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Dear America
A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl, Belmont Plantation, Virginia 1859
Day or two later
Freedom is one of the first words I teached myself to write. Down in the Quarters people pray for freedom - they sing 'bout freedom, but to keep Mas' Henley from knowin' their true feelings, they call freedom "heaven." Everybody's mind is on freedom.
But it is a word that aine never showed me no picture. While fannin' this afternoon, my eyes fell on "freedom" in a book William was readin'. No wonder I don't see nothin'. I been spellin' it F-R-E-D-U-M.
I put the right letters in my head to make sure I remembered their place. F-R-E-E-D-O-M. I just now wrote it. Still no picture...
202 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1997
About the author
Patricia C. McKissack
192 books178 followersPatricia C. McKissack was the Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of The Dark-Thirty and Porch Lies an ALA Notable Book. She collaborated with Jerry Pinkney on Goin' Someplace Special (Coretta Scott King Award winner) and Mirandy and Brother Wind (Coretta Scott King Award winner and Caldecott Honor Book).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
May 12, 2009
It's very rare for me to to feel the way I did reading this book since it's a work of fiction. How often does a person find a fictional book and actually get so into it that it seems real? Maybe that's because it's so easy to realize that Clotee, along with the rest of the characters, WERE real..somewhere, sometime, these fictional characters were probably right on the mark.
This is another book that would be a great one to give to a younger reluctant reader. I'm so happy I read it- it's so worthwhile. We've all learned in school about slavery and the daily life of the slaves. I know for myself, when someone is pushing something on me, no matter how interested I may be, I don't give it my all. This, having read it on my own, was a great look into the daily slave life.
It's hard to read, even being fiction, because again, you know there were people who lived exactly like this. That's a hard pill to swallow. It really makes you think.
Clotee was written absolutely fantastic. McKissack managed to make me feel like I actually knew Clotee and was right there seeing these parts of her life.
The author inculdes some ending pages with a historical note and some other interesting parts. There are some pictures of a five generation slave family, a map showing slave states versus non-slave states, hand written passes for a slave to go to the store, a note from Fredirick K (who was Fredirick Douglas) for a slave who was running away, etc. There was even a bulletin showing a horse for sale....with a slave for sale being right underneath.
This would definitely be an eye-opener for someone who doesn't know much about that time already. And for the people like me, who know some but now enough, it's still very worthwhile.
This is another book that would be a great one to give to a younger reluctant reader. I'm so happy I read it- it's so worthwhile. We've all learned in school about slavery and the daily life of the slaves. I know for myself, when someone is pushing something on me, no matter how interested I may be, I don't give it my all. This, having read it on my own, was a great look into the daily slave life.
It's hard to read, even being fiction, because again, you know there were people who lived exactly like this. That's a hard pill to swallow. It really makes you think.
Clotee was written absolutely fantastic. McKissack managed to make me feel like I actually knew Clotee and was right there seeing these parts of her life.
The author inculdes some ending pages with a historical note and some other interesting parts. There are some pictures of a five generation slave family, a map showing slave states versus non-slave states, hand written passes for a slave to go to the store, a note from Fredirick K (who was Fredirick Douglas) for a slave who was running away, etc. There was even a bulletin showing a horse for sale....with a slave for sale being right underneath.
This would definitely be an eye-opener for someone who doesn't know much about that time already. And for the people like me, who know some but now enough, it's still very worthwhile.
August 1, 2020
این کتاب بر اساس خاطرات واقعی مادربزرگ مادربزرگ مادربزرگ مادربزرگ نویسنده نوشته شده و در مورد یک دختر دوازده ساله ست به نام کلوتی. یکی از وظایف کلوتی باد زدن پسر اربابش سر کلاس درسه و همین جاست که خوندن و نوشتن یاد می گیره و شروع می کنه به نوشتن خاطرات روزانه ش. کلوتی با کش رفتن روزنامه های مختلف در جریان اخبار قرار می گیره و کم کم با راه آهن زیرزمینی آشنا میشه...
