'Sojourner Truth, Path to Glory' written by Peter Merchant is a young reader's first introduction to the freedom fighter, Sojourner Truth. Isabella Baumfree, who later changed her name to Sojourner Truth, was born a slave in New York State. She spent most of her young life being sold to different land owners. She was treated cruelly and longed for the day when she would be free. Due to the New York State Emancipation Act of 1827, Isabella was granted her freedom. From then on she devoted her life to preaching about the rights of all people to be free and for a women's right to vote.

Similar authors: Pat McKissack; Suzanne Slade; Peter Krass

Similar books: Albert Einstein: Genius of the Twentieth Century; Susan B. Anthony: Fighter for Women's Rights by Deborah Hopkins; Teddy Roosevelt: The People's President by Sharon Shavers Gayle; Ben Franklin and His First Kite by Stephen Krensky

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/9/2010

ISBN-10: 0689872070

ISBN-13: 9780689872075

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In Massachusetts in the 1700s, Deborah Sampson was a 'give-away child'. When her parents could no longer look after her, she was passed around to live with several different people. She finally became an indentured servant to Deacon Thomas and his family until she turned eighteen. Although she was a servant in each place, she also learned to read and write. After her eighteenth birthday, a disgusting man insisted she marry him. To escape him, she dressed as a boy, ran away and finally enlisted in the army to fight in the Revolutionary War. In the army, Deborah discovers the horrors of war but also discovers the joys of friendship. Deborah tells her true story of adventure, deception, war and honor. You won't be able to put it down.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 9/10/2009

ISBN-10: 080508200X

ISBN-13: 9780805082005

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In 1942, in the village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia, 11-year-old Milada has just celebrated her birthday with her loving family. Though the village is under Nazi rule and food is in short supply, the family is happy. Then, in the middle of the night soldiers suddenly burst into their home and herd the family to a school gym to await further orders. They are separated, and Milada is taken to a center in Poland, where she is retrained to be a perfect German citizen, because her features are what the Nazis consider the Aryan ideal. After two years, she is adopted by a high ranking German officer and his family. Based on true events, it is the story of love and loss and the many emotions in between.

Reviewed by: ewl

Date read: 5/19/2009

ISBN-10: 0618535799

ISBN-13: 9780618535798

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Commenter: Grace, grade 5

Everyone in eight-year-old Artie's family loves lighting firecrackers at the Lunar New Year. One day, Artie's mean cousin Petey teases him too long, driving Artie to make a rash promise. He says that he'll buy firecrackers for all his cousins' Chinese New Year celebrations. How will Artie come up with the money to do this? Can his favorite Uncle Chester help him? Read this gentle story for a look at life in San Francisco's Chinatown in the 1950's

Reviewed by: msp

Date read: 12/8/2011

ISBN-13: 9780060253158

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This book tells the story of how Francis Scott Key's poem became our national anthem. The story is told in a simple and beautiful way. Francis, who was a lawyer, boarded a ship in hopes of freeing his friend, who was being kept a prisoner by the British. He wrote the Star Spangled Banner while aboard the ship, as he witnessed a battle between the Americans and the British. As he wrote the poem, he anxiously wondered who had won the battle, and kept looking to see whose flag was still flying. When did it become the national anthem? Read this book to find out this and other interesting facts about our beloved anthem.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/14/2009

ISBN-10: 1575056976

ISBN-13: 9781575056975

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