Rebels Against Slavery: Story Of American Slave Revolts, The [Hardcover]

Patricia C. McKissack (Author), Fred Mckissack (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

Collects the true stories of brave African-American rebels who fought against slavery, from Cinque, who pleaded his case before the Supreme Court, to Nat Turner, who led one of the greatest revolts in history.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, and many lesser-known leaders of slave rebellions are featured in this historical tribute; photographs, drawings, a timeline and a bibliography round out the volume. Ages 8-14.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up-The McKissacks explore slave revolts and the men and women who led them, weaving a tale of courage and defiance in the face of tremendous odds. Readers learn not only about Nat Turner and Denmark Vesey, but also about Cato, Gabriel Prosser, the maroons, and the relationship between escaped slaves and Seminole Indians. The activities of abolitionists are described as well. The authors' careful research, sensitivity, and evenhanded style reveal a sad, yet inspiring story of the will to be free. Black-and-white reproductions of paintings, drawings, and documents appear throughout. A fine contribution to a growing body of literature about the African American experience.?Carol Jones Collins, Montclair Kimberley Academy, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1St Edition edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590457357
• ISBN-13: 978-0590457354
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,839,049 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slave History Revealed, April 26, 2000

By 

Cathy (Buffalo, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts (Paperback)

A wonderful companion book to history textbooks. Having scanned several history texts to find pertinent and relevant facts concerning the history of slave revolt to no avail, this book was a real "find". The book contains several historical photographs and drawings which aids and assists the student's imagination. The chapters depict leaders of the slave revolt, their lives, their beliefs, the risks they took and the many lives that were lost. The book is heartfelt and compassionate. It does not preach, point accusatory fingers, nor does it apologize, but instead celebrates and remembers the African American men and woman men who fought for what they believed in - freedom - during the Civil War.

In an era where I hope we will begin to recognize the mistakes we have made in the past by uncovering our people's cultural diversity, cultural history and the many differences the inhabitants of this country represent, this book is welcomed and applauded. I will use it for my children and in my classroom so that we do not forget, but remember those who helped change and shape the history of our country.

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring and necessary novel about African-Americans who fought for their own freedom, July 6, 2011

By 

Taj (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rebels Against Slavery: Story Of American Slave Revolts, The (Hardcover)

This book is so important because it documents the many heroes and true freedom fighters who didn't just wait passively for freedom to be given to them but who fought for their own freedom and the destruction of slavery as an institution. This book was particularly important for me to have my sons read because so frequently the only history about African-Americans that they learn in school is slavery, the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement via Martin Luther King, Jr. & Rosa Parks. These events, while part of the history, are certainly not the complete story. Furthermore, many of the events and people focused on, in traditional educational environments, reinforce a vision of African-Americans as passive victims waiting for others to liberate them. It is important for African-Americans to know that many of their brethren actively fought for freedom, in overt and covert ways. African-Americans resisted their oppressors and slavery in a variety of ways. African-American leaders consistently arose throughout the history of slavery only to be killed, but even death and torture did not stop leaders and fighters from arising. It is important for African-American children to see the plethora of African-American freedom fighters who struggled against tyranny and injustice. Toussaint L'Ouverture, Osceola (a brave and honorable Seminole) and Negro Abraham, Gabriel Prosser, Nat Turner, Denmark Vessey, these names should be known to all Americans, but particularly African-Americans. These fighters for freedom are true heroes who, analogous to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, et. al., risked their lives to secure freedom from tyranny and injustice. Too frequently only non-violent African-Americans are permitted to be idealized as American heroes, while the Nat Turners, Malcolm Xs and Huey Newtons are decried. The American Revolution to secure independence was a violent struggle. The "Founding Fathers" engaged in violent insurrection against their colonial government and homeland of Britain to achieve their personal goals. Why should African-Americans be forced to apologize for engaging in armed struggle to secure their own personal liberty? I am happy to read that this book does not apologize or obfuscate the facts. It portrays an impressive portrait of African-Americans who stood up against slavery (yes, even violently) and, for once, portrays African-Americans as actors and not just passive victims. I highly recommend it as a well-written, well-researched and moving account of African-American (and Seminole) heroes who fought against slavery.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rebels Against Slavery by McKissack, July 24, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rebels Against Slavery: American Slave Revolts (Paperback)

The work has a fair representation of African-American uprisings
during the early colonial period and afterward. The authors
depict the Stone Rebellion at the 1739 site. Osceola refused to turn black allies over to their slaveholders. Toussaint is
considered the Father of Haiti. The work explains the tactical
retaliation necessary to unbind the shackles of slavery.
Famous Americans; such as Richard Allen are depicted. He was
the first Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
This book would be very valuable for any student project on
the rebellions against slavery in the colonies up through the
period of the Civil War and beyond.