در کل برای نوجوانان نوشته شده و به نظر من برای دوازده تا چهارده سال مناسبه. در مقایسه با سایر کتاب هایی که در مورد برده داری نوشته شده خشونت کمی داره، ترجمه مینا فخیم خوبه، سانسور هم داره :)
در کل برای نوجوانان نوشته شده و به نظر من برای دوازده تا چهارده سال مناسبه. در مقایسه با سایر کتاب هایی که در مورد برده داری نوشته شده خشونت کمی داره، ترجمه مینا فخیم خوبه، سانسور هم داره :)
January 22, 2009
This book is a diary of a girl named Clotee. She is a slave who learns to read and write from fanning her Master's son during his lessons. This is probably one of the best books i have ever read. It is SO good.
October 14, 2011
Dear America: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl, A Picture of Freedom by Patricia C. McKissack is an inspirational story told through the eyes and feelings of a fourteen-year-old slave girl living on the Belmont Plantation in Virginia in 1859. Clotee dreams of freedom and always wonders if she will be able to see the real picture depicting the true meaning of the powerful word. Clotee spends most of her nights writing in her diary and dreams of the day she can become an abolitionist to help free the slaves living in Virginia. The story fits into the informational genre of junior books.
a.) Although the entire literature, text and meaning are felt throughout the book, Clotee’s constant desire for freedom and her quest to find the true meaning provide great inspirational parts of this book.
b.) The language and text provide a sense of hope and promise for the young child. The young girl never understands why slavery must exist and dreads her life with a master, but then, she soon finds out “there’s somethin’ called a underground railroad that slaves ride on to get away to freedom” (p.61). Learning how to read and write secretly, Clotee is able to write about her dreams of freedom. At the conclusion of her diary, Clotee decides her fate as she wrote “most of all I want slavery to end for everybody. I read in one of your papers that it’s not right for anybody to be slaves. So, that’s why I want to stay- to make an end to slavery” (p. 198). Her determination to become an abolitionist to help end slavery and free her friends makes this book a great read for everyone.
c.) One Monday in July, Clotee wrote “I hate slavery so bad” (p. 85). After a few of her friends were beaten and killed, she wonders “Why do we have to die to be free? Why can’t we be free and live?” (p. 87). Clotee decides to give up her chance at freedom on the underground railroad in order to free as many slaves as she can expressing her decision as, “Maybe I’ll make my own run for freedom next year- or maybe the next. Until then I have plenty of work to do” (p. 202). And finally, making her wish come true, as she looked at the letters which spelled F-R-E-E-D-O-M, “for the first time (it) showed me a clear picture. A picture of me” (p. 202).
This story will provide countless amounts of information to the young students in our classrooms. So much history is forgotten, many of the students know little about the world and how it used to be. Students need to be reminded of where they come from and also of how lucky they are to have “freedom”. Lessons about slavery, the people who helped abolish it and the sacrifices many young people had to make can be taught with this story. The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl can bring an abundant amount of historical information into the classroom.
a.) Although the entire literature, text and meaning are felt throughout the book, Clotee’s constant desire for freedom and her quest to find the true meaning provide great inspirational parts of this book.
b.) The language and text provide a sense of hope and promise for the young child. The young girl never understands why slavery must exist and dreads her life with a master, but then, she soon finds out “there’s somethin’ called a underground railroad that slaves ride on to get away to freedom” (p.61). Learning how to read and write secretly, Clotee is able to write about her dreams of freedom. At the conclusion of her diary, Clotee decides her fate as she wrote “most of all I want slavery to end for everybody. I read in one of your papers that it’s not right for anybody to be slaves. So, that’s why I want to stay- to make an end to slavery” (p. 198). Her determination to become an abolitionist to help end slavery and free her friends makes this book a great read for everyone.
c.) One Monday in July, Clotee wrote “I hate slavery so bad” (p. 85). After a few of her friends were beaten and killed, she wonders “Why do we have to die to be free? Why can’t we be free and live?” (p. 87). Clotee decides to give up her chance at freedom on the underground railroad in order to free as many slaves as she can expressing her decision as, “Maybe I’ll make my own run for freedom next year- or maybe the next. Until then I have plenty of work to do” (p. 202). And finally, making her wish come true, as she looked at the letters which spelled F-R-E-E-D-O-M, “for the first time (it) showed me a clear picture. A picture of me” (p. 202).
