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Susie King Taylor: Nurse, Teacher & Freedom Fighter
From the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Never Caught and She Came to Slay comes a vibrant middle grade biography of Susie King Taylor, one of the first Black Civil War nurses, in a new series spotlighting Black women who left their mark on history.
A groundbreaking figure in every sense of the word, Susie King Taylor (1848–1912) was one of the first Black nurses during the Civil War, tending to the wounded soldiers of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Afterward, she was a key figure in establishing a postbellum educational system for formerly bonded Black people, opening several dedicated schools in Georgia. Taylor was also one of the first Black women to publish her memoirs.
Even as her country was at war with itself, Taylor valiantly fought for the rights of her people and demonstrated true heroism.
A groundbreaking figure in every sense of the word, Susie King Taylor (1848–1912) was one of the first Black nurses during the Civil War, tending to the wounded soldiers of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Afterward, she was a key figure in establishing a postbellum educational system for formerly bonded Black people, opening several dedicated schools in Georgia. Taylor was also one of the first Black women to publish her memoirs.
Even as her country was at war with itself, Taylor valiantly fought for the rights of her people and demonstrated true heroism.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published September 26, 2023
3 people are currently reading
3719 people want to read
About the author
Erica Armstrong Dunbar
14 books166 followersErica Armstrong Dunbar is the Charles and Mary Beard Professor of History at Rutgers University. She also served as director of the Program in African American History at the Library Company of Philadelphia.
Dunbar attended college at the University of Pennsylvania, then earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University.
Dunbar attended college at the University of Pennsylvania, then earned an M.A. and Ph.D. from Columbia University.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 21, 2023
This is a stellar middle grade non fiction book that covers very important topics. This book follows the story of Susie King Taylor and her ideas for getting justice for everyone. This book was incredibly well written and very moving. I can see this one being a staple in every teacher’s classroom. I’ve never been one to enjoy history class, but I did find myself captivated by this one.
August 21, 2023
I've won this book via the goodreads giveaway but wrote my full review on my therearenobadbooks account where I have all the middle grade reviews.
July 13, 2023
E ARC provided by Netgalley
Born in 1848, Susan King was fortunate to be able to stay with her grandmother and not on the Grest Farm near Savannah where her mother worked as an enslaved person. Her grandmother made sure that Susan and her younger brother got an education and were able to read and write, although this was against the law at the time. When the Civil War broke out and came close to the farm, Susan's uncle and aunt decided to flee. The group made their way to find Union troops, and eventually ended up on St. Simons Island where Susan got to work doing laundry, but also teaching. She met Edward Taylor there, and the two eventually married. In 1862, they evacuated the island. Susan continued to work all manner of jobs, and even served as a battlefield nurse. After the war, she lived in Boston, continued to teach, and wrote a memoir of her Civil War experience in 1902. This short memoir is included at the end of Buford and Dunbar's biography, which is told in the first person.
Strengths: One of my favorite series in fourth grade was the Childhood of Famous Americans books, and the beginning of this was strongly reminscent of those. There's a lot of information about the Civil War that will appeal to readers who are interested in that conflict, and a good account of what it was likfe for Blacks who were working to help the Union side. They were not treated fairly, and this is definitely brought up in very effective ways. The information about what King Taylor did after the war is interesting, and having her memoir at the end of the book will save readers from having to locate it elsewhere. I'm always looking for biographies of interesting people who aren't as well known, and this was a perfect example of the sort of book I am seeking!
Weaknesses: The biography aligns very closely to the memoir, so I almost wish this had been a completely fictional tale that included more details about life at the time. There's value in having either format, but Buford's Kneel was so good that it would have been interesting to see how she would have written this as fiction.
What I really think: I'd love to see more biographies like this, and keep hoping for books about Pansy Flemmie Kittrell, the home economist, or Margaret Murray Washington, wife of Booker T. and principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute.
Born in 1848, Susan King was fortunate to be able to stay with her grandmother and not on the Grest Farm near Savannah where her mother worked as an enslaved person. Her grandmother made sure that Susan and her younger brother got an education and were able to read and write, although this was against the law at the time. When the Civil War broke out and came close to the farm, Susan's uncle and aunt decided to flee. The group made their way to find Union troops, and eventually ended up on St. Simons Island where Susan got to work doing laundry, but also teaching. She met Edward Taylor there, and the two eventually married. In 1862, they evacuated the island. Susan continued to work all manner of jobs, and even served as a battlefield nurse. After the war, she lived in Boston, continued to teach, and wrote a memoir of her Civil War experience in 1902. This short memoir is included at the end of Buford and Dunbar's biography, which is told in the first person.
Strengths: One of my favorite series in fourth grade was the Childhood of Famous Americans books, and the beginning of this was strongly reminscent of those. There's a lot of information about the Civil War that will appeal to readers who are interested in that conflict, and a good account of what it was likfe for Blacks who were working to help the Union side. They were not treated fairly, and this is definitely brought up in very effective ways. The information about what King Taylor did after the war is interesting, and having her memoir at the end of the book will save readers from having to locate it elsewhere. I'm always looking for biographies of interesting people who aren't as well known, and this was a perfect example of the sort of book I am seeking!
