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Barracoon (Adapted for Young Readers)
CCBC Review:
At 86 years old, Cudjo Lewis was the last survivor of the trans-Atlantic slave trade known to be alive when he was interviewed over a series of visits by Zora Neale Hurson in 1931. He was 19 when he was captured in Africa, decades after the Atlantic slave trade was outlawed, illegally transported to the United States, and sold into slavery. The book’s introduction provides historical context about the slave trade, slavery in America, and this adaptation for young people before launching Hurston’s narrative. She describes her interactions with Lewis and conveys the stories he told. Lewis talked about his childhood, his capture, and his life in the United States during and after being enslaved. Hurston’s first-person voice is inviting and accessible. Lewis speaks what Hurston in 1931 referred to as “African American English” or “Ebonics,” a language, she explains, which enslaved people created out of their own languages and English. She notes it is not “broken” English, just as English is not “broken” Latin or German. This volume offers students of history a primary source account as well as a thoughtful perspective on the importance of building trust and respecting one’s subjects when conducting oral interviews. ©2025 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects:
20th Century
African Americans
African Peoples
Biography
Slavery
Survival
U.S. History
Diversity subject:
Black/African
Publishers:
Amistad, HarperCollins
Publish Year: 2024
Pages: 188
ISBN: 9780063098336
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 920 Lewis