This story will provide countless amounts of information to the young students in our classrooms. So much history is forgotten, many of the students know little about the world and how it used to be. Students need to be reminded of where they come from and also of how lucky they are to have “freedom”. Lessons about slavery, the people who helped abolish it and the sacrifices many young people had to make can be taught with this story. The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl can bring an abundant amount of historical information into the classroom.
November 17, 2012
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
It is 1859 in Virginia. Clotee lives on Belmont Plantation and serves Mas' Henley. She feels lucky because she doesn't have to work in the fields like many of the other slaves. Her job is to attend the lessons Mas' Henley's wife teaches to her two children.
When the weather is warm, Clotee's job is to fan the children as they work on their studies. The thing is, Clotee doesn't simply keep the children cool; she also watches over their shoulders and learns right along with them. She is learning to read and write, and she uses her knowledge to record events in this diary.
There is one very serious problem. If Mas' Henley finds out Clotee can read and write, her life could be in danger. Slaves are not allowed this privilege, and if she is discovered, she is sure to suffer a severe beating and possibly worse. She has heard of slaves caught reading who have been sold into the deep south, where life can be even more terrible for them.
A new tutor is hired to teach the children, and Clotee begins to suspect that he might not be exactly who he says he is. When she realizes he knows her secret, she is terrified, but she discovers he isn't going to reveal what he knows. As her knowledge and vocabulary expand, she learns the mysterious tutor is an abolitionist, and he might even be involved in something she has heard about called the Underground Railroad.
Part of the DEAR AMERICA series, A PICTURE OF FREEDOM by Patricia C. McKissack is about one young slave girl's experience as she lives as an orphan on a Virginia plantation at the mercy of an intolerant master. This work of historical fiction depicts life on the plantation and how the slaves struggled to retain their identity as they battled for simple survival. McKissack brings this challenging time to life for readers interested in learning more about a piece of our past.
It is 1859 in Virginia. Clotee lives on Belmont Plantation and serves Mas' Henley. She feels lucky because she doesn't have to work in the fields like many of the other slaves. Her job is to attend the lessons Mas' Henley's wife teaches to her two children.
When the weather is warm, Clotee's job is to fan the children as they work on their studies. The thing is, Clotee doesn't simply keep the children cool; she also watches over their shoulders and learns right along with them. She is learning to read and write, and she uses her knowledge to record events in this diary.
There is one very serious problem. If Mas' Henley finds out Clotee can read and write, her life could be in danger. Slaves are not allowed this privilege, and if she is discovered, she is sure to suffer a severe beating and possibly worse. She has heard of slaves caught reading who have been sold into the deep south, where life can be even more terrible for them.
A new tutor is hired to teach the children, and Clotee begins to suspect that he might not be exactly who he says he is. When she realizes he knows her secret, she is terrified, but she discovers he isn't going to reveal what he knows. As her knowledge and vocabulary expand, she learns the mysterious tutor is an abolitionist, and he might even be involved in something she has heard about called the Underground Railroad.
Part of the DEAR AMERICA series, A PICTURE OF FREEDOM by Patricia C. McKissack is about one young slave girl's experience as she lives as an orphan on a Virginia plantation at the mercy of an intolerant master. This work of historical fiction depicts life on the plantation and how the slaves struggled to retain their identity as they battled for simple survival. McKissack brings this challenging time to life for readers interested in learning more about a piece of our past.
December 22, 2010
This is one of the most fascinating books I've read in the Dear America series. Twelve year old Clotee is a true heroine in every sense of the word. Her journal gives a vivid detail of what slavery is like in the year 1859 and what it's like for those trying to free those who are forced into a life serving others.
What I found most fascinating about Clotee, is her quest for knowledge and an education. She yearns for Freedom and in so doing, she helped saved the lives of other slaves and become a conductor, as part of the Under Ground Railroad.
