Captive Bodies, Free Spirits

School Library Journal

Gr 5-9 Evitts traces the history of slavery in the United States, from the 17th Century when black ``servants'' were first transported from Africa through the end of the Civil War. He goes into detail on the slave trade and shows the everyday life of a slave. This isn't a dry textbook presentation. The subject is brought to life by the extensive use of anecdotes excerpted from the autobiographical writing of former slaves. Readers meet people like 100-year- old Mary Reynolds, born a slave in Louisiana, and Ibrahima, an African prince captured and sent to the U.S in 1788. Throughout the book, Evitts explains that slavery wasn't the only reason for the Civil War, but that it was one of the chief ones; that many Northerners believed blacks to be inferior and didn't want slavery abolished; that the most repugnant aspect of slavery was that blacks lost their identities as human beings. Most importantly, readers are reminded that not all slave owners were bad, but that the institution was. Black-and-white photographs and reproductions are scattered throughout the text. A bibliography is included, but it consists only of adult titles. An excellent introduction to a complex subject.Elizabeth Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tenn.