Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House [Hardcover]

Rickey Pittman (Author), Judith Hierstein (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Jim Limber Davis was rescued from an abusive guardian by Varina Davis when he was only five years old. Later, Union soldiers kidnapped Jim Limber and spread cruel rumors that he was Jefferson Davis's slave. This true story provides a glimpse of how Jim was accepted as one of the Davisís children and reveals their family's love and compassion for him.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–4—This is a heartbreaking tale of a free black orphan boy adopted by Jefferson Davis and his family. After Davis was arrested by the Union army, Jim was kidnapped and taken to the North as an unwilling example of the cruelties meted out by Davis to the boy. One illustration shows Jim exposing his welt-covered back to shocked Northerners. In reality, his scars were not from the beatings suffered under the Confederate president, but from the boy's uncle. Pittman does a terrific job of capturing readers' interest, but there are concerns about this title. First of all, thoughts and feelings, which cannot be known, are ubiquitous. When Jim's adopted brother dies after a fall, the text reads, "These were sad days for the Davis family, but especially for Jim because he loved Joe so much." Surely Mrs. Davis would have had her own particular, undeniable, maternal grief. There is so much speculation and filling in of unknown blanks. Large, average-quality illustrations evoke the author's sympathetic views toward the Davis family and the Confederacy. Without source notes, readers should view this story as fiction, not biography. The mystery of what happened to young Jim remains unknown. Davis searched for him after the Civil War, but never found him. Despite the above concerns, it is a worthy tale for young students.—Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI
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From the Publisher

"Earthy illustrations by arts teacher Judith Hierstein add a complementary touch to this glimpse of a largely unknown and unseen side of the Confederate White House."
--The Midwest Book Review

"The author's engaging story format never deviates from historical facts, yet handles the issue of slavery in a manner that is appropriate for upper elementary-aged children. Pittman knows how to keep history alive."
--ForeWord

"What a story! If you love Southern Confederate Civil War history, Rickey is the man to talk to."
--beautyandthebook.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Pelican Publishing (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158980435X
• ISBN-13: 978-1589804357
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,978,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About Time, May 31, 2007

By 

Theodore H. Brode - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House (Hardcover)

It is about time someone wrote about this tragic little boy. I have told this story to incredulous listeners for years. I am overjoyed to think that now more people will know this little boy's name and probable fate. A great Christmas gift with excellent art work and lively, readable text.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This glimpse of a largely unknown and unseen side of the Confederate White House., September 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House (Hardcover)

Award-winning author Rickey Pittman presents Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House, a children's picturebook revealing the amazing true story of a young black boy rescued from his cruel guardian by Varina Davis, wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis registered Jim as a free black child and became his guardian; Jim was treated well and enjoyed happy times in the Confederate white house during the civil war. Yet when the Union won, Jefferson Davis was imprisoned and Jim Limber was taken away by Union soldiers. Jim Limber was displayed as a "slave" of Jefferson Davis, though he tried to protest that the scars inflicted upon him were from his first master, not from the former Confederate President. By the time Jefferson Davis was freed from prison, Jim Limber had disappeared, never to be heard from again - what happened to him remains a mystery to this day. Earthy illustrations by arts teacher Judith Hierstein add a complementary touch to this glimpse of a largely unknown and unseen side of the Confederate White House.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend, March 7, 2010

By 

Texas librarian (Killeen, TX United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House (Hardcover)

As a librarian, I'm always looking for quality literature that offers a sound, if differing, perspective on topics. Jim Limber Davis was a black orphan who was rescued, loved, and adopted by the Jefferson Davis family, abducted by Northern soldiers and beaten to force him to testify against the Davis family, which he did not. Where is this story in any of our history books? Rickey Pittman is a talented author and historian who has penned an outstanding piece that needs to be in every library and many homes. Kudos.