Clotee's story is heart wrenching, hopeful and one that transforms the reader back to a time that divided our nation and paints a very vivid picture of slavery in the reader's mind. Like the other stories I've read in this series, it's one that needs to be in a classroom setting. It's a brilliantly written historical fiction, that shares facts and historical truths from this era at the end of the story. The pages of this story give everything a student needs to gain an understanding during this time in our nation's history and for those who already know the history, it allows us to gain a different perspective from the eyes of a 12 yr old girl who's lived it.
Mixed with fiction and nonfiction alike, Clotee's story, like the rest of the books in the Dear America series, will keep readers both young and hold captivated by the history presented in each of these unique stories.
What I found most fascinating about Clotee, is her quest for knowledge and an education. She yearns for Freedom and in so doing, she helped saved the lives of other slaves and become a conductor, as part of the Under Ground Railroad.
Clotee's story is heart wrenching, hopeful and one that transforms the reader back to a time that divided our nation and paints a very vivid picture of slavery in the reader's mind. Like the other stories I've read in this series, it's one that needs to be in a classroom setting. It's a brilliantly written historical fiction, that shares facts and historical truths from this era at the end of the story. The pages of this story give everything a student needs to gain an understanding during this time in our nation's history and for those who already know the history, it allows us to gain a different perspective from the eyes of a 12 yr old girl who's lived it.
Mixed with fiction and nonfiction alike, Clotee's story, like the rest of the books in the Dear America series, will keep readers both young and hold captivated by the history presented in each of these unique stories.
November 2, 2011
i started to read this book because i have read many different diary formed books and i had heard from my friend that this was a book i needed to read.
the category i put this book in was that it was written by a female, whoms name is Patricia C. McKissack.
the things i liked about this book was that it made me realise all the things that slaves that were africian american had went through in those days because of all the experiences that they had gone through. another favourite thing i loved was how this slave "Clotee" was a slave that didnt let her Master or Missus tell her what to think because of how in those days slaves ion Virginia werent allowd to read or write but Clotee did learn time and time again about everything and this all started from when she would fan her Masters son "William" and she would watch him read his books and she would read them too. She started to read in her diary which told me about all her experiences that she had gone throught in her past and what she was hoping for in her future.
i one thing i disliked in this boook was the slang they used because i didnt know some words they were and sometimes it didnt make sense but it did make a good effect by making sound like it was written by a slave girl who was upbrang with the right education.
i would recommend this book to people who would want to experience the history of slaves in those days and the series of vividly imagined accounts of life in the past because the author gave a wide reading rage of all of that inside this book.
the category i put this book in was that it was written by a female, whoms name is Patricia C. McKissack.
the things i liked about this book was that it made me realise all the things that slaves that were africian american had went through in those days because of all the experiences that they had gone through. another favourite thing i loved was how this slave "Clotee" was a slave that didnt let her Master or Missus tell her what to think because of how in those days slaves ion Virginia werent allowd to read or write but Clotee did learn time and time again about everything and this all started from when she would fan her Masters son "William" and she would watch him read his books and she would read them too. She started to read in her diary which told me about all her experiences that she had gone throught in her past and what she was hoping for in her future.
i one thing i disliked in this boook was the slang they used because i didnt know some words they were and sometimes it didnt make sense but it did make a good effect by making sound like it was written by a slave girl who was upbrang with the right education.
i would recommend this book to people who would want to experience the history of slaves in those days and the series of vividly imagined accounts of life in the past because the author gave a wide reading rage of all of that inside this book.
March 1, 2010
The year is 1859. Clotee has lived all twelve years of her life as a slave on the Belmont Plantation in Virginia. Although she has known no life other than that of a slave, she has secretly learned how to read and write, and that ability gives her a glimpse of the world out there. To practice, she keeps a secret diary that she hides in a hollowed-out tree. An orphan most of her life, Clotee has managed to make the best of her circumstances, and writing is one of the few things that brings her any joy. When a tutor comes to the plantation to teach the master's young son, Clotee figures that he'll just be another prejudiced southerner. But he's an abolitionist that further expands Clotee's horizons, and he may be able to give her the one thing she longs for: freedom.
