Scan barcode
justicepirate's review against another edition
3.0
This was a good book to read to my sons as an introduction to the slave trade from an actual former slave's account written in the 1700s.
Olaudah was eventually renamed "Gustavus" which he is often referred to by his masters throughout the book. He begins his story in Africa. The life he had there with his family was different than what stories of tribal Africans, as they were a bit more civilized as sorts.
It was odd to hear how his family also owned slaves (more like they were criminals who worked for them, received a good pay, and were treated well, but they were doing servitude because of their criminal situations).
Olaudah gets kidnapped with his sister whom he is separated from. He is a slave first in parts of Africa and eventually sent to England where he worked as a slave for several owners. As he became a teen, he was working on ships with his masters while also gaining a bit of an education.
While some might argue that Olaudah was treated much better than other slaves that he talks about encountering, all of the stories, including his own, is really tough to imagine and is so sad and upsetting. Olaudah even had to be a slave who transported slaves on ships too.
The things described are done so in a way that it would not outright frighten children, but it is enough to upset your children and to understand how awful slavery is. My sons were in shock because they did not know a lot of what went on back then. They know that slavery still exists too, but hearing some of the story stated while I read this book to them really opened their eyes up to a better understanding, giving them more of a heart towards ending oppression.
Olaudah was eventually renamed "Gustavus" which he is often referred to by his masters throughout the book. He begins his story in Africa. The life he had there with his family was different than what stories of tribal Africans, as they were a bit more civilized as sorts.
It was odd to hear how his family also owned slaves (more like they were criminals who worked for them, received a good pay, and were treated well, but they were doing servitude because of their criminal situations).
Olaudah gets kidnapped with his sister whom he is separated from. He is a slave first in parts of Africa and eventually sent to England where he worked as a slave for several owners. As he became a teen, he was working on ships with his masters while also gaining a bit of an education.
While some might argue that Olaudah was treated much better than other slaves that he talks about encountering, all of the stories, including his own, is really tough to imagine and is so sad and upsetting. Olaudah even had to be a slave who transported slaves on ships too.
The things described are done so in a way that it would not outright frighten children, but it is enough to upset your children and to understand how awful slavery is. My sons were in shock because they did not know a lot of what went on back then. They know that slavery still exists too, but hearing some of the story stated while I read this book to them really opened their eyes up to a better understanding, giving them more of a heart towards ending oppression.
More...