Customer Reviews

A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, a Slave Girl, Belmont Plantation, Virginia 1859 (Dear America Series)

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Clotee has lived all twelve years of her life as a slave on the Belmont Plantation in Virginia. Now it's 1859, just before the start of the Civil War. Although she has known no life other than that of a slave, she has secretly learned how to read and write, and that ability gives her a glimpse of the world out there. To practice, she keeps a secret diary that she hides in a hollowed-out tree. An orphan most of her life, Clotee has managed to make the best of her circumstances, and writing is one of the few things that brings her any joy. When a tutor comes to the plantation to teach the master's young son, Clotee figures that he'll just be another predjudiced southerner. But he's an abolitionist that further expands Clotee's horizons, and he may be able to give her the one thing she longs for: freedom. I highly reccomend this beautifully written account of one year in the life of a fictional slave girl who lived in circumstances typical of the time. The fact that it is told through Clotee's diary allows the reader to really get inside her head and know her innermost thoughts, hopes, and dreams.

This book is about Clotee, who is a 12 years old slave girl in Belmont Plantation, Virginia. She taught herself how to read and write. Her mom was sold to other plantation and died when she was young. Clotee grew by Aunt Tee and Uncle Heb. Her friends were Hince, spicy and Wook. Wook was killed when she tried to runaway. Clotee met Mr. Harms who was an abolitionist on the Underground Railroad. She wanted to be an abolitionist too.

In the book, Clotee shares her feelings, experiences and thoughts about slavery. She describes her life on the plantation and talks about the Underground Railroad. I liked this book because it gave me a window onto the live of slaves in 1859. The details were very vivid. I also liked this book because it taught the lesson that if a person has a goal ad dream, he/she should go for it and they will reach it. Another reason that I liked this book is it showed me how terrible slavery was an how wrong it was. I recommend this book to any teenager who is studying the U.S. Civil War or slavery.

I just finished reading this book to my 7-year-old daughter and we both really enjoyed it. I thought at first the language might be slightly above her, but she was thoroughly engrossed in the story. It held her attention well enough that as we drew to the close of the book, we had a hour-long reading session while she eagerly listened.
The plot, in brief, involves 12-year-old Clotee, a slave girl on the Belmont plantation in Virginia. She has managed to teach herself to read and write while fanning her young master William during his lessons. She keeps a make-shift diary in which she records life on the plantation.
When reading to a young audience, you will want to be prepared to address a couple of issues - there is the terrible beating and subsequent death of one of the slaves. Although it is hard to read about, no accurate portrayal of slavery would be complete without such incidents. There is talk of one of the slaves who is suspected to be the son of the master. Also briefly mentioned is the issue of a white overseer who desires for himself one of the slave girls. This cannot be glossed over becuase it becomes critical later in the book in a very climactic incident. I personally felt it was a good opportunity to review "inappropriate touching" with my 7-year-old who knows the basics, but not all, of the "birds and bees".
For some, there will come the issue of whether it is okay to use dishonesty to achieve what most would call a higher cause. It makes for a good philosophical discussion. Most of the people I have talked to agree with me on this, but I have one sister-in-law who differs powerfully. In any case, and whatever your personal feelings on the issue, it would be a shame to miss this book - use is at a teaching tool.
I do think some great moral lessons are present in the book - self-restraint, personal sacrifice, restitution of wrong-doing, and many more.
One thing that I especially loved about the book was that despite the terrible circumstances of slavery which are clearly addressed in the book, you end the book with the feeling of triumph and appreciation for those who gave so much to the cause of freedom.

A Picture of Freedom is a wonderful story on slavery - the best I've read!

In 1859, 12 year old Clotee lives on the Belmont Plantation in Virginia, where she works in the "big house". She's used to hard work and obeying her master - except for one thing. Clotee teaches herself to read.

Through this diary that Clotee keeps, you follow her life, with her working and making friends, her thoughts about escaped slaves, her worries that her diary will be found, and her learning about abolitionists, who her master hates! When a teacher comes to the plantation to tutor the boy there, she finds out his secret. Can he help her?

This was a great, exciting book on a brave slave girl, and I'd recommend it for ages 10 - 14! I'd also recommend some other books on slavery, Letters from a Slave Girl, and I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly.

A Picture of Freedom was absolutley great! I love this book. I had always wondered what it was like to be a slave and I found out. It was tough and grueling work and I am SO GLAD slavery was abolished. This book was a masterpiece!!!

This book was very entertaining! It is about a young slave girl named Clotee who makes a new friend. Clotee is seceretly learnig to read and write against her masters will by paying attention to his son's school lessons. She makes her self a diary to write in and share her thoughts and feelings with. She must hide it though, or it could leak to the master. One day she learns a new word Freedom. She didn't know what it meant. Will she ever understand the true meaning of the word? Will she ever pursue freedom for herself? Read the book and find out!
I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in books about slavery in America and to people who can really appreciate family bonds and good friends.

I'm 33 years old and I found this book very entertaining and educational. The book was well written and I zipped through it within days. A must read even if you're not into history.

I teach this book in my seventh grade English class, and it is highly effective in teaching young adults the harsh realities of the American slave experience. They enjoy the book, but more importantly, they get a sense of what it felt like to be a slave. The plot is simple at first, but it has a fantastic ending. You will quickly grow to love many of the characters. It is a quick read, but it is not quickly forgotten.

This book was the best book I have ever read. It is about a slave girl named Clotee. The best thing about this book is that it is a real story about a real girl. This book will touch you forever. You'll love this book.

This book is about a slave girl who tells what it was like to be a slave.It made me understand more about the torture that they went through. If you are interested about slavery, then this historical fiction book is just for you.