This was a wonderful book that brought to life the world of a young slave girl in the pre Civil War south. Clotee came alive and seemed like a real person with real hopes and dreams. I highly recommend this book to young readers with an interest in American history.
This was a wonderful book that brought to life the world of a young slave girl in the pre Civil War south. Clotee came alive and seemed like a real person with real hopes and dreams. I highly recommend this book to young readers with an interest in American history.
June 13, 2020
Wow. I realize this is a children's book, but I had another one of the books in the Dear America series as a child that I loved dearly and just recently found out there were many more. This one felt like required reading and I was right. It feels wrong to say a book written from the perspective of a slave is "excellent," but it should genuinely be required reading for all. For kid-friendly font size and wording, it was absolutely gripping. After that epilogue, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out if this was actually a true story or not.. I don't often write reviews, but this one was simultaneously excellent, devastating, "easy to read" as far as racism/slavery can be, and an absolute gut punch in the feels. Whether you are just beginning your journey in being actively anti-racist, or this is a subject you want to learn more about, or you like reading books for kids, really no matter what you are interested in, read this.
June 8, 2012
By far the best book in the Dear America series that Five of Hearts and I have read so far. The writing is absolutely phenomenal! Patricia C. McKissack's character of Clotee comes to life so beautifully that it was hard not to become completely engrossed in her story. Five of Hearts has read the Addy (American Girl) series so we have previously discussed slavery in the United States. However, A Picture of Freedom gave a detailed account of life on a plantation for a young slave. There were many scenes that were tough to read as the horrors of slavery were described. These, together with the remarkable moments in Clotee's life, made her story one that we will never forget. I highly recommend this book
October 5, 2022
I remember staying up to read this because I couldn't put it down. I put a blanket up against my bedroom door to block out the light. I had a similar experience of not wanting to stop reading because it is a suspenseful story. This feels like a real diary, so I was unsurprised that Patricia McKissack spoke of how she felt like she was channeling Clotee while she was writing.
This book details the horrors of slavery in ways that are age appropriate, so I really do recommend that children read it. I think this has aged really well. While there are a couple of white allies, it's clear that Clotee is her own savior.
If there is one criticism, it's that Clotee's story is a pretty happy one (comparatively) with a lot of unlikely good fortune that I can assume most other enslaved people did not experience. She's literate, she has the aforementioned white allies, and she never really faces abuse that we know other characters experience. But the good thing is that this isn't trauma porn.
Dead parent count: 1 (before the book begins). Bonus: It's not actually a bonus, but other enslaved characters die when they try to escape or the master just feels like taking a punishment too far.
This book details the horrors of slavery in ways that are age appropriate, so I really do recommend that children read it. I think this has aged really well. While there are a couple of white allies, it's clear that Clotee is her own savior.
If there is one criticism, it's that Clotee's story is a pretty happy one (comparatively) with a lot of unlikely good fortune that I can assume most other enslaved people did not experience. She's literate, she has the aforementioned white allies, and she never really faces abuse that we know other characters experience. But the good thing is that this isn't trauma porn.
Dead parent count: 1 (before the book begins). Bonus: It's not actually a bonus, but other enslaved characters die when they try to escape or the master just feels like taking a punishment too far.
June 2, 2021
A Picture of Freedom kind of blew me away. I didn't remember reading this book at all as a kid, which is a real shame because it's far and away the best one I've re-read so far.
Normally, these books are just linear progressions to destinations or descriptions of historical chores. This is the first one I've re-read that had any sort of plot that not only worked with the diary concept but also added richer historical understanding. There were actually moments of genuine tension, and I feel like this would have been a really interesting novel.
Clotee is by far the smartest and most bad-ass diarist I've re-read so far. She teaches herself to read—at terrible risk—by listening in on the plantation owner's son's school lessons. This skill slowly puts her on a path to abolitionism that incorporates the cruelty of slavery, the abolition movement, and the abusive and screwed-up power dynamics slavery creates among enslaved people and between enslaved people and their enslavers. The minor characters in this book were so effective and brought so much depth into the story.
