The Road to Freedom: A Story of the Reconstruction (Jamestown's American Portraits) [Paperback]

Jabari Asim (Author)

Book Description

Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Jamestown's American Portraits

It is 1865, and freedom is in thw air. Ten-year-old Exra Taplin is living on a North Carolina plantation when Union soldiers arrive to set the slaves free. Ezra and his father, Silas, must deal with their newfound livberty while finding a way to support themselves. After spending time in a Union work camp, they journey to Charleston, South Carolina, where freed slaves are organizing to establish better lives for themselves and their families. As Ezra matures, both he and his father discover the true meaning of freedom.

Jamestown’s American Portraits explores the growth of different generations and cultures through the lives of young boys and girls. These titles are told from a diverse group of boys and girls, coming from different and unique backgrounds that represent America’s own diverse population, spanning from the Jamestown Settlement to the Civil Rights Movement.

Titles in this series:

• This Generation of Americans: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement, by Fredrick L. McKissack, Jr.

• The Road to Freedom: A Story of the Reconstruction, by Jabari Asim

• All For Texas: A Story of Texas Liberation, by G. Clifton Wisler

• The Worst of Times: A Story of the Great Depression, by James Lincoln Collier

• Wind on the River: A Story of the Civil War, by Laurie Lawlor

• When I Dream of Heaven: Angelina’s Story, by Steven Kroll (1895 Italian Immigrant in NYC)

• An Eye for an Eye: A Story of the Revolutionary War, by Peter and Connie Roop

• Sweet America: An Immigrant’s Story, by Steven Kroll

• The Corn Raid: A Story of the Jamestown Settlement, by James Lincoln Collier

• Revenge of the Aztecs: A Story of 1920s Hollywood, by Susan Beth Pfeffer

• To Touch the Stars: A Story of World War II, by Karen Zeinert

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: School Specialty Publishing (April 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076963432X
• ISBN-13: 978-0769634326
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #595,420 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JABARI ASIM is the acclaimed author of What Obama Means . . . For Our Politics, Our Culture, Our Future as well as the author of the highly praised and controversial The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't, And Why.

He is the editor-in-chief of Crisis magazine, a preeminent journal of politics, ideas and culture published by the NAACP and founded by W.E.B. Du Bois in 1910. He spent 11 years at the Washington Post, where he served as deputy editor of the book review section. For three years he also wrote a syndicated column on political and social issues for the Post.

In April 2009, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation awarded him a fellowship in nonfiction, one of 180 fellowships awarded to artists, scientists and scholars in 2009 selected from a group of almost 3,000 applicants.

He is a frequent public speaker and commentator who has appeared on "The Today Show," "The Colbert Report," "Hannity & Colmes," "The Tavis Smiley Show," "The Diane Rehm Show" and countless other programs. He has lectured at many of the nation's finest universities, including Seton Hall University, Northwestern University, Syracuse University and the University of Florida.

His first novel for adults, A Taste of Honey, will be published in April 2010. The Road To Freedom, his first novel for young readers, was published in 2000. His other children's books include Whose Toes Are Those, Whose Knees Are These, Daddy Goes to Work, and The Road to Freedom. His next children's books, Boy Of Mine and Girl Of Mine, will be published in April 2010.

Jabari Asim lives in Illinois with his wife, Liana and their five children.