The Story of Frederick Douglass (Dell Yearling Biography) - Softcover

Grade 3-6-- A biography of the 19th-century human-rights champion. Douglass's birth as a slave in Maryland, his brutal childhood, and his attempts to be free are detailed in the first half of the book. Weiner then describes Douglass's struggles as a runaway slave and his rise to prominence. Young readers will gain insight into the physical pain and spiritually crippling effect of slavery. They will also see quite vividly the depth of Douglass's determination to attain freedom and to become literate. Illustrations consist of several pen-and-ink drawings that enhance the text nicely. While the subject's abolitionist activities are greatly chronicled, his family life as an adult receives minimal attention. One omission is his second marriage to a white woman, which caused considerable controversy at the time. Overall, this is a balanced portrayal that adequately relates the problems and struggles Douglass faced. --Jeanette Lambert, LaVega School, Waco, TX
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.