Much like Look to the Hills, the other Patricia McKissack I've re-read, Clotee's diary has nuanced explorations of freedom as both a legal status and a psychological construct. I really love that her Dear America books explore the inherent wrongness of slavery, rather than using excessive descriptions of abuse to generate empathy for enslaved people. (That said, this book does contain a lot of suggestive language about the physical abuse enslaved people endured.) The ending also genuinely surprised me, and I loved that courage, community, sacrifice, and self-determination because part of Clotee's "picture of freedom."
Normally, these books are just linear progressions to destinations or descriptions of historical chores. This is the first one I've re-read that had any sort of plot that not only worked with the diary concept but also added richer historical understanding. There were actually moments of genuine tension, and I feel like this would have been a really interesting novel.
Clotee is by far the smartest and most bad-ass diarist I've re-read so far. She teaches herself to read—at terrible risk—by listening in on the plantation owner's son's school lessons. This skill slowly puts her on a path to abolitionism that incorporates the cruelty of slavery, the abolition movement, and the abusive and screwed-up power dynamics slavery creates among enslaved people and between enslaved people and their enslavers. The minor characters in this book were so effective and brought so much depth into the story.
Much like Look to the Hills, the other Patricia McKissack I've re-read, Clotee's diary has nuanced explorations of freedom as both a legal status and a psychological construct. I really love that her Dear America books explore the inherent wrongness of slavery, rather than using excessive descriptions of abuse to generate empathy for enslaved people. (That said, this book does contain a lot of suggestive language about the physical abuse enslaved people endured.) The ending also genuinely surprised me, and I loved that courage, community, sacrifice, and self-determination because part of Clotee's "picture of freedom."
December 22, 2010
This is one of the most fascinating books I've read in the Dear America series. Twelve year old Clotee is a true heroine in every sense of the word. Her journal gives a vivid detail of what slavery is like in the year 1859 and what it's like for those trying to free those who are forced into a life serving others.
What I found most fascinating about Clotee, is her quest for knowledge and an education. She yearns for Freedom and in so doing, she helped saved the lives of other slaves and become a conductor, as part of the Under Ground Railroad.
Clotee's story is heart wrenching, hopeful and one that transforms the reader back to a time that divided our nation and paints a very vivid picture of slavery in the reader's mind. Like the other stories I've read in this series, it's one that needs to be in a classroom setting. It's a brilliantly written historical fiction, that shares facts and historical truths from this era at the end of the story. The pages of this story give everything a student needs to gain an understanding during this time in our nation's history and for those who already know the history, it allows us to gain a different perspective from the eyes of a 12 yr old girl who's lived it.
Mixed with fiction and nonfiction alike, Clotee's story, like the rest of the books in the Dear America series, will keep readers both young and hold captivated by the history presented in each of these unique stories.
What I found most fascinating about Clotee, is her quest for knowledge and an education. She yearns for Freedom and in so doing, she helped saved the lives of other slaves and become a conductor, as part of the Under Ground Railroad.
Clotee's story is heart wrenching, hopeful and one that transforms the reader back to a time that divided our nation and paints a very vivid picture of slavery in the reader's mind. Like the other stories I've read in this series, it's one that needs to be in a classroom setting. It's a brilliantly written historical fiction, that shares facts and historical truths from this era at the end of the story. The pages of this story give everything a student needs to gain an understanding during this time in our nation's history and for those who already know the history, it allows us to gain a different perspective from the eyes of a 12 yr old girl who's lived it.
Mixed with fiction and nonfiction alike, Clotee's story, like the rest of the books in the Dear America series, will keep readers both young and hold captivated by the history presented in each of these unique stories.
March 31, 2011
Picture of Freedom (Virginia Plantation) / 0-590-25988-1
The history here is correct and the Dear America diary format works well for personalizing a very complex and difficult period of history. The narrator is remarkably easy to identify with, and her love of learning and yearning to read is tangible. Her narrative reminds us what a privilege it is just to be able to read. The author has to bend over backwards to justify how a slave can safely keep a diary, when the very idea of such a thing is illegal, but we can forgive the somewhat absurd lengths this issue reaches, in order to justify having this wonderful fictional narrative.
