Web Book Report

A Picture of Freedom

Pat McKissack

Introduction

Summary

Characters and setting

Author info

Book review

Laura –9 November 12, 2004 Language Arts

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Intro

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be a slave in the 1850’s?

Well here’s your survival guide from a right from a slave.

Summary

Twelve-year-old Clotee is a slave who worked at Belmont Plantation, Virginia, in 1859. She secretly learns to read and write by listening to Mr. Harms lessons with William, the plantation owner’s son. She later finds out that Mr. Harms is an abolitionist, and he teaches her about the Underground Railroad, and about other abolitionists. Clotee becomes a conductor in the Underground Railroad, and later becomes an abolitionist, after gaining freedom. Clotee went to college, and became a teacher for black women. She helped over 150 people escape to freedom

Setting

The setting of “A Picture of Freedom” is on

Belmont Plantation, Virginia in 1859.

Main Characters

Some of the main characters in “A Picture of Freedom” are Clotee, Aunt Tee, and Spicy. Clotee is the most important character in the story. She is a young, smart, not fearful, determined slave that has a dream to become an abolitionist. Aunt Tee is like a mother to Clotee, and Spicy. She is a loving, and caring person, not to mention a great cook! She is old, and doesn’t care about running away, but wants to help other slaves escape.

Spicy comes in the story towards the end. She is not scared of anything or anyone, but is also a kind person, who would die to help her family, and friends.

About the Author

Patricia McKissack is author of two Dear America Books, Color Me Dark and, A picture of Freedom. She wrote A Picture of Freedom because her great-great-great- grandmother was a slave. She has written over sixty books. McKissack has also won a Newberry Honor award and a Boston Globe award. She lives in St. Louis with her husband.

Book Review

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was exciting, and I never wanted to put the book down. A Picture of Freedom gave a good look at what slavery was n the 1850’s, from a slave’s point of view. It also gave good information about other famous slaves at that time.