Frederick Douglass

Disclosure: Abrams Books sent me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 


As we continue our way through Black History Month, I keep finding more and more wonderful books to share with you. Today's is about a famous name, Frederick Douglass. How much do you know about Frederick Douglass? I knew his name and knew he was an escaped slave and abolitionist, but not a whole lot more. The book is Facing Frederick: The Life of Frederick Douglass, a Monumental American Man by Tonya Bolden. 

Frederick Douglass was an amazing man. Born into slavery, the product of his mother being raped by a white man on the plantation. He never knew who his father was. He managed to escape to the north and came to Massachusetts.  In Massachusetts he becomes active as an abolitionist speaker and begins his own newspaper, however his views are different from the other abolitionists in his group and he breaks away. Eventually he moves to Rochester, New York and Washington, D.C. He saw how important it was not to send the black man away like so many abolitionist wanted. He also understood that suffrage went along with being free or the black man would be a different kind of slave without a vote. 

This book shares so many details about his life and information about those who helped him and were against him. It shares the struggles and triumphs throughout his life in a very interesting manner. It is perfect for any classroom or library to have. It is recommended for ages  10 to 14. I know upon reading it I learned so much I didn't know about this amazing man. It draws the reader in and shares the exciting story of Frederick Douglass. Bolden tells the story of his life in a way that it is like reading a story. It is well done.