Since this is a novel about slavery, there is some potentially disturbing material here, including a beating that leaves the slave dead after several days of serious illness. The plantation owner's child dies in an unforeseen accident which may be disturbing to young children. And both the master and mistress are quite childish and cruel, with the master accusing the long-time cook of the household of being likely to poison him to death after the master murders the cook's husband.
~ Ana Mardoll
The history here is correct and the Dear America diary format works well for personalizing a very complex and difficult period of history. The narrator is remarkably easy to identify with, and her love of learning and yearning to read is tangible. Her narrative reminds us what a privilege it is just to be able to read. The author has to bend over backwards to justify how a slave can safely keep a diary, when the very idea of such a thing is illegal, but we can forgive the somewhat absurd lengths this issue reaches, in order to justify having this wonderful fictional narrative.
Since this is a novel about slavery, there is some potentially disturbing material here, including a beating that leaves the slave dead after several days of serious illness. The plantation owner's child dies in an unforeseen accident which may be disturbing to young children. And both the master and mistress are quite childish and cruel, with the master accusing the long-time cook of the household of being likely to poison him to death after the master murders the cook's husband.
~ Ana Mardoll
January 29, 2011
This is another from the My Story fictional book series where a historical event is written in the form of a diary from someone who was witnessing it. Here we have a 12 year old girl who witnesses all the horrors of slavery and cruelty against her friends, while hope arrives in the form of a man with connections to the Underground Railway which takes slaves to freedom.
It gives you an idea of just how much work the slaves had to do, even the children. Clotee is a house slave who works very long hours under the eye of the mistress of the house. She learns to read and write by listening when the boy and his tutors are working. She witnesses slaves betraying each other for better treatment, death, punishment and escape. It was an interesting read and a short book that you can finish in one night. An ideal way to introduce the younger generation to history as well!
It gives you an idea of just how much work the slaves had to do, even the children. Clotee is a house slave who works very long hours under the eye of the mistress of the house. She learns to read and write by listening when the boy and his tutors are working. She witnesses slaves betraying each other for better treatment, death, punishment and escape. It was an interesting read and a short book that you can finish in one night. An ideal way to introduce the younger generation to history as well!
September 5, 2016
Based on true historical facts, the book, presented in the form of a diary chronicles the story a young slave girl, Clotee. Clotee grows up on the plantation of her owner, Mas' Henley where she learns to read and write while fanning his son, William during his daily lessons. During this time, she learns new words, freedom being the most important of them all. We follow her journey as she learns what true freedom really is, even as she learns that everything isn't black and white; both racially and metaphorically.
I really enjoyed this book, and the fact that it was based on real events made it even better. The few touches on humor sprinkled on some of the pages always served as a reason to smile in spite of the events that were taking place.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction. You can also check out Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba.
I really enjoyed this book, and the fact that it was based on real events made it even better. The few touches on humor sprinkled on some of the pages always served as a reason to smile in spite of the events that were taking place.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction. You can also check out Nzingha, Warrior Queen of Matamba.
November 10, 2019
For anyone who wants to dip into the Dear America series but doesn't want to read all forty-something books, A Picture of Freedom should be one of the stories to read if you just want to try a few of them. I can hardly believe how much I had forgotten of Clotee's story; Patricia C. McKissack brings the story and characters wonderfully to life through Clotee's narration. The interactions between Clotee, the other slaves, and the plantation owners are vivid, complex and believable. The message of the importance of education in aiding the fight against slavery is done well and I think it's an aspect of the history that isn't always fully explored in fiction about slaves.
The diary format is used very well here, and helps to make the story convincing and engaging. A Picture of Freedom is definitely among the best books in its series!
The diary format is used very well here, and helps to make the story convincing and engaging. A Picture of Freedom is definitely among the best books in its series!
November 21, 2010
I had been wanting to read some historical fiction for a while but not the same romantic love story over again. I found the 'my story series' and I love them!
Set in 1859, it is written in diary form and tells of Clotee a slave who is learning to read and write in secret. Most words she can associate with pictures, but 'freedom is just a word'. Through the novel she tries to understand the word freedom and gain a picture to go along with that word as she tries to free herself from slavery.
