Imagine being beaten for learning to read, shackled and whipped for learning a few letters of the alphabet. Now, imagine a man brave enough to risk torture in order to teach others how to read; his name is Nightjohn, and he sneaks into the slave camps at night to teach other slaves how to read and write. Celebrated author Gary Paulsen writes a searing meditation on why the ability to read and write is radical, empowering , and so necessary to our freedom. These skills threaten our oppressors because they allow us to communicate--to learn the real status of our slavery and to seek liberation. In this tightly written, painful, joyous little novel is a key that may unlock the power of reading for even the most reluctant teens.
*review taken from Amazon.com*
Book Specs:
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Laurel Leaf (January 1, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0440219361
ISBN-13: 978-0440219361
The was a fast read (I read it in 45 mintues) but the lesson that it teches is one that stick with you forever. What does it mean to you to read and write? What would you give up just to learn?
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