Imagine being looked up and down and being valued as less than a chair. Less than an ox. Less than a dress. Maybe about the same as a lantern. You're an object-an object to be sold. Inspired by the actual will of a plantation owner that listed the worth of each and every one of his workers, Ashley Bryan uses original documents from slave auctions and plantation estates to create moving and powerful poetry and illustrations that contrast the monetary value of a slave with the priceless value of a person's life experiences and dreams-things that a slave owner could never take away.
"Expertly crafted, these entries will deeply resonate with readers...A significant contribution to U.S. and African American history that will elicit compassion and understanding while instilling tremendous pride. A must-purchase for all collections."
School Library Journal
"Bryan gives voices to the voiceless and presents the dreams of slaves who went to the grave without living them. Using historical slave documents from the 1820s to the 1860s, Bryan brings to life 11 slaves who once belonged to Cado Fairchilds...Bryan makes real and palpable what chattel slavery meant and how it affected those who were enslaved; every child who studies American slavery would benef
