Letters from a Slave Boy: The Story of Joseph Jacobs » (Reprint)

Mary E. Lyons is the author of many books for children and young adults, including Roy Makes a Car, Feed the Children First, Dear Ellen Bee, Letters from a Slave Girl, and Sorrow's Kitchen. In addition to the Golden Kite Award and a Horn Book Fanfare for Letters from a Slave Girl, Lyons was also the recipient of a 2005 Aesop Award for Roy Makes a Car and a Carter G. Woodson Award for Sorrow's Kitchen. A teacher and former librarian, she lives in Charlottesville, Virginia. You can learn more about her at www.lyonsdenbooks.com.

Like his mother and grandmother before him, Joseph Jacobs was born into slavery. Joseph lives with his grandmother and sister in North Carolina, but he has not seen his mother for more than seven years. Unbeknownst to Joseph, his mother, Harriet, has been hiding from her owner in the attic of the house that Joseph lives in. But when Harriet's hiding place is in danger of being revealed, she is forced to flee north to safety only moments after being reunited with her family.

Devastated by losing his mother for the second time, Joseph begins to ponder the nature of the world he lives in. Soon Joseph, seeking freedom and a place where he can be himself, follows his mother north. As he searches for answers, Joseph experiences life in Massachusetts, California, Australia, and aboard a whaling ship — but there's no place where Joseph feels that he can truly be free.

In this companion novel to Letters from a Slave Girl, Joseph's stirring quest for freedom and identity is told through letters imagined by the author. Based on the real-life stories of Harriet and Joseph Jacobs, Letters from a Slave Boy is set against the backdrop of some of the most exciting and turbulent times in American history.

Children's Literature

Joseph Jacobs carries a lot of heavy questions for a twelve year old. For one thing, where is his mama? Who is his daddy? And why doesn't Mr. Sawyer sign their free papers? One day great-grandmother Molly directs him to the storage room. As he peers into the darkness, there he sees his mama, all pale and weak looking. She has been cooped up in that "hidey-hole" for days on end so she could be near Joseph and his sister. As Joseph pieces the story together, his blood boils when he thinks about Mr. Norcom slinking around after his mama like a mean ole snake waiting to pounce. Joseph determines to go out on a whaling ship as soon as he is old enough, so he can earn enough money to free his mama and all his family. The story unfolds in the candid, compelling letters he writes to various members of his family. This novel, born of the slavery era, is based on true stories about Harry and Joseph Jacobs. An excellent resource for generating discussions about slavery and all of its accompanying woes. Works well as a read-aloud or for independent reading. Includes a suggested reading list, a glossary of racial slurs, and photographs from the slavery era. A companion novel, Letters from a Slave Girl, is also available.