Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Alexander (Author), Marilyn Nelson (Author), Floyd Cooper (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up

Her young students knew that Miss Crandall had committed no crime. They knew that the real criminals were the rich white residents of Canterbury, Connecticut, who had poisoned the school's water and set fire to the schoolhouse. But racism could not keep these girls from their schooling. Nor could hatred destroy the patience and compassion that Miss Crandall had taught them. From March of 1833 to September of 1834, when persecution forced the school to close, these African American women, many the daughters of freed slaves, learned that they deserved an education. What they needed was the courage to go after it.

Poets Elizabeth Alexander and Marilyn Nelson have re-created the remarkable story of Prudence Crandall's school, using the sonnet form with innovative style. In this collection, the authors depict the bold young women who dared to attend Miss Crandall's classes. Floyd Cooper's powerful, realistic illustrations enhance the poems, revealing the strength and vulnerability of Miss Crandall and her students.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—Twenty-four sonnets tell the story of Prudence Crandall and her efforts to educate young African-American women in Canterbury, CT, 1833-1834. The school began as a boarding school for white girls; when two black women inquired about taking classes and Crandall agreed, the townspeople withdrew their daughters. As she accepted more black students, the town became more vocal in its resistance, poisoning the school water supply, refusing to sell it supplies, and charging Miss Crandall and others with a variety of "crimes." The sonnet format is challenging but compelling. Each poem addresses an individual aspect of the story; therefore, the tone and cadence change depending upon the person speaking or the event being depicted. The introduction gives essential information, but readers with no background will still need help understanding the political, social, and historical context. Cooper's pastel mixed-media illustrations sometimes illuminate the poems, but at other times seem solely decorative. His portraits for "Tao of the Trial" and "Miss Ann Eliza Hammond" are powerfully rendered, while the nature scenes add little to the poetic experience. The art's sketchiness, however, does suit the poetic form. There are empty spaces in the pictures just as the language of the poetry leaves openness for readers' interpretation. A heartfelt, unusual presentation, this book rewards patient readers.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
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Review

* "... The images in their poems and in Cooper's quiet, dramatic pastel illustrations compellingly capture the haunting history..." --Booklist, Starred Review

* "... [A] glorious poetic celebration of the teacher and students at a Connecticut school that defied mid-19th-century convention to educate African-American girls...Cooper's soft pastel illustrations provide a muted counterpoint to the text, mixing depictions of school and students with images of the natural world in a lovely rhythm. A foreword provides a brief prose history of the school; a concluding authors' note explains their collaborative process." --Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"... The words are powerful as they celebrate the importance of education and hardships that the students endured to achieve it. The reader appreciates the courage of these women, facing the hostilities of the townsfolk. Floyd Cooper's illustrations capture the moods of the poems and help tell the story of persecution and adversity that eventually forced the school's closure. This book celebrates the women who risked everything to improve their lives. It can serve as an example for today's youth for appreciating the opportunities for education that they have today regardless of race." --Library Media Connection

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Wordsong; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590784561
• ISBN-13: 978-1590784563
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 10.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #81 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Prejudice & Racism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children, January 25, 2009

By 

Yana V. Rodgers "econkids.rutgers.edu" (New Brunswick, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color (Hardcover)

Prudence Crandall, a young schoolteacher with a Quaker upbringing, started a boarding school for female students in Canterbury, Connecticut in 1831. Although the townspeople had helped to establish the school, their support soon changed into outrage when Ms. Crandall accepted a young African American woman from Boston. Outrage led to withdrawal of the white students as Ms. Crandall admitted a second student of color, and by early 1833 the school had only black girls in attendance.

Efforts by the townspeople to close the school intensified as they arrested and briefly jailed Ms. Crandall, harassed the students, stopped selling provisions to the school, and ultimately ransacked the building and set it on fire. Although the town succeeded in closing the school, Ms. Crandall continued to speak out about social justice across the country, and ultimately the town of Canterbury made reparations for their wrongful actions.

Elizabeth Alexander (poet for the 2009 inauguration of President Obama) and Marilyn Nelson (poet laureate of the state of Connecticut, 2002-06), use a series of carefully-crafted and beautiful sonnets to relate the story of Prudence Crandall and her students. The uncertainties of leaving home for a boarding school, the joys of gaining new knowledge, the frustration in encountering resistance from the town, and the fears of experiencing harassment are all captured in the powerful verses. Floyd Cooper's moving illustrations work extremely well in helping the reader to interpret the poems. This unique book of poetry provides teachers and parents with a new opportunity for teaching important lessons about discrimination, education, and U.S. history.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color, February 8, 2009

By 

Genevieve Brooks "Healthcare Educator" (Orange, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color (Hardcover)

When I learned that Ms Alexander was the inagural poet I was curious about her so I bought the book. I was pleased with the book and its interesting history about the education of blacks in America.

I was introduced to the book by Dr. Irene Hall, co-founder of Discovery Charter School in Newark, NJ, my Alternate Route Instructor, who had her students read the book prior to Pres. Obama's inaguration. She told us about the book and it's historical importance; therefore when I purchased it I knew what I was getting.

I must say I was not disappointed. The book was well written and put together to make such a sobering series of event interesting.

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies and Little Misses of Color, November 14, 2009

By 

Jay - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Miss Crandall's School for Young Ladies & Little Misses of Color (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book. The story is told through poetry. I couldn't put it down.