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Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret
In the early nineteenth century, enslaved Africans are not allowed to gather together in groups. For Simmy and his family, that means they must worship in secret. If they are caught, the punishment will be terrible. Simmy's job is to watch for danger while the others pray and sing as the Spirit moves them. Will he be able to keep the hush harbor safe?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
About the author
Freddi Williams Evans
6 books4 followersFreddi Williams Evans is author of Come Sunday: A Young Reader’s History of Congo Square and Congo Square: African Roots in New Orleans.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 24, 2016
The genre of this book is historical fiction for ages 5-9, according to the book itself, but it is a very wordy book, so it's not something a 5-8 year old would be able to read by themselves.
Text to Self: In the book, the enslaved Africans are not allowed to gather in groups, so they must worship in secret. They come together at night to pray and sing together while someone watches out for their owner. In my life, my family practices Islam and our form of worship includes praying. Every Friday men and women get together at the mosque and pray one of the five prayers together in a massive prayer session. It is not something done in secret, however, unlike the story I read.
Text to Text: I connect this book to the book called Working Cotton by Sherley Anne Williams. It is a story about a girl and her family that work on a farm picking cotton. These two stories are the same because Hush Harbor is also about a boy that picks cotton on a farm. They seem to be from different time periods of slavery because Working Cotton has buses, but the work is the same.
Text to World: Slavery has always been a large, negative part of the United States' history and has paved the way for all of the prejudice going on today. I would compare the story of these people's religious persecution to that of Muslims in some parts of the world. Even in America, where freedom of religion is a right, mosques are still vandalized and Muslims are attacked.
Text to Self: In the book, the enslaved Africans are not allowed to gather in groups, so they must worship in secret. They come together at night to pray and sing together while someone watches out for their owner. In my life, my family practices Islam and our form of worship includes praying. Every Friday men and women get together at the mosque and pray one of the five prayers together in a massive prayer session. It is not something done in secret, however, unlike the story I read.
Text to Text: I connect this book to the book called Working Cotton by Sherley Anne Williams. It is a story about a girl and her family that work on a farm picking cotton. These two stories are the same because Hush Harbor is also about a boy that picks cotton on a farm. They seem to be from different time periods of slavery because Working Cotton has buses, but the work is the same.
Text to World: Slavery has always been a large, negative part of the United States' history and has paved the way for all of the prejudice going on today. I would compare the story of these people's religious persecution to that of Muslims in some parts of the world. Even in America, where freedom of religion is a right, mosques are still vandalized and Muslims are attacked.
November 20, 2018
Story of slaves secretly meeting to pray. Gorgeous illustrations.
February 24, 2019
Sweet book introducing the faith walk of slaves to kiddos. It addresses the horrific realities they faced but in a way that is appropriate for younger kids.
March 16, 2015
African slaves were not allowed the same religious freedom in the time of slavery. In result, Simmy and his family have to worship in secret! In this book, Uncle Sol, Simmy, and the rest of the family look forward to the secret prayer meeting that was to be held in the night. However, this family is almost caught by the slave patrollers! They have to find a way back safely and work the next morning as if nothing had ever happened.
Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret is a wonderful book with age appropriate language that highlights the secrecy of religion for slaves. Children can easily understand the rich plot and question why they did not have the same opportunity we have today. The illustrations are very kid-friendly, enhancing the scenes of the text while holding the children’s attention. The children are also exposed to multiple values and a different cultural group than their own. This book is very engaging, educational, and age appropriate for elementary (specifically Kindergarten and First grade) students!
Hush Harbor: Praying in Secret is a wonderful book with age appropriate language that highlights the secrecy of religion for slaves. Children can easily understand the rich plot and question why they did not have the same opportunity we have today. The illustrations are very kid-friendly, enhancing the scenes of the text while holding the children’s attention. The children are also exposed to multiple values and a different cultural group than their own. This book is very engaging, educational, and age appropriate for elementary (specifically Kindergarten and First grade) students!
March 5, 2010
The vivid pictures given by the illustrator tell a story themselves, before you even read the text.
This children's book was definitely one of my favorites for the pictures. The way that the illustrator portrays the character is absolutely wonderful. There was little use of negative space on these pages. Because most of the story takes place at ngiht, the pages are in full color due to darkness outside. The lines of this book are definitely curved. I did not notice a straight line anywhere in the book. What was more interesting, however, is that all of the pictures are outlined by a small line of red, making them "pop out" from the night's sky. The texture definitely is a little more rough than smooth. While there is not defined texture, there are definitely brush strokes in areas such as the trees.
This children's book was definitely one of my favorites for the pictures. The way that the illustrator portrays the character is absolutely wonderful. There was little use of negative space on these pages. Because most of the story takes place at ngiht, the pages are in full color due to darkness outside. The lines of this book are definitely curved. I did not notice a straight line anywhere in the book. What was more interesting, however, is that all of the pictures are outlined by a small line of red, making them "pop out" from the night's sky. The texture definitely is a little more rough than smooth. While there is not defined texture, there are definitely brush strokes in areas such as the trees.
April 12, 2011
My view on Social Studies:
I believe that social studies is the study of humans, their interactions with each other and the world around them. As teachers, we must open the eyes of our students to the diverse cultures around us. Every individual is unique and can offer something to the world.
Summary and integration of book:
This book takes place during the time of African Slaves working on plantations. A slave family hears news of a secret meeting in the woods. The youngest boy is chosen as the lookout and does a good job, hearing a runaway and dogs before even seeing them. What I like about this book is the feels it expresses. It brings life to all of the different emotions that slaves felt during them time. I would read this book to my students, encouraging them to explore what life was like for people during that time-period.
I believe that social studies is the study of humans, their interactions with each other and the world around them. As teachers, we must open the eyes of our students to the diverse cultures around us. Every individual is unique and can offer something to the world.
Summary and integration of book:
This book takes place during the time of African Slaves working on plantations. A slave family hears news of a secret meeting in the woods. The youngest boy is chosen as the lookout and does a good job, hearing a runaway and dogs before even seeing them. What I like about this book is the feels it expresses. It brings life to all of the different emotions that slaves felt during them time. I would read this book to my students, encouraging them to explore what life was like for people during that time-period.
December 18, 2010
While Simmy watches for danger from high in a tree, other slaves gather in a hidden spot in the woods to sing and pray together in their own way, risking their lives in pursuit of religious freedom. Includes historical facts about hush, or brush, arbors and the churches that grew from them. www.hcpl.net
February 28, 2009
This is a nice story about slaves sneaking into the woods to pray. The illustrations are very pretty and the story takes you through. This would be a great book to share in church. Grades 2+
October 26, 2012
Great story, for general read aloud time, or for a social studies lesson. Music teachers might read it for background knowledge to accompany spirituals. I learned a lot from the author's note.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews