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Overview
Bring history to life with compelling stories,
sweeping scope, and a welcoming sense of diversity
- Historical fiction helps students connect to their middle school
social studies classes
- Reading skill instruction and cross-curricular connections improve
comprehension of historical fiction
- Strong multicultural flavor reflects the rich tapestry of our shared
American heritages
Jamestown's American Portraits, a saga of American families and friends,
traces the history of America from the founding of Jamestown to the Civil
Rights Movement. This is a unique, enriching series designed to teach
reading strategies appropriate for historical novels used in middle school
reading, language arts, or social studies classes.
- Reading Level 5-8
- Interest Level 6-8
From 1865 to 1869, freed slaves Ezra--ten years old at the end of the Civil War--and his father deal with their newfound liberty, traveling from their former master's North Carolina plantation to finally settle in a community of free blacks in Charleston, South Carolina, where they gain education and professions.
Editorials
Children's Literature
The characters in the story may be fictional, but the events are real. I can say this based on tales related by relatives and family friends. Some events even I remember from my childhood. I recall visiting my grandmother's brother in Maryland and being awaken one night by a commotion outside. I looked out the window and saw people in white hooded robes carrying crosses and torches. I thought it strange for a parade to take place at night. For me the events were painful, but for adolescents it will be an eye opener about the history of our country during the final stages of the Civil Was and at the beginning of a new era. The cruelty of some of the Union soldiers is a shocker, but the kindness of others gives hope. This is a book that every teenager, both black and white, should read and discuss. I strongly recommend this book to facilitators and teachers to use for discussion groups on the effect of slavery on this country. 2004, Waterbird Books/School Specialty Children's Publishing, Ages 9 to 17.—Leila Toledo