To Be a Slave
Overview & Summary
This nonfiction collection compiles firsthand oral histories and narratives from formerly enslaved Americans, drawn largely from interviews conducted decades after emancipation, giving voice to the lived experience of slavery in participants' own words rather than through a historian's summary. Julius Lester's compilation, framed with his own historical commentary, was a Newbery Honor book and remains a powerful primary-source introduction to the realities of American slavery.
Available Formats
- Paperback
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Who This Book Is For
Designed for Middle school students (Grades 6–8) preparing for curricula at schools like Eastside Catholic, Flintridge, Groton School, Sacred Heart Schools, St. Paul's School, Woodside Priory School. It fits right into History studies.
Why CE Recommends This Book
Selected for Academic Enrichment & Readiness. Pushing slightly beyond standard classroom expectations, this title widens vocabulary, supports steady Lexile growth, and builds the academic rigor needed for advanced middle and high school courses.