Weaknesses: The biography aligns very closely to the memoir, so I almost wish this had been a completely fictional tale that included more details about life at the time. There's value in having either format, but Buford's Kneel was so good that it would have been interesting to see how she would have written this as fiction.
What I really think: I'd love to see more biographies like this, and keep hoping for books about Pansy Flemmie Kittrell, the home economist, or Margaret Murray Washington, wife of Booker T. and principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute.
October 4, 2023
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is a middle-grade biography written in first-person voice. Much of the information comes from Taylor’s own narrative Reminiscences of My Life in Camp, which was published in 1902.
The authors also included “additional experiences we imagine must have confronted her… In some cases, we use ‘informed speculation’ — meaning we tried to estimate what Taylor would have experienced — even though she may not have told us about her feelings in writing.” However, the authors tried to use Taylor’s words wherever possible.
The authors do this extremely well.
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is divided into two parts. The first, is this new biography. The second, is Taylor’s own writing, allowing readers to compare and contrast the two.
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is as compelling a biography as any that I’ve read. The first-person narrative immediately draws you in, and makes you feel as if you’re right there with Taylor. The biography is full of harrowing moments, but it is the addition of the simplest of details that add depth.
The authors capture Taylor’s voice in prose that is both accessible for the intended audience and engaging for those who are older. It’s an excellent biography.
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is the first book in a new series — Rise. Risk. Remember. Incredible Stories of Courageous Black Women — spotlighting Black women who left their mark on history.
The authors also included “additional experiences we imagine must have confronted her… In some cases, we use ‘informed speculation’ — meaning we tried to estimate what Taylor would have experienced — even though she may not have told us about her feelings in writing.” However, the authors tried to use Taylor’s words wherever possible.
The authors do this extremely well.
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is divided into two parts. The first, is this new biography. The second, is Taylor’s own writing, allowing readers to compare and contrast the two.
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is as compelling a biography as any that I’ve read. The first-person narrative immediately draws you in, and makes you feel as if you’re right there with Taylor. The biography is full of harrowing moments, but it is the addition of the simplest of details that add depth.
The authors capture Taylor’s voice in prose that is both accessible for the intended audience and engaging for those who are older. It’s an excellent biography.
Susie King Taylor: Nurse Teacher & Freedom Fighter is the first book in a new series — Rise. Risk. Remember. Incredible Stories of Courageous Black Women — spotlighting Black women who left their mark on history.
August 21, 2023
A well-written novelization in the first person Susie King Taylor's story highlights.
Her important part in the history of people and war (Civil War) and her relationships with a community. This is inspired by the book she wrote in 1902 also published in this volume.
I appreciate the note from the authors explaining the language and their need to tell this story through Susie's voice. Half of the book is the novelization the other half is the book Susie wrote in 1902 making both parts a whole and a valuable document for educational purposes and cultural enrichment.
I have received an advance uncorrected copy from the publisher so I must refrain from quoting from it but there are so many sentences worth quoting and remembering. At the age of 14, she was already one among others, the strongest and bravest women of her period. This is focused more on her experience of several situations related to education, learning and teaching others to read, being proud of honest work, being a nurse when needed, pointing out the behavior and injustices of some people, and fighting for equality.
Her most valuable lesson is that knowledge is the most powerful tool and richness one can possess.
Her important part in the history of people and war (Civil War) and her relationships with a community. This is inspired by the book she wrote in 1902 also published in this volume.
I appreciate the note from the authors explaining the language and their need to tell this story through Susie's voice. Half of the book is the novelization the other half is the book Susie wrote in 1902 making both parts a whole and a valuable document for educational purposes and cultural enrichment.
I have received an advance uncorrected copy from the publisher so I must refrain from quoting from it but there are so many sentences worth quoting and remembering. At the age of 14, she was already one among others, the strongest and bravest women of her period. This is focused more on her experience of several situations related to education, learning and teaching others to read, being proud of honest work, being a nurse when needed, pointing out the behavior and injustices of some people, and fighting for equality.
Her most valuable lesson is that knowledge is the most powerful tool and richness one can possess.
March 12, 2024
When Susie was little, she loved learning. Even though she was an enslaved person, she and her sibling would take the risks engendered by going to a secret school to learn how to read and write. She was soon at the point where she knew as much as the teacher and was helping to teach the younger students. They found another school for her to attend. Then the Civil War began. Susie knew that this was her opportunity to escape the south and enslavement. Even though she was only a teenager and it meant leaving her family behind, she knew it was the right thing for her to do despite all the dangers. She ended up being found by Union soldiers and she stayed with them as a nurse and teacher during the war. She also met the man who would quickly become her husband. This book is based on King Taylor's own accounts which are included at the end. The author's not does state that they have included additional experiences, however, as well as using informed speculation to write the book, so in my opinion that makes this more of a work of fiction than NF.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews