Africa Is My Home: A Child Of The Amistad (2013) - Plot & Excerpts
I've never heard of Margru/Magulu/Sarah's story before reading this book, and now I wish I had more of a concept of the background surrounding it. The story was interesting, but I had a few disbelieving moments. This is probably because the book is based in nonfiction and therefore doesn't have perfect edges; Margru feels at home in her country, yet spends years before her family finds her; she doesn't even go to find them! I can't imagine pining for years for them and then making no effort to find them once you've arrived. In almost the complete opposite circumstance, I feel almost misled that Margru/Magulu/Sarah's departure from the mission shortly after the events at the end of the book was left out. It helped to give it somewhat more closure as an ending, yet it wasn't the end of the story. Overall, I think I would've enjoyed this more if it had been written as nonfiction rather than fiction. The illustrations are sweeping and bright, which I liked. I found this to be a very approachable book for young children to start to learn about the slave trade in the Americas. The book is based on an actual person who left a wealth of letters. The author explains at the end of the book why she chose to write it as fiction rather than nonfiction, and I find that to be a real plus.Don't misunderstand. This is not a book that will give anyone a full picture of slavery. In fact, because the children of the Amistad were treated pretty well once they landed in the U.S., readers can get a really skewed vision. However, I think this book could be an appropriate way to start the conversations and to lead into a research project.The illustrations were well done and supported the text.I would definitely want this in my classroom for intermediate grades on up.
What do You think about Africa Is My Home: A Child Of The Amistad (2013)?
What did I think? Well, I'll only say I've read it around a million billion times at this point.
—lbro
A very good fictional account of the plight of the people on the Amistad.
—ianw329
Fascinating story, lovely art. Wonder what kids will think of it.
—ramd4ever
Loved hearing this part of history from a child's point of view.
—aditi
Beautiful story. Will lend itself well to the classroom.
—astroskythe
