Keepers of the Secret Code

by K.J. Williams

Peter Farrow is a slave. He's grown up on Dover Plantation, South Carolina where he does small jobs. When he's not working, Peter likes to play with the other slave's children, or go fishing with the master's daughter, Emily. Sometimes, he even gets to sit in on Emily's school lessons and learn to read. But Peter is almost twelve, and it's time for him to learn a trade. The master has agreed for Peter to apprentice with Samuel, the plantation's carpenter. Peter is happy he won't have to fetch and carry anymore, or work in the dairy, churning butter. Peter's mother decides it's time he learns the family's secret--the Secret Quilt Code. She and her husband have been active in the Underground Railroad and use quilts to signal to runaway slaves. When traveling to other plantations doing work for the master, Peter's father transports runaways in his wagon's false bottom. Until now, Peter has been too young to keep a secret of this magnitude. But John, the cruel overseer, has other plans for Peter. He wants Peter out in the fields, doing the backbreaking work of a grownup slave, where Peter is close enough to feel his whip. So when Peter comes between Samuel and the overseer's whip, Peter makes a terrible enemy. Overseer John alerts the master about Emily spending too much time with Peter. When they are caught together multiple times, the master decides to sell Peter down south. Distraught, Peter's mother and father decide to "transport" him away from Dover Plantation before he can be sold. Using the secret quilt codes, other runaways join Peter's family as they make their way on the Underground Railroad.

50 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2021

About the author

KJ, Karen, Williams has been an educator for thirty-nine years. She earned a BSE in English for secondary education and a Masters in Library Science.
She loved opening the world of books to kids so much she began writing when she retired.
Her beginning chapter book, Camp Not Allowed, was published in 2018. In 2021 she and her co-author, Teresa R. Kemp published their middle grade historical fiction book, Keepers of the Secret Code was published.
When not writing, she spends her time hanging out with her family which includes six grandkids and doing school Author Visits.
To schedule a visit, email her at booklover1@cox.net.

Reviews

[Linda Mai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book for black history month (and beyond). This is the fictional story of a young slave boy, named Peter, who learns there are secret codes hidden in the quilts hung out on his plantation. His parents are instrumental in helping others escape through the underground railroad, and Peter wants to help too. This work of fiction is based on a real family, and weaves in many interesting true facts about slave life. It's a story that needs to be told and is written in fast paced way that will captivate all young readers.

[Joyan Calhoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very amazing historical black book