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Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass (Paula Wiseman Books) Hardcover – Picture Book, January 4, 2011
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This picture book biography chronicles the youth of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African American figures in American history. Douglass spent his life advocating for the equality of all, and it was through reading that he was able to stand up for himself and others. Award-winning husband-wife team Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome present a moving and captivating look at the young life of the inspirational man who said, “I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.”
- Reading age5 - 9 years
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelKindergarten - 4
- Lexile measure790L
- Dimensions8.5 x 0.3 x 11 inches
- PublisherSimon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
- Publication dateJanuary 4, 2011
- ISBN-101416959033
- ISBN-13978-1416959038
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Lesa Cline Ransome, illus. by James E. Ransome. S&S/Wiseman, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4169-5903-8
Drawing from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, the Ransomes (Before There Was Mozart) create a powerful biographical account of the anti-slavery crusader, writer, and orator’s early life. Writing from Douglass’s first-person perspective, Lesa Cline Ransome plainly relays the inhuman treatment of plantation slaves—“even the animals were rested in the heat of the afternoon sun, and they were never whipped bloody for being too tired or too sick or too slow”—and expresses how learning to read was a catalyst for Douglass’s liberation. “I bought my first newspaper and learned new words—liberty, justice, and freedom.... These were the words my master would never want me to see.” Ransome’s acrylic and oil paintings combine striking naturalism with a palette of inky greens and blues; after Douglass uses his writing skills to forge a letter from his master releasing him, a final spread shows him looking boldly toward the North Star. Though an author’s note explains that Douglass did not successfully escape that night (but did three years later), the story concludes with a sense of hope and determination. Ages 5–9.
--Publishers Weekly, November 28, 2011, *STARRED REVIEW
Frederick Bailey, who would later change his surname to Douglass, relates his early years, from first vague memories of his mother, who walked through the night to visit her sleeping son on a neighboring plantation; through his childhood, with his service leased to the Auld family of Baltimore; to his first attempt to make an escape from Talbot County, Maryland. The narration is dignified and tightly focused on the way learning to read both inspired and enabled young Frederick to plan for a life of freedom in the North. The depiction of the risk involved for a slave to achieve literacy is particularly well handled for a picture-book audience. Tales of cruel punishment for slaves who could read distract Frederick as Mrs. Auld teaches him his letters; he later uses religious services as a cover for passing his skill on to fellow slaves. This chapter in Douglass’ story concludes with his forgery of a pass, written “in a firm and steady hand,” which would allow him to “walk right out of Talbot County and into freedom up north.” James Ransome’s oil and acrylic paintings underscore young Frederick’s determination and independent spirit, and their interplay with the text leaves readers with the strong impression that, once he had mastered the written word, Frederick’s labors in town and fields were only going to be unfortunate layovers on his unstoppable journey to freedom. A concluding note explains that the forged-pass plan never came off, and it would be several more years before Douglass escaped to New York. However, even children unacquainted with Douglass the abolitionist will somehow sense that nothing is going to keep young Frederick Bailey in bondage. A brief timeline and list of sources are included.
--BCCB, February 2012 ― --BCCB, February 2012
Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass
By Lesa Cline-Ransome and illustrated by James E. Ransome
(Paula Wiseman; ISBN 9781416959038; January 2012; Spring catalog p. 2)
The author and illustrator, a husband-and-wife team who collaborated previously on “Satchel Paige,” base their biography of young Douglass on his “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.” Using the first person, they describe Douglass’s arduous early life as the spurned son of his master, forced to live apart from his slave mother. Visceral, intimate and plainly told, this story is sure to move young children, and also motivate them to read more.
--New York Times Book Review, February 12, 2012
"This talented team has created a concise, accessible, beautifully illustrated book based on Douglass’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Rich acrylic and oil paintings depict plantation life (poorly clothed slave children kneeling before troughs, devouring cornmeal mush like livestock) and the strong emotions of the people (a young Frederick being transported with hands tied behind his back, lest he escape). This handsome volume is recommended for slightly older audiences than William Miller and Cedric Lucas’s Frederick Douglass: The Last Day of Slavery (Lee & Low, 1995)."--School Library Journal, January 2012 *STARRED REVIEW
About the Author
James E. Ransome’s highly acclaimed illustrations for Before She Was Harriet received the 2018 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include the Coretta Scott King winner The Creation; Coretta Scott King Honor Book Uncle Jed’s Barbershop; Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt; and Let My People Go, winner of the NAACP Image Award. He frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome. One of their recent titles is Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams, which received four starred reviews and was an ALA Notable Children’s Book. James is a professor and coordinator of the MFA Illustration Graduate Program at Syracuse University. He lives in New York’s Hudson River Valley region with his family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.
Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (January 4, 2011)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1416959033
- ISBN-13 : 978-1416959038
- Reading age : 5 - 9 years
- Lexile measure : 790L
- Grade level : Kindergarten - 4
- Item Weight : 15.4 ounces
- Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.3 x 11 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #473,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Lesa Cline-Ransome’s first book was the biography Satchel Paige, an ALA Notable Book and a Bank Street College “Best Children’s Book of the Year. She later created a number of picture books including Quilt Alphabet, Major Taylor: Champion Cyclist, Young Pele, Words Set Me Free, My Story, My Dance, and Germs: Fact and Fiction, Friends and Foes. Her verse biography of Harriet Tubman, Before She Was Harriet, was nominated for an NAACP image award, and received a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration. Her newest picture biography is Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams. Finding Langston, her debut middle grade novel is a 2018 School Library Journal Best Book, Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Novel and New York Public Library Best Book of 2018.
Lesa’s books have received numerous honors and awards including NAACP Awards , Kirkus Best Books, ALA Notable, CBC Choice Awards, two Top 10 Sports Books for Youth, a Christopher Award, Jane Addams Award and an Orbis Pictus Recommended Book. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband, and frequent collaborator, illustrator James Ransome. Visit her at www.lesaclineransome.com.
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Allowed to travel from the house for errands and work, he searches for words in the environment, memorizing and collecting them in his mind, and eventually buying a newspaper. After eight years in Baltimore he is sent back to the plantation where he was born and begins an informal clandestine school on Sundays with other slaves who wish to learn. The end of the book tells of a plan to steal a boat to escape and even shows a handwritten note that he fabricated as part of the plan, giving permission to travel over the Easter holiday. I think children will be particularly interested in this.
I agree with other reviewers that young readers might want to know more about his eventual successful escape. The very last page fills in broad details of his free life, including the his work in the anti-slavery movement including the establishment of the newspaper The North Star, but I think a few more pages would have made a more satisfying story arc.
I think this is a book for 6-8 year olds. Those children familar with slavery as it was practiced in our history will likely be aware of the (carefully mentioned) things human beings might have had to endure. For those for whom this is a new topic, it might be helpful to explain that slavery has existed in many forms and at many periods all over the world. As a five-year old child once explained to me, "I know what slavery is! It's when they make you work and they don't pay you for your work!"
Adults who might purchase this book may want to know about brief mentions of brutality towards slaves: ("...whipped bloody for being too slow..." and "whose thumb was chopped off"). Still, the strength and courage (not to mention adult success) of this young man will be an inspiration to anyone who hears it. Further, the lesson that learning has the power to change people's lives is certainly one that cannot be repeated too often.
Although the life of a slave is portrayed accurately throughout the story, the author is careful to keep the content realistic but not horrific for a young reader's impressionable mind.
"Words Set Me Free" is an excellent text for various ages; the text not only highlights history but also the importance of education, which are essential topics for young minds. The book is also a good pick for in-class discussions and sharpening critical thinking skills. I read the book to my 5 year old son, and never did his attention divert from the images and story. Although he recently learned about slavery in school, the book was able to give him a true account of a young slave, and I believe the account left an impression on my son; we discussed slavery and the importance of determination and motivation when overcoming life's hardships.
The colors and graphics work beautifully for this type of book, and the images portray the characters' quite realistically. The facial expressions are so accurately portrayed that any reader can feel the emotions of the characters throughout the story. One of my favorite illustrations is of Douglass' attempt to practice writing the alphabet on a white picket fence; the image is powerful.
"Words Set Me Free" is great story on the life of Frederick Douglass (Bailey). The story highlights many important themes, such as losing a parent, moving to a new place, being property of someone else, self-education, becoming a leader, and making important life changes for the better of oneself and others. Beautiful story for all ages, but perfect for younger readers.
Lesa Ransome's poignant and timely tale (I read it during Black History Month) provides young readers with an example of someone who has a hunger for knowledge, and who didn't accept no for an answer. I also enjoyed the glimpse into the developing years of who would later be known as Frederick Douglass. We are told about the mistreatment he experienced at the hands of his Master(s)...from eating meals from a trough to being denied the right to read....only to see his eventual emergence as one of history's most famous freedom fighters.
This book was nicely illustrated and easy to read, therefore, making it the perfect addition to any Elementary School Library. I also like the fact that the author had notes in the rear chronicling Douglass' later years, a timeline and other sources. I think these items are extremely useful for young students to learn basic research methods.