1993, New York: Delacorte Press.
ISBN: 0385308388
92 pages
Annotation: A young girl living on a southern plantation takes the risk to learn reading from a previously escaped slave, who came back to slavery to teach other slaves to read.
Summary: Sarny, a twelve year old slave at the Waller plantation in the 1950s works taking care of the young until she is old enough to work the fields or become a breeder. She first sees Nightjohn when he is brought to the plantation after being purchased. Sarny discovers that Nightjohn wants to trade something for a snippet of tobacco that Sarny uses, while working in the garden by the masters house, to keep bugs away. She learns that what he has to trade is valuable. Nightjohn begins to teach Sarny the alphabet, and she soon learns to read. They both know they are at risk, as well as putting other slaves at risk, if anyone finds out they are learning to read. Nightjohn had once escaped slavery but returned with the intention of teaching other slaves to read. He escapes from the Waller plantation as well, but then comes back in the middle of the night looking for Sarny. He takes her to a school with other slaves, whom all have sneaked away for the night to learn their letters. Nightjohn encourages the slaves to learn and he knows that they will.
Series: Read the next book Sarny by Gary Paulsen
Rank: 5 Stars-a must read for everyone.
