amandabock's review against another edition
4.0
This is the story of a man who went from being a slave to being a U.S. Congressman in just 10 years. There are very few books about the Reconstruction era for young people, especially when you compare it to the amazing wealth of books about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. So, this book fills a very important void. There is a lot to like about it- the straightforward language and lighthearted illustrations. I wish that the additional information given in the afterward was incorporated into the text. Sometimes the individual story of John Roy is too narrow and I want there to be more context. I think this book will raise a lot of questions for kids, and I wish I had more resources to give them to learn more.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this narrative informational text - great mentor text for biography.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
Books about reconstruction for kids are few and far behind and this one hits the mark. John Roy Lynch was born into slavery and lived as a slave until he was set free by Emancipation when he was 16 years old. Within ten years, Lynch was a US Congressman! It was an amazing age indeed when any person would have that opportunity. This is not only an inspiring biography, but a peek into the period of Reconstruction when the South was putting itself back together again after the Civil War.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating picture book biography of John Roy Lynch, who went from 16-year-old half Irish freed slave to U.S. Congressman in ten years! He lived in Natchez Mississippi, where his father was the plantation overseer who had planned to liberate him but died when John was only two. It wasn't until 14 years later that John was finally freed and began to make his way in the world, rising from photographer's assistant to justice of the peace and to eloquent statesman. His story is also that of Reconstruction--freedom and equality for blacks existed briefly after the Civil War but later were taken away by Southern whites. The whimsical illustrations soften the harsh reality of what they depict. It's an inspiring text that explains slavery and discrimination clearly and eloquently. Includes author and illustrator notes, extensive timeline, and a list of further reading. Refers readers to Chris Barton's website for "more about the research and writing of" the book.
michelle_neuwirth_gray9311's review against another edition
5.0
A really well done biography. I learned a lot about John Roy Lynch and also the time period he lived.
hulahoopes_7's review against another edition
4.0
This is an excellent biography telling a story of a very understudied time in US history. John Roy Lynch is an amazing role model for all.
fernthepanda's review against another edition
5.0
A detailed, insightful look at a man I knew nothing about. Wonderful book
erine's review against another edition
5.0
I love Don Tate's illustration style. There's something incredibly emotional about the way he draws, and here he must balance the seriousness of the time period and topics (slavery and Reconstruction, injustice) with the fact that this is a book intended for kids. Somehow he threads that needle and depicts serious and violent things without graphic imagery.
Recently I read [b:Monumental: Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana|55783024|Monumental Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana|Brian K. Mitchell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603740116l/55783024._SX50_.jpg|87002855], and with recent events, the Reconstruction period seems like it's just begging for some extra attention. So I appreciated learning about how Oscar Dunn was elected to Lieutenant Governor in Louisiana in 1868. And in this biography, I learned that John Roy Lynch was elected to Mississippi's House of Representatives in 1869, and as a Mississippi representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1872. One of the most heartbreaking parts of Reconstruction was the way it ended after offering so much hard-won hope and opportunity. This is addressed here mainly as an afterward, but there is ample context for Lynch's life depicting his childhood in slavery, his young adulthood as a newly freed independent worker, and then his early adult life as a representative.
Another book to add to this group of Reconstruction biographies is [b:The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery|43587007|The Escape of Robert Smalls A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery|Jehan Jones-Radgowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554317598l/43587007._SX50_.jpg|67816524], another Reconstruction politician.
Recently I read [b:Monumental: Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana|55783024|Monumental Oscar Dunn and His Radical Fight in Reconstruction Louisiana|Brian K. Mitchell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603740116l/55783024._SX50_.jpg|87002855], and with recent events, the Reconstruction period seems like it's just begging for some extra attention. So I appreciated learning about how Oscar Dunn was elected to Lieutenant Governor in Louisiana in 1868. And in this biography, I learned that John Roy Lynch was elected to Mississippi's House of Representatives in 1869, and as a Mississippi representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1872. One of the most heartbreaking parts of Reconstruction was the way it ended after offering so much hard-won hope and opportunity. This is addressed here mainly as an afterward, but there is ample context for Lynch's life depicting his childhood in slavery, his young adulthood as a newly freed independent worker, and then his early adult life as a representative.
Another book to add to this group of Reconstruction biographies is [b:The Escape of Robert Smalls: A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery|43587007|The Escape of Robert Smalls A Daring Voyage Out of Slavery|Jehan Jones-Radgowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554317598l/43587007._SX50_.jpg|67816524], another Reconstruction politician.
mommagray's review against another edition
5.0
A powerful book about reconstruction, a man who went from slave to US Congressman in ten years, and how this first small progress quickly fell short. Growing up in the south, I feel my education around this time period is rather biased, and this book was a nice antidote to that. My children 13, 11, 10 and 6 also enjoyed it.
elephant's review against another edition
5.0
This beautifully illustrated picture book includes historical notes, a timeline and notes from the author and illustrator at the end of the book. The story of John Roy Lynch, son of an Irish father and enslaved mother, who went from being a teenage field slave to a US Congressman in ten years - from 1862 to 1872, is told in a way that children can understand and relate to and the illustrations help to tell the story. The story tells about the life of John Roy Lynch and about the Civil War and Reconstruction period that followed it and how he fought for civil rights during that time. The story is informative and touching and I love the illustrations.