Abolition and the African American Story

Gr 6 Up–An account of the history of the Abolition movement in the United States, which has historical records from as early as 1688. The book draws a line from early Abolitionists through the Civil War and Reconstruction to modern movements like Black Lives Matter and prison labor reforms. Dockery’s text calls particular attention to the anti-slavery efforts of African Americans, who are often left out of conventional Abolitionist narratives that center white activists and politicians. The content of the book is arranged roughly in chronological order, but would have benefitted from more careful organization around topics— some sections seem out of place, without clear transitions within the larger chapters. While there is an extensive bibliography and list of resources, this book lacks the kind of infographic elements that characterize children’s nonfiction, with only a few black-and-white photographs scattered throughout. The cover art style also indicates a younger readership than the intended middle school audience.