Margo McLoone

Summary:
This book is a biography of a very strong woman who fought for civil rights and freedom from slavery. Sojourner Truth was originally born a slave child named Isabella. She had many brothers and sisters along with her parents, but was sold at the age of nine and never saw them again. Once she was old enough her owner married her to another slave, and they had 5 children the owner then made into slaves. In 1817 slavery in New York became illegal and ran away from her farm when the owner would not free her. Her previous owner sold her son to a slave owner in Alabama which was illegal so she filed a lawsuit for his freedom, and when she won she became the first African American woman to win a lawsuit. After some differences with her home church she decided to change her name and travel spreading the word of her God and spoke against slavery. She also published a biography in her fifties and lived to be eighty four.

Personal reaction:
I loved this book and how plainly it gives information to the reader. Another great thing about this book is that it explains bigger words it uses and also has a glossary in the back. This book would also be good for informational text. The book also gives a lot of detailed information about her life, but not in an overwhelming way.

Classroom Extensions:
1. I would put this book into our read aloud while studying slavery during our history.
2. I would use the book to have the students do a readers theater about her speeches against slavery.
3. I would after our class reading have the students write a journal prompt on if they thought slavery was good or bad.… (more)