Thirteen year old Jessie Bollier is kidnapped and forced to work on a slave trader heading to Africa for a shipment of slaves to be delivered to Cuba. Surrounded by men of questionable character, he learns lessons about the cruelty of men and the evilness of the world, and yet still manages to withstand the hatred that surrounds him.
The Slave Dancer
by Paula Fox
©1973
ISBN 0-87888-062-3
Hardcover, 176 pages, some ink and wash drawings
Awards: Newbery Medal, 1974
Reading Level: For read aloud, 10 and up; for independent reading mature 13 year olds and up.
Negative Elements
The book takes place on a slave trading ship. The crew are a wild bunch of immoral men who are often drunk. The description of the slaves’ conditions are disturbing and brutal. Bodies, alive and dead, are thrown overboard, like refuse. Jessie does partake in some disobedience toward his mother, which is how he finds himself kidnapped. There is a passing reference to Jessie looking in windows at women undressing, and how he found it somewhat hilarious. This is contrasted with the nakedness of the slaves and how he realizes clothing can provide power.
A common historical slang word for African-American is used profusely, although only by the slavers, and never by the main character. In reading it aloud I simply replaced it with the word “slave” and the children and I discussed why I felt uncomfortable reading the word aloud. Two of the characters seem to be religious, but their actions would prove otherwise.
Positive Elements
The book does an excellent job of portraying the terrible reality of a slaver. It seemed historically accurate and honest in its portrayal. Jessie, the main character, is admirable in action and honest in his descriptions. He maintains compassion for the slaves in spite of overwhelming anger and terror and holds onto his integrity when there is none around him.
As a read aloud it is excellent. It maintains a great sense of pacing, and allows for lots of interaction and conversation. The characters are well written and multi-dimensional.
Our Take
The positives of this book far outweighed the negatives for our family. We are currently studying this period in history and the book seemed a perfect read aloud for us. It meshes nicely with two biographies we are reading about John Newton and William Wilberforce. However, my boys, while they listened to the book, missed most of the nuances that it make it the award winner it is. It is definitely not written for those under the age of 10 or so.
The Slave Dancer captured the horror of the slave trade in a way that our other books have not been able to. What I most enjoyed about this book was the opportunity it allowed us to discuss not only the subject matter, but literary ideas as well. The characters are deep and we spent much time discussing their motives and ideas. I enjoyed asking the children why they thought someone did or said something. We discussed foreshadowing and what they thought might happen next. Since the book is rather unpredictable, the children were almost always wrong, which lead to other discussions about plot.
The book also led to discussions about slavery, humanity, compassion and religiosity. Those lessons are the ones I valued the most.
Rating
I’m going say borrow this one. In our home an “own it” book is one that can be read many times over and will make you a better person. While I valued this book and would read it again when we study this time period in history, I’m not confident that I would want it freely accessible on my shelves.
Learning Opportunities
This book is perfect for a history unit or study on the slave trade and seafaring practices in the mid 18th century. [In answering a comment for this post, I found this study guide that looked very well done and could easily be used as a part of a unit study. - added February 28,2008.]
About the Author
Paula Fox was born in New York city in 1943 and given up by her parents, both screen writers, to be passed from family to family. When she was eight, she spent two years at a Cuban plantation with her Spanish grandmother. Although she always wished to grow up and become an author, she didn’t publish her first book until she was 43 years old. Her novel The Slave Dancer received the Newbery Medal in 1974; and in 1978, she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal.
Where you Can Buy It:
In the US
Reviewed by MrsPages
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Howdy Wonderful People!
I’ve been offline most of this past year and am only gradually getting back up since our move to Philly… But your book review sounds interesting.
See, I have an 11-yr old going on 16 and a 9 year old with a HS Vocabulary. We just moved into a predominantly afro-american neighborhood, live down the street from drug dealers, and the kids are minorities for the first time in their lives. Also, our kids are genius gifts from God. Their teachers have always told us they were ‘bright,’ but now that they’re in an Urban Public School they’ve been ‘Psychologically Tested’ at ‘Genius’ level… which, in my mind, means much less than what others might think it does.
– BUT, in the midst of this weird situation I’m in, I’m trying to come up with good books / stories / activities that will encourage them to love and understand their neighbors, but also to be ‘street wise’ about whom they should and shouldn’t trust.
Anywho – this might be a great read for them… but then again it might not.
What are your thoughts?
Peace,
MaMaQ
Hi MaMaQ,
The value in this book, as I see it, is in the opportunity for discussion it presents, especially about human nature.
If you can carve out some time to read this aloud I think you and the boys would find it a worthy endeavour.
If you can’t read it aloud, consider pre-reading it, or reading it along side your children. Then you could come together and have your very own book club evening.
If you can’t do either of these, but still think your boys might enjoy the book, than this study guide has some questions you can use, perhaps around the dinner table. I liked several of the “analyzing” questions, but I wouldn’t give this to my children as an assignment at all. Just use the questions to spark some discussion.
Hope these help you decide…
Jennifer