Welcome to Litsy!

I think this was well-done for the intended ages 10-14 years old. I didn‘t realize it was for younger readers when I ordered. The basic info of slavery were not new to me but I did learn more about individual enslaved people owned by Presidents. The timelines of slavery in America (i.e. laws) were good refreshers. The illustrations and photos throughout potentially helps to hold interest for younger readers. Would be good for school environments.

This is a good history so far but I‘m surprised this error went to press considering the author also wrote “Don‘t Know Much About History “ (ironic?) — Dolley Madison‘s son from her first marriage was *Payne Todd* , not Todd Payne. Perhaps I‘m nitpicking, considering the overall message of this book is important — of enslaved people‘s history.

Good point.

I didn‘t realize this was written for younger readers when I ordered it some time ago, but already feel this is a worthwhile read.

Highly recommend. It‘s a straight forward and factual look at the complex relationship between these 4 presidents and the enslaved men and women they owned. The author took great care to research the lives of the enslaved and bring their stories to life. I think everyone can learn from reading this book not just the young people it‘s intended for.

This is referncinv Ona Judge. This all happened while Washington was president and living in Philadelphia. A slave was considered free if they lived there for 6 months and he wasn‘t having that.

Never realized there were so many illustrations of George Washington that included his slaves. This one includes a man that George bought and kept enslaved when he was a child. This picture depicts the two of them at West Point in 1776...

What I‘m loving so far about this book is that it is very matter of fact and to the point. This is what happened and it was horrible. Let‘s address it.

This book includes a few quotes by Olaudah Equiano who would eventually write his own narrative about his time as an enslaved person.

This introduction hits hard.

This is my next book and it‘ll be in the school library this school year. I feel good about that. The US has been pushing a watered down, glorified version of itself for too long, which is part of the reason and why so many people are ignorant of the actual history. I heard this was really good.

I‘ve already hit my monthly reading goal and we‘re halfway through the month!

What a read! As with most nonfiction, it took a little longer to read. I feel like this should be required reading. It‘s so well-researched (the footnotes had me in librarian heaven). It highlights stories of people who were enslaved that I had never heard before. Not sure if any students will choose it, but I‘m putting this on summer reading.

I just can‘t.

Like, the literal WORST!

Andrew Jackson was the worst.

I gasped aloud when I read that. That‘s librarians for you, I guess.

‪I did get some reading in. Hopefully, I‘ll do a little more reading after a short break. #boutofbooks ‬

“But in the end, history is not about wars and constitutional amendments, facts we memorize. It is about people.”

I'm excited to start this book for my YA Book Club. So far, it also looks like it has some good potential for use with my students. #teacherlife

I went into this ready to hate our founding fathers but, as with most things, it's complicated. For instance, at about the time George Washington was writing his will to free all his slaves after his wife's death (because not in his or her lifetime 🙄 but still) he was aggressively hunting runaway slave Ona Judge (because he would have to pay his wife's family for her). Lots of food for thought, this book is well-researched and highly readable.

Sunday morning reading. (Well, a little reading. We have company and the kids keep talking to me but the sun is making me super happy.)

(Also, second parenthetical, my mug is shadowing my book about slavery in the shadows of liberty. I totally meant to do that...)

"But history is never a simple tale told in black and white."

...."America was 'conceived in liberty' in 1776, but the country was also born in shackles.

"George Washington had teeth yanked from the mouths of his enslaved people...transplanted into Washington's dentures" WHAT??

This book is excellent and compelling and horrifying #cybils.

Nonfiction #cybils reading with Annie's Mac & Cheese. Do you eat and read? What do you enjoy eating most while you do?

Wow! Great book. Looks at a few of the founding fathers and their participation in slavery during their day. Target audience is kids but a great, challenging read for anyone.

"It is also about the deep scars that slavery left on America-old wounds that surface in racial conflict today. Some people believe that slavery is ancient history, a thing of the past that no longers matters. That is wrong. The past is never dead."

I am really, really into this read so far. A fantastic book for teaching parallel histories. Great for 5th/6th grade and up!