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akmargie's review
5.0
A forgotten part of history told in a very powerful way. The decision to put this story in first person perspective creates a moving and emotional tale that I feel all kids and adults should read. Highly, highly recommend for all who call themselves Americans.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
An unflinching look at one of the paradoxes of the racially-based slavery system in the United States.
barberchicago_books's review against another edition
5.0
Would pair beautifully with Kim Brubaker Bradley’s Jefferson’s Sons.
jdgcreates's review against another edition
5.0
I think this is a perfectly (and beautifully) written and illustrated biography of Thomas Jefferson's & his slave, Sally Hemings's, son, and the very disturbing and complex life he led as an enslaved child of his own father. It is sensitive to the young audience but does not hide the horrible truth of slavery or the fact that one of our most revered Founding Fathers was unforgivably flawed (to say the least).
The impressionist art is gorgeous.
The impressionist art is gorgeous.
libscote's review
4.0
This is the story of James Madison Hemings, son of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson. It's a quiet reflection on his life and his father. He acknowledges that his father did many great things, but he also owned enslaved people and did not free them upon his death (other than the children of Sally Hemings, but not Hemings herself). I think this is a fitting way to introduce complication into the Jefferson narrative for young and old.
amma_keep_reading's review against another edition
I'm not going to rate this book because I'm having mixed feelings about its existence. I understand information like this should be shared but is it really appropriate for children? I don't know, I've got to think about this some more....
gardenjess's review
5.0
A picture book biography geared toward older readers on James Madison Hemings, child of slave Sally Hemings, and Thomas Jefferson. Very well done story told from the point of view of one of Jefferson's slave children, James. Explores what it means to be owned, and what it means to be treated differently than the other slaves, as well as the other white children in the family. Highly recommend.
katebrarian's review
5.0
Some of the illustrations in this book are amazingly beautiful, and the tone of the writing is spot-on. This is a great biography of Hemings, and a pretty sober look at his slavery for kids. The ending had a really great "fuck Jefferson and remember that America was and is fucked up" thing going.
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