Freedom's Sons: The True Story of the Amistad Mutiny [Hardcover]

Suzanne Jurmain (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

In 1839, fifty-three Africans aboard the sla ve ship Amistad broke out of their chains and took over the ship. Freedom''s Sons offers a stirring, authentic account of the historical events that serve as the basis for Steven Sp ielberg''s movie, Amistad. '

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8?Using many primary sources, Jurmain has created a readable and evenhanded account of the 1839 Amistad mutiny and the trial that followed, coming down on the side of the wrongly captured Africans without demonizing the pro-slavery forces who thought they should be returned to their owners. She places the event in the historical context of a pre-Civil War United States. Especially interesting is the epilogue in which the author lists the principle players in the drama and gives brief summaries of their subsequent activities, though what is known about the Africans?even the charismatic Cinque himself?is painfully little. The eight-page centerfold of black-and-white reproductions neither adds nor detracts from the text. Unfortunately, there is no map of modern Africa to show the area discussed in the book. All-in-all, a solid entry for reports or general interest.?Carrie Schadle, New York Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8. With meticulous research and a storyteller's knack for pace and well-placed detail, Jurmain re-creates a fascinating chapter in American history. In 1839, slavers sailed to West Africa to kidnap a new shipload of human cargo, but a mutiny changed everything. The ship eventually landed off the U.S. coast, where the courts took over: Should the Africans be allowed to return to their homelands, or should they be sent to Cuba to stand trial for murder and rebellion? Jurmain's writing has a quiet respect that doesn't get in the way of the facts. She simply lets the story unfold, resulting in a powerful tale of courage, strength, and dignity. An added bonus is an appendix that names and briefly describes the lives of many individuals aboard the ship, ensuring that readers will see them as people who have families, jobs, and lives--not just as pawns of white men. Detailed source notes, illustrations, and a bibliography are also included. Randy Meyer

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068811072X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688110727
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,151,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunately True, March 25, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Freedom's Sons: The True Story of the Amistad Mutiny (Hardcover)

I was driven to this book by Spielberg's movie about the Amistad Mutiny.
I was so impressed with the cruelty exposed on the film that I would like to check it in a reliable source.
Suzanne Jurmain's book is very easy to read, once is oriented to the young people at the schools.
It is a good start to the knowledge of this episode and as I mentioned in the title the book, altough not deeply documented, is sufficient enough to assure you that the facts are unfortunately true.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gift of Truth for Your Children and Grandchildren, December 18, 2000

By 

The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. G. G. Block - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freedom's Sons: The True Story of the Amistad Mutiny (Hardcover)

Exploring one of America's darkest chapters, Suzanne Jurmain gives the great gift of truth to all of her readers. Buy this book, today, as a gift for your children and grandchildren. Share with them them the reality of America's ugly flirtation with slavery, and in so doing free them from the streotypes and simplifications which too often pass among us for reality.

Ms. Jurmain chronicles, for a juvenile audience, the story of the Amistad mutiny, so movingly recounted in the movie of the same name. In so doing, she draws upon the original court records and other contemporary documents. Although this is a book for young people, she does not shy away from describing the horrors of the middle passage, or the other institutions associated with slavery. Nor, does Ms. Jurmain give in to the temptation to solely demonize the Europeans associated with the slave trade: she accurately states that many of the slaves were captured and sold by other Africans. Thus, the African diaspora was all the more tragic.

Most importantly, Ms. Jurmain breaks the myth of docile African servitude. Her portrait of Cinque and the other captive's moral courage and willingness to take their futures into their own hands is in keeping with other recent literary and film releases such as "Glory," and "The Tuskeegee Airmen." By telling the truth, Ms. Jurmain helps all of us: no matter what the color of our skin, to see that courage is not limited to any gender or race.

Buy this book for your children and gradchildren. Help them to see the promise of freedom shining through one of America's darkest chapters -- and in the process help them to dream of a brighter tomorrow.