A review by raoionna
Ona Judge Outwits the Washingtons: An Enslaved Woman Fights for Freedom by Gwendolyn Hooks
4.0
Powerful ~ HIstoric ~ Painful
tl;dr: An enslaved person owned by the Washington's escapes.
I am unsure about how to rate this book. The story is important, an enslaved WOMAN escaping and outsmarting our first president's family. The writing is strong. The text would work well in a 4th or 5th-grade classroom, particularly as students explore the strengths of our early presidents. Seeing heroes as complicated and flawed is important, and a good way to grow critical thinking skills. The challenge is that the illustrations are naive. I am ambivalent about if the author chose this approach purposefully. In the Revolutionary War era, naive illustrations were often used as a form of resistance. Additionally, early American painters, called limners, often made naive portraits of people for pay. Perhaps Hooks is recalling these items. The thing though is that the illustrations can sometimes detract from the text. With that caveat, I do recommend this book.
3.5
Thanks to NetGallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr: An enslaved person owned by the Washington's escapes.
I am unsure about how to rate this book. The story is important, an enslaved WOMAN escaping and outsmarting our first president's family. The writing is strong. The text would work well in a 4th or 5th-grade classroom, particularly as students explore the strengths of our early presidents. Seeing heroes as complicated and flawed is important, and a good way to grow critical thinking skills. The challenge is that the illustrations are naive. I am ambivalent about if the author chose this approach purposefully. In the Revolutionary War era, naive illustrations were often used as a form of resistance. Additionally, early American painters, called limners, often made naive portraits of people for pay. Perhaps Hooks is recalling these items. The thing though is that the illustrations can sometimes detract from the text. With that caveat, I do recommend this book.
3.5
Thanks to NetGallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.