Review by Booklist Review
This affecting and powerful picture book biography recounts how Abdulrahman Ibrahim Ibn Sori, born 1762, a West African prince, scholar, warrior, husband, and father, was captured and enslaved at a Natchez, Mississippi plantation but, after 40 years, won his freedom. When Sori was 26, a rival African tribe captured him and his army and sold them to English slave traders, who then shipped them to America. Sori's knowledge of growing cotton helped the plantation prosper, and in return, his owner allowed him to practice his Muslim faith, marry, and raise a family. An Irish doctor who'd known Sori as a child confirmed he was a prince and used his influence to try to free Sori. Upon being freed, he was forced to leave the United States for Liberia, leaving his enslaved children behind. Sori hoped important men, including President Adams, would help him free his children, to no avail. He died months after arriving in Liberia, at age 67, never having seen his children or his birthplace again. His dream was finally realized 177 years later in 2006, when his relatives reunited at the Natchez plantation. Abdulrahman Sori's resilience in enduring enslavement, keeping his Muslim faith, and having the courage to publicly condemn slavery is truly inspiring. Rich's illustrations sensitively depict how the enslaved community lived amidst the horrors of slavery. Highly recommended.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The bittersweet story of Abdulrahman Ibrahima Sori's early life, enslavement, and eventual freedom. Warrior, scholar, devout Muslim: Abdulrahman (1762-1829), son of the king of West Africa's Fouta Djallon, is everything a prince should be. But when he's captured by an enemy tribe and sold to English traders who traffic enslaved African people, his royal title cannot shield him from the brutal reality of the Middle Passage and the nearly 40 years of enslavement by a Mississippi planter that will follow. Abdulrahman gains a reputation for integrity, wisdom, and expertise. Having never forgotten his home, his faith, or himself, he leverages the influence of several white men--from an acquaintance he first met in Fouta Djallon to a newspaper printer to President John Quincy Adams--and finally secures his freedom. Drawing directly from Terry Alford's biography as well as from the work of various African studies scholars, Senzai retells an incredible story of devastation and resilience, emphasizing the historical presence and impact of Muslim identity in America and beyond. The text is heavy with weighty truths of racial violence and enslavement, and although Abdulrahman dies in Liberia without seeing his home again, the author balances tragedy with themes of hope and togetherness. The narrative ends with Abdulrahman's dream realized as his African and American descendants gather nearly 200 years later. Rich's illustrations strike a similarly nuanced balance, offering visual counterweights of gentleness and community alongside powerful emotional spreads. A captivating biography and history made accessible for younger readers. (author's note)(Picture-book biography. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
