Reviews

Lift Your Light a Little Higher: The Story of Stephen Bishop: Slave-Explorer by Heather Henson

lsm239's review

5.0

This is a powerful story; told in beautiful language and illustrated with stunning artwork. The use of multiple mediums, silhouettes, and collage brings even more meaning to an already meaningful story. Heather Henson writes about Stephen Bishop, an explorer who was enslaved. He taught himself to read and write, left his and his wife's names in candle smoke on the cave walls, explored deeper and further than anyone else dared to. In the caves, he found the freedom he didn't have in his life, learning its secrets and exploring its depths.
This is an important story; children should know about this brave, adventurous man. It would work well as a read-aloud for all ages, or as a social studies supplement for grades 3-5.

readingthroughtheages's review

3.0

Had a different focus than I thought it would. Interesting story.

id_rather_be_reading_'s review

informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

A solemn imagining of the life of Stephen Bishop. Stephen Bishop was enslaved but more importantly he was a cave explorer and self-taught geologist known for being one of the first people to explore and map Mammoth Cave in the U.S. state of Kentucky. This book shares what is known of Bishop's life with the reader as you imagine him speaking directly to you in hushed tones from the confines of the caves he knew so well. A great introduction to yet another one of our hidden figures in American history. 

michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review

4.0

Haunting collage illustrations with well-written text.

wordnerd153's review

4.0

The collage illustrations are really eye-catching and the lyrical feel of the text is beautiful. This would be a good read aloud for upper elementary and middle school.

erine's review

4.0

A picture book that neatly conveys the realities of slavery, particularly the lack of first-person accounts. In this case, there is very little information about Stephen Bishop, so the barest skeleton of facts is filled in with educated guesses. Oddly enough, in some ways it sounded like his life as a cave guide would have been exceptionally terrifying - learning the caves and exploring beyond where others had already gone - but on the other hand he seemed to have his own kind of freedom in the caves, despite his enslaved status.

kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review

5.0

This children's book is very well done. It details what is known about Stephen Bishop, a slave who conducted tours of Mammoth Caves. Told by him, the author and illustrator cover not only slavery and race laws pre-Civil War, but also do so in a beautiful and lyrical manner. There is a note at the end that details the known facts about Bishop.

sunflowerx's review

5.0

Heather Henson’s Lift Your Light a Little Higher is a marvelous picture book about the story of a slave named Stephen Bishop. Bishop worked as a guide in Mammoth Cave from his teenage years until his adult years. He would take people on guided trips through the cave. Henson describes his work as a guide in a magical way to draw in the attention of young readers. This book would be great to use in a history lesson about the state of Kentucky, especially if the curriculum requires teaching students about Mammoth Cave. Aside from Kentucky history, students would also learn a lot about African American history, and it could be used during Black History Month to teach children about African American heroes. Overall, this picture book could be used in a lot of different settings in a classroom with older students. I can definitely see myself using it in the future in some way in my own classroom.

tashrow's review

4.0

Stephen Bishop was a slave who explored and mapped Mammoth Cave. The book is set in 1840 where you can follow the light of Bishop’s lantern deep into the massive cave as he gives people and the reader a tour. For the reader though, the tour is about slavery, about civil rights and about the ability for a man to discover value through exploring darkness. Bishop was the first to see many of Mammoth’s sights, including the blind fish. He learned to read as people signed their names on the cave’s ceiling, though learning to read and write was forbidden for slaves. This man’s story is a tale of resilience, self worth and discovery.

Henson tells the story almost in verse, capturing the highlights of the man’s discoveries but also weaving the dark side of slavery with the darkness of the cave. Henson gives Bishop a strong voice, one that stands out on the page and demands to be heard. Told in the voice of The Guide, Bishop explains slavery and its structure to the reader just as he explains his role and his attitudes towards life and the cave that made his famous. The author’s note contains information on Bishop and how he was sold along with the cave to several owners.

Collier’s illustrations are exceptional. He has several that are simply amazing in their power. One that caused me to linger for some time was the page with the oxen with faces on their sides, faces of slavery in various colors that are wrinkled and damaged. It’s a powerful reminder of the place of slaves as property. There are other pages that show hope in the slanting light of sun as Bishop exits the dark of the cave is one. Exceptional.

A strong picture book biography of a man many won’t have heard of before, this book speaks to the tragedy of slavery and the resilience and power of one man. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

circleofreadersdruid's review

4.0

Picture book biography about an intriguing person and place from American history. Collier is amazing, as always.