The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
Date of Medal: 1974
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 127
Lexile: 970 (according to Scholastic Bookwizard)
What students might like this? Reluctant readers, students
interested in history, students who want to see slavery through a personal
lens, students interested in sailing.
This
might be one of the smallest Newbery Award books I’ve read to date. The plot
centers around a young boy named Jessie. Jessie is 13 year old boy who helps
his family by playing his fife on the street. While not a carefree life he
seems genuinely happy. Jessie is kidnapped by a slaving ship and forced to join
their crew. While sailing, he befriends two sailors Ben Stout and Clay Purvis.
Throughout the book, Jessie learns that while someone may be outwardly friendly
it is important to discern their inner nature. This is an excellent book for
discussing characterization. Jessie narrates some of his confusion over whether
Ben Stout is a kind or evil character. Ben Stouts words are kind, but his
actions tell a different story altogether. The author paints a vivid image of a wolf in
sheep’s clothing. Characterization throughout this book helps young writers to
see that characters don’t have to be archetypal but can be painted in shades of
grey.
This
book also discusses in depth the emotional turmoil that Jessie faces about
slavery. He feels guilt about his actions towards the slaves but then he also
expresses hatred and disgust. Page 69 is a very provocative inner monologue in
which Jessie describes this hatred. It would be an excellent starting point for
how good people can let evils exist in society.
The
Slave Dancer would be an excellent read during a unit about slavery. One
note of caution; though, is that it describes the raw cruelties of slavery and
the emotions that accompany it for a thirteen year old boy. Slaves are beaten,
starved, thrown overboard alive, and dressed up. This book gets under your skin
mentally and emotionally without being overly graphic.
Other
historical fiction about slavery includes Chains by Laurie Halse
Anderson, The Wagon by Tony
Johnston, and Freedom Crossing by Margaret Goff Clark. It might also be
interesting to read historical documents about The Amistad. The Amistad was a
slaving ship that the Africans on board took over. They then had to fight for
their freedom in the US court system in 1839. You can find some historical
documents on The Amistad here: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/amistad/.
The
ending of the book is very true to life neither joyous nor sorrowful. The crew
dies in a storm. Only Jessie and one African boy, Ras, survive. They are then
left to build what life they can for themselves in America. This book is a
poignant emotionally charged journey leaving the reader with only a sense of
calm at the end.
*Image courtesy of amazon.com
