Review by Booklist Review
Growing up on a Southern plantation in the early 1860s is a young, enslaved man secretly known as Teach. He learned reading, writing, and math alongside his childhood playmate, his enslaver's son. Now that they are grown, Teach uses his skills clerking in his enslaver's store. But he has promised his enslaver to keep his illegal literacy a secret from the customers. He keeps secrets from his enslaver, too, such as who is planning to escape and how he's been helping them. Despite threats of punishment, he teaches other enslaved folks, young and old, to read, and he helps them when he can, guided by his sense of what is right. Inspired by true stories of enslaved people risking everything for freedom and written from Teach's viewpoint, the plainspoken, lyrical free-verse text suggests the man's dialect through the narrative's rhythms as well as by omitting certain syllables. Teach gradually emerges as one of many leaders in his community. The artist's beautiful watercolor paintings capture the inherent drama and the even tone of the text. His skillful use of color, lighting, and silhouettes, as well as the sensitive character depictions, make this a memorable book.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Secretly nicknamed Teach by the community in which he resides, the enslaved protagonist of this historically steeped picture book "learnt reading and writing/ comin' up 'longside Master's son Thomas." Though literacy is illegal for enslaved people, Teach, clerking at his enslaver's store, nevertheless knows "numbers and letters near as good as any man," and he uses that knowledge to fulfill his late mother's wish: "Use that learnin' and make somethin' of yourself." Immediate, day-by-day narration and loose watercolor spreads from the married collaborators Ransome (Fighting with Love) give shape to Teach's efforts "to do just that." On Monday, in a corner of the stable, he whispers alphabet lessons to small children. Tuesday involves reading "the words Missus throws away," and Wednesday sees him teaching a group of men to read late at night ("In the dirt I write out letters"). On Thursday and Friday, Teach is caught reading the enslaver's newspaper and determines not to be caught, even as he writes a young woman a receipt for freedom on Saturday. And on Sunday, Teach amplifies a resonant biblical message: "Let My People Go." Amid a potent reminder of the realities of chattel slavery, the creators deliver a powerful ode to the courage of teachers offering unfiltered truth. An author's note and recommended reading conclude. Ages 5--8. (Sept.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
This poetic picture book tells the inspiring tale of a young enslaved man, "a compilation of many of the real-life stories of the people who resisted, fought, demanded, and seized every opportunity at their disposal to gain the freedoms that literacy provided." Nicknamed Teach, he has secretly learned to read, write, and do arithmetic, bravely sharing his skills despite the great risks involved. The narrative follows Teach through the week, escalating to one of his most powerful acts of rebellion: a Sunday sermon in a concealed cabin, where he draws poignant parallels between the plight of the biblical Israelites and the hardships endured by his fellow captives, empowering them through his words. Cline-Ransome's engrossing first-person storytelling style, which features rich dialect reflecting the historical setting, brings out the character of Teach and the significant impact of his actions. Ransome's watercolor illustrations perfectly complement the narrative, offering detailed portrayals that vividly convey the challenges and dreams of Teach and his community. The skillful use of light and shadow heightens the emotional intensity of each meticulously rendered scene. An author's note underscores the importance of literacy and education as tools for freedom and resistance as well as the risks they entailed during slavery; further reading is also appended. Annisha JeffriesSeptember/October 2024 p.46 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young enslaved man risks punishment as he uses his literacy skills to help others. The narrator, known to those in his community as Teach, learns to read and write while serving as a companion to his master's son, Thomas. When Thomas goes off to school, the master places Teach in his store. When he can, he clandestinely teaches the alphabet to children in bondage. People in his community save scraps of letters for him to interpret, and at the end of long workdays, he teaches adults who are eager to learn. He incurs Master's anger when he's observed looking at a newspaper and realizes he must be more careful. That doesn't keep him from secretly reading and sharing the Bible on Sundays. Cline-Ransome's terse, staccato verse reflects the urgency of Teach's situation; the book is organized by days of the week, culminating with Sunday, when Teach offers hope to those in attendance by sharing the story of how the children of Israel sought their freedom from Pharaoh. Ransome's stunningly expressive watercolors provide additional clarity, heightening the emotions. This beautifully crafted story honors the enslaved people who acquired literacy skills and found ways to aid those who were denied that opportunity. It also emphasizes that enslaved people understood and valued education, seeing it as a way to actively resist slavery. A profoundly moving tribute to the resilience and resourcefulness of many who lived in bondage. (author's note, bibliography) (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