At the back of the books there are historical notes, containing facts, photographs and images and in this case the words and music to 'Go Down, Moses' offering a general overview of life for those in slavery.
It's a great series, I really recommend them!
Set in 1859, it is written in diary form and tells of Clotee a slave who is learning to read and write in secret. Most words she can associate with pictures, but 'freedom is just a word'. Through the novel she tries to understand the word freedom and gain a picture to go along with that word as she tries to free herself from slavery.
At the back of the books there are historical notes, containing facts, photographs and images and in this case the words and music to 'Go Down, Moses' offering a general overview of life for those in slavery.
It's a great series, I really recommend them!
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March 27, 2011I thought the book was quite interesting because of they way the book follows an ordinary slave girl. I loved to read about her progress as a reader, and
March 16, 2012
I liked this Dear America book much better then the Oregon Trail one. The main character seemed much more real and I loved her thirst for knowledge. There were a few parts that were somewhat violent and depressing but considering this book is about a slave girl in the south, I found it very positive and uplifting. I was also pleasantly surprised to read at the end that it was based on a true story and the main character really did live and do the things the book talks about. Very good book for older children to learn about slavery and the trials they experienced.
June 13, 2012
Our favorite book so far in the Diary of America series. "A Picture of Freedom" is an exceptionaly well written account of a young slave's life on a Virginia Plantation. Five of Hearts and I were hooked from the first page and finished this diary in just a few readings. As with any account of slavery there were some horrific parts to read to Five of Hearts. However, there were also many beautiful and inspirational moments that made up this wonderful narrative. We would definetely recommend this book especially if you are studying slavery in the America.
October 12, 2016
I'll admit that sometimes I have a heart of stone, and I rarely emotionally connect with books. But this book hit me right in the feels. I became so immersed in this book and with the characters that it was like being on an emotional rollercoaster. The plot flowed seamlessly and the characters really seemed to come to life. This is a great book that is both heartbreaking and inspiring and overall very thought provoking. It is definitely one of the best books in the Dear America series. Highly recommended!
March 16, 2010
This is a very quick read, but I enjoyed it. It is written in a diary format by a little slave girl named Clotee. It tells about how she taught herself to read and write (which is why she started her diary), and also about some of the things that slaves endured. She actually had the chance to run away and escape slavery but instead remained on the plantation and became an abolitionist so she could help other slaves escape to their freedom. A story about a very strong young lady.
March 26, 2012
It was a really good book. It was writen like a diary in the point of view of a slave girl on a southern plantation. Since it was written in the point of veiw of a girl the age of 12 or 13 it helped me relate to the main character. At the begining it can be a little slow at first but then it gets way more interesting. It is an easy read. The story is only 172 pages long. There are 28 more pages of historical notes after the story.It has medium sized font. It is a Historical fiction book.
June 5, 2012
This book is good if you like to be bored. I didnt enjoy it at all. It might be the fact that i read the book mostly at night but i found it hard not to fall asleep. Its i think meant for 5th-7th graders because i remember seeing it when i was a kid in my elementary school library. That also migt of contrubuted to my bordem, maybe im too old now. But al in all i dont likeit, but im sure someone elce will.
September 26, 2011
I like the series Dear America. I picked this book up at a yard sale for a quarter, and I expected about a dollar's worth. It was surprisingly not just good, but great! I loved the way the author progressed the story along by educating Clotee, thus Clotee's diary progressed and became more well-written. A great, short read.
September 22, 2019
I cried finishing this. It’s insane that white people really were able to have slaves and thought they were happy being a slave. To be able to abuse them mentally and physically and get away with it. I’m glad there was the Underground Railroad and that abolitionist did what they could to free these slaves. Clotee maybe be fictional, but she existed all over and is real.
April 15, 2014
approved
June 30, 2017
An inspirational story where a slave girl learns how to read and write while fanning her master's son during his lessons and finally achieving her dream of "FREEDOM".
August 13, 2019
I read this when I was in elementary school. LOVED it!
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