Life Under Slavery

Children's Literature

From roughly 1600 until the end of the Civil War and beyond millions of people lived in slavery in the New World. In those centuries, countless others lost their lives either in slave harvesting expeditions or during the cruel sea passages across the Atlantic from Africa. Looking back it is difficult to understand how such callousness could have withstood so long a test of time. Yet, due to greed and human cruelty, the institution of slavery led a long life both in what was to become the United States, as well as South America. In this volume of the illustrated "Slavery in the Americas" series, author Deborah DeFord presents a comprehensive picture of what varied experiences slaves had while living under the yoke of bondage. DeFord touches upon many issues inclusive of the treatment of slaves, life expectancies, slave entertainments, family lives of slaves, and the cultural elements introduced into the New World by those enslaved African immigrants. The text, which is well crafted and expansive, is augmented by numerous period illustrations. In addition, periodic text box insertions of noteworthy information, anecdotes, and primary source quotations undergird an already strong narrative. This is a solid historical work that deals with an important aspect of American history. 2006, Facts on File/Chelsea House, Ages 10 to 14.
—Greg M. Romaneck

School Library Journal

Gr 6 Up-Aimed at middle school readers, each of these books also has some value for older students. Civil War covers not only African Americans but also the forces that created the "U.S. Colored Troops" and the spread of rights during and after the war. Slavery and Rebellions enlarge the area of interest by including a lengthy and thorough discussion of these topics in all of the Americas, placing slavery within a global, historical, and societal context. Clearly written, accessible, and well organized, each volume is illustrated with black-and-white drawings, period photographs, and explanatory text boxes. Useful additions.-Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.