Hammering for Freedom by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by John Holyfield. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Lee & Low Books, 2018. $18. 9781600609695
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Bill was a slave who desired and was given the skills to buy the freedom of himself and other slaves. This was not easy though. Bill took his skills as a blacksmith and worked to the limits of his strength to earn enough money to first rent his freedom, then buy a shop, then buy his freedom, then free his family, and finally buy a nice house.
I thought my kids would get bored at the longer narrative of this book when they were expecting a short picture book, but they were enthralled through the entire story. This is a story that reveals the horrors of slavery, but layers it with the virtues of hard work and community. These lessons are complicated though and worthy or a discussion after the reading of the book.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
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