned how unbelievably awful everything was back then. I am glad that the slaves were able to find their own way to learn in secret. I really enjoyed reading this book because I never knew there was a such thing as pit schools.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light in the Darkness: A Story about How Slaves Learned in Secret, written by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome, is a nominee for the 2015-16 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

Light in the Darkness is a moving account of how slaves risked their lives to do something that most of us take for granted. They stole away in the dead of night, always looking over their shoulders for patrollers, to meet in pit schools. These schools, often nothing more than holes in the ground covered by branches, were led by older, literate slaves who taught others to read.

This book is an excellent addition to studies of slavery and how people knew that knowledge and reading were essential to being truly free. I think Light in the Darkness would be an ideal selection for Black History Month and American Education Week celebrations.

Light in the Darkness is a wonderful read-aloud for children of all ages, but some younger readers may need a bit more background information on slavery to really appreciate the story.

[Jaimie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosa and her Mama are slaves in America when slaves were still legal. Both Rosa and her Mama are illiterate, striving and pining for a better education. Rosa’s mama sneaks them out at night occasionally to attend an underground school, meant for teaching illiterate slaves how to read. This story is about Rosa and her Mama learning how to read in secret. It highlights how dangerous these actions were as well as how rare it was for slaves to have the opportunity to learn to read.

This story would be very interesting and beneficial to children because they can relate to learning how to read, especially in the Kindergarten grade level. This book includes a rich plot that is age appropriate. Also, the illustrations relate to the text by displaying accurate scenes, enhancing the thought of secrecy and the level of danger. Through this book, children can get a glimpse at the hardships slaves went through, as well as the importance of education!

[Christine Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Text to World- This book would be a great story to read to students prior to taking a field trip to Mayhew Cabin and John Brown’s Cave in Nebraska City, a stop on the Underground Railroad. It will allow the students to gain an understanding of a slave child’s life.

Bloom’s Questions
1. When did this story take place?
2. Summarize the main events in the story.
3. Explain why Mama waited so many days to return to the school after some slaves had been caught returning to the plantation.
4. What do you think was the most exciting part?
5. What choice would you have made if you were Mama and trying to decide if you should take your daughter to the pit school?
6. What do you predict will happen now that Rosa can read?

Review:
(2012, December 1). School Library Journal. http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#

[Alex Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light in the Darkness by Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome is a historical fiction story about Rosa. She is a young girl who lives during times of slavery. Rosa longs to learn her letters of the alphabet. After learning her letters comes words, then comes full on reading. However, Rosa must be careful to not get caught sneaking out in the middle of the night with Mama to learn. In order to learn they must get to the hole in the ground before the slave patrollers find out what is going on. After learning Rosa and everyone else who learns must remember to keep the tradition going and keep teaching every slave who also wants to learn.

Ransome does a great job capturing the bravery of young Rosa and symbolizes the entire African-American culture with Rosa. The beautiful water color drawings capture the beauty of this historical journey.

[Jessica Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light in the Darkness by Lesa Cline-Ransome is the story of how a young slave girl named Rosa and her mom learn how to read. They risk their lives by sneaking out of their quarters at night to attend a "pit school". Slaves dug large pits in the middle of the woods and hold school there.

I really liked this book. It's a beautiful story about the value of education. The slaves craved to be able to read and write. It gave them hope that one day they would be free and would be able to use their skills. I had never heard of pit schools, so I really enjoyed learning about that. It's so incredible that they did that so they could learn.

This would be such a good book to read to a class. Students of all ages need to know the value of education and how far people have gone in the past to get it.

[Leslie Ramirez]

This historical fiction book by Lesa Cline-Ransome is a story of a girl named Rosa and her want to learn how to read. Her and her mother risk getting caught by their owner in order to go to the forest and learn how to read. Their teacher is another slave named Morris who knows how to read and now is teaching other people stuck in slavery. Although this book is fictional it shows the struggles of slaves and how they were willing to put themselves at risk in order to learn something new.

The illustrator is James E. Ransome and all his pictures were created with watercolor. In this book the pictures are two page spread all full bleed. The colors are dark and to show the darkness and struggle of them. The images show the emotions of the characters and you can see the fear on their faces which shows that realness of the story.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book of how determined slaves were to learn how to read and the risks they took to get an education. They would often meet in pit schools, which were literally pits covered by branches, etc to mislead patrollers about the existence of a hole there. The teacher would make letters out of things like sticks and the slaves would try to learn the letters and sounds associated with the letters. While Rosa's determination to learn these letters was clear, what wasn't clear was why was Rosa so interested in learning something that could result in brutal punishment (a whipping for each letter learned). That is why this book lost a star, the lack of an explanation of why slaves were so fascinated by learning that adults went to school as well as kids.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free." Frederick Douglass
A picture book about "pit schools" that developed in the south as a way for slaves to gather at night and teach reading to one another. Pit schools were holes dug in the ground and covered with branches to hide their location. The story is told by Rosa, a little slave girl whose mother takes her to a pit school to learn how to read, despite the danger of what would happen if they were discovered. Even when they're nearly discovered, the desire to learn is stronger than their fear, and they return to "the light" that knowledge provides.

A compelling historical picture book with an important message about the importance of reading.

[Juliette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have another book by this author/illustrator duo on my to read list that I haven't been able to get at the library yet, so when I saw this one there, I snatched it up.

Wonderful for black history month, I think this would work for any elementary age. It's a story of Rosa and her mother leaving the plantation in the middle of the night to learn how to read. Very dangerous since slave masters did not want their slaves to learn and slaves were often punished for learning.

The author did some background research and the illustration fits very well with the tone of the story as well as being historically accurate (clothing), and facial features varying.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting (and poignant) book. This dramatized first-person narration is told from the point of view of Rosa, a young slave girl, who is learning letters of the alphabet in a pit school, a hidden hole covered with branches, late at night. The haunting, luminous watercolors in muted color tones impart the magic of learning to read but are balanced with the fear of severe beatings, if caught, for each letter of the alphabet. As Frederick Douglass stated, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free” [Author’s Note, unpaged]. Includes an Author’s Note about pit schools and books for further reading.

[Jill Nelsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my Text-to-Text Connection. Light in the Darkness is about how slaves set up schools to teach themselves to learn to read. I really enjoy history and am amazed by the effort that the slaves put into learning to read.
The book I connect this to is Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass. Both books revel the effort that the slaves put in to learning to read. In Light in the Darkness, Rosa’s mother sneaks her off the plantation at night so that she can attend a pit school to learn to read. In Frederick Douglass’s book he is taught for a while by his mistress, then teaches himself some, and even trick the white boys to teach him how to write.

[Robert J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is compelling. As an avid reader of Civil War history I have long been aware of the perils that slaves risked in learning to read. I had not previously heard of "pit schools" which the authors note describes as "large holes dug deep in the ground and disguised with sticks and branches." The mere fact that slave owners forbid them from learning to read gives a clear indication on how powerful the written word can be. Slaves risked beatings and death if caught learning to read and yet they did because they knew that " once you learn to read, you will be free forever." (Frederick Douglas"