A review by pagesofpins
Day of Tears by Julius Lester

2.0

Though this novel-in-dialogue provides some disparity of perspective on the motivations and actions of different slaves and slave holders, the dialogue often had a stilted quality, like the characters are speaking more for the benefit of the audience than to each other (why is Will saying "my sister" rather than "your aunt"? Why do they recite the details of past events the other characters lived through along with them?) While the historical event (largest slave auction in US record) is unique, the book could have done with a bit more complexity in places, and a bit less moralizing in others. I especially dislike that many teens will walk away from this book thinking that slavery ended instantly at the Emancipation Proclamation, and that everything was different immediately afterwards. A unique effort, but not my favorite.

"Sometimes family ain't blood but them what are by your side when you need somebody." Emma (92)