brneely's review
4.0
This is a fantastic graphic novel that does an absolutely amazing job at using visual elements to contextualize the world Douglass lived in. For the most part, the authors do a good job of resolving a central conflict: how to capture with images, a man defined by his brilliance with language. While the book is never bad or boring, it does sometimes fail to marry the graphic novel style with Douglass' incredible use of oratory.
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
What graphic novels do best, is open literature and ideas up to a wider audience, an audience that might never pick up a book that was filled with just words alone. Graphic novels may have an easier entry point, but they can and have in the past 30 years or so that they have become popular, been able to tell stories that would not work in a simple print medium.
In his lifetime, Frederick Douglass his autobiography three different times, in three different books. He knew the power of words, and wrote his first autobiography because no one believed he was an escaped slave, that no slave could speak so eloquently, or write so well.
According to this retelling of Mr. Douglass's life, he was the most photographed American man of the 19th century. That there are more pictures of him, than of Abraham Lincoln, a contemporary.
The graphic novel is written as though it is being told in Mr. Douglass's voice, which gets us closer to the subject.
I knew a little bit about Frederick Douglass before I read this, but didn't know that he knew Sojourner Truth, or Herriat Tubman. I did not know that he worked with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for women's right to vote, as he worked for black men to have the right to vote.
Very informative story, very well written and researched. A great starting point to anyone who is interested in knowing more about Frederick Douglass.
Thanks to Ten Speed Press and Penguin Random House for making this free review book available for an honest review.
In his lifetime, Frederick Douglass his autobiography three different times, in three different books. He knew the power of words, and wrote his first autobiography because no one believed he was an escaped slave, that no slave could speak so eloquently, or write so well.
According to this retelling of Mr. Douglass's life, he was the most photographed American man of the 19th century. That there are more pictures of him, than of Abraham Lincoln, a contemporary.
The graphic novel is written as though it is being told in Mr. Douglass's voice, which gets us closer to the subject.
I knew a little bit about Frederick Douglass before I read this, but didn't know that he knew Sojourner Truth, or Herriat Tubman. I did not know that he worked with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton for women's right to vote, as he worked for black men to have the right to vote.
Very informative story, very well written and researched. A great starting point to anyone who is interested in knowing more about Frederick Douglass.
Thanks to Ten Speed Press and Penguin Random House for making this free review book available for an honest review.
crizzle's review
5.0
I’ve become a big fan of historical/biographical nonfiction graphic novels. I do like to learn history but if it’s condensed a bit and with illustrations, well of course I’ll choose that over a textbook! This is another one I think everyone should read (middle school-aged on up). It was VERY well done and I cried near the end. I’ve read one of Frederick Douglass’s autobiographies, but probably a decade or more ago, although I remember it being FANTASTIC and have recommended it to others through the years. This was a great refresher course, told in his voice, and I plan on reading his actual autobiography again someday in the next few years.
This one had a few breakers of quick history lessons on American slavery, photography and Frederick Douglass (did you know he was the most photographed American in the 19th century? He wanted people to see what a real Black person looks like, verses the crude caricatures drawn for newspapers), and the Civil War. Very interesting to me was the relationship between Douglass and Lincoln; even though Douglass was an outspoken critic of Lincoln and his wishy washy stance on slavery, the two actually were becoming closer to friends before the assassination.
This one had a few breakers of quick history lessons on American slavery, photography and Frederick Douglass (did you know he was the most photographed American in the 19th century? He wanted people to see what a real Black person looks like, verses the crude caricatures drawn for newspapers), and the Civil War. Very interesting to me was the relationship between Douglass and Lincoln; even though Douglass was an outspoken critic of Lincoln and his wishy washy stance on slavery, the two actually were becoming closer to friends before the assassination.
theybedax's review
5.0
This is deeply powerful, informative, heartbreaking, and empowering. Do yourself a favor and order it right away.
whitecat5000's review
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Very interesting. I read the autobiography of Frederick Douglass and this gave different details.
wyeager's review
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Perfect for elementary or junior high education. Well researched and beautifully illustrated.
mrpatperkins's review
5.0
Frederick Douglass is one of those historical characters you learn about at an early age, but you never really get a full picture of until much later, if you’re lucky. I knew he was an abolitionist and a tremendous orator, a friend of Abraham Lincoln—and that’s about it. This graphic novel biography gives that fuller picture, showing how much of a badass Frederick Douglass really was. He fought back against his enslavers, he escaped from enslavement, he spoke out again and again against slavery, even under the constant threat of violence. This book tells his story from Douglass’s point of view, exposing his regrets as well as praising his accomplishments.