Awards

• Commended for Yalsa Award for Excellence in Non-Fiction for Young Adults 2024

Overview

"Millions of Africans were enslaved during the transatlantic slave trade, but few recorded their personal experiences. Olaudah Equiano's The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is perhaps the most well known of the autobiographies that exist. Using this narrative as a primary source text, authors Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge share Equiano's life story in ""found verse,"" supplemented with annotations to give readers historical context. This poetic approach provides interesting analysis and synthesis, helping readers to better understand the original text. Follow Equiano from his life in Africa as a child to his enslavement at a young age, his travels across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, his liberation, and his life as a free man."

Full Product Details

9781728464077

Table of Contents

Reviews

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789) remains one of the best-known stories about the life of an enslaved African man in the 18th century. Equiano was born in the kingdom of Benin and kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young person. His experiences of the Middle Passage, described in detail, were brutal. After working in the Caribbean, he was shipped to a plantation in Virginia and a life of bondage. When he was sold to a British naval officer, Equiano was given a new name against his will, but he formed relationships that allowed him to learn to read and write. Through it all, he never lost his dream of liberty and the resolve to purchase his freedom. Once he was successful, he took on an apprenticeship as a hairdresser and eventually had more adventures, traveling to Turkey, among other places. His autobiography formed part of his abolitionist efforts and was important to the movement that eventually ended the institution of slavery in Britain. This highly successful adaptation of his original work uses Equiano's own words, turned into found verse and supplemented with important historical context that makes this primary source accessible. The overall result is highly readable as well as informative. An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times. --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM) In this unique work of nonfiction, Edinger and Younge transform the words of Olaudah Equiano's 1789 autobiographical slavery narrative into found-verse poetry. They chose their subject well: Equiano's extraordinary life story is full of suffering and terror, but also adventure and exploration, shocking reversals of fortune and, eventually, freedom and abolition work. Born in 1745 Benin, Equiano was kidnapped as a child and survived the horrors of the Middle Passage, a Barbados slavery market, and enslavement on a Virginia plantation. He is particularly expressive in sharing the disorientation and despair of these early experiences. Serving on the ship that landed him in England just as he turned 12 years old sparked a passion for sailing the high seas, where Equiano's fortunes followed those of his masters into dramatic naval battles against the French. He took every opportunity to acquire skills, from reading to navigation to dressing hair, as he looked toward gaining his freedom. The narrative is occasionally interrupted by pages that provide context for Equiano's world, which enhance the book's curricular value and accessibility to young readers. For example, why did Equiano continue to take jobs in the transatlantic slave trade even after he gained his freedom and began speaking and writing on behalf of abolition? Source notes, a bibliography, a glossary, and further reading complete this absorbing, singular creation. --starred, Booklist -- (2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) Using the historic autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself as this book's source material, educators Edinger (Africa Is My Home) and Younge, a debut author, craft a moving found-verse narrative that draws from the subject's life to deliver an expansive and textured telling. In this significant adaptation, the authors mirror Equiano's chronological trajectory to outline his early life 'in that part of Guinea, Africa... where trade for slaves is carried on'; his time as an enslaved person, during which he 'determined to seize the first opportunity/ of making my escape'; and his later occupation as a free abolitionist. According to an introduction, the creators reorganized 'a selection of words, phrases, and sentences' from Equiano's text into new and succinct passages, providing an effective and unusual through line to the original. Brief sidebars throughout offer historical context, ensuring that readers grasp the gravity of the subject's experiences. Without losing the source text's emotional heft, Edinger and Younge's visceral poems respectfully provide an effective entry point into the seminal work. A timeline, glossary, and extensive notes conclude. --starred, Publishers Weekly -- (1/30/2023 12:00:00 AM)

Highly readable as well as informative. An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times. --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM) In this unique work of nonfiction, Edinger and Younge transform the words of Olaudah Equiano's 1789 autobiographical slavery narrative into found-verse poetry. . . . [An] absorbing, singular creation. --starred, Booklist -- (2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge--former fourth grade co-teachers--brilliantly transform the autobiography into 'found poems' by cutting and rearranging Equiano's original into verse . . . Their deft transformation of Equiano's odyssey is well-equipped to inspire and empower new generations. --starred, Shelf Awareness -- (3/9/2023 12:00:00 AM) Without losing the source text's emotional heft, Edinger and Younge's visceral poems respectfully provide an effective entry point into the seminal work. --starred, Publishers Weekly -- (1/30/2023 12:00:00 AM) This moving found-verse adaptation of the formerly enslaved Equiano's 1789 memoir makes a seminal work of history accessible to young readers. --New York Times Book Review -- (3/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)

In this unique work of nonfiction, Edinger and Younge transform the words of Olaudah Equiano's 1789 autobiographical slavery narrative into found-verse poetry. They chose their subject well: Equiano's extraordinary life story is full of suffering and terror, but also adventure and exploration, shocking reversals of fortune and, eventually, freedom and abolition work. Born in 1745 Benin, Equiano was kidnapped as a child and survived the horrors of the Middle Passage, a Barbados slavery market, and enslavement on a Virginia plantation. He is particularly expressive in sharing the disorientation and despair of these early experiences. Serving on the ship that landed him in England just as he turned 12 years old sparked a passion for sailing the high seas, where Equiano's fortunes followed those of his masters into dramatic naval battles against the French. He took every opportunity to acquire skills, from reading to navigation to dressing hair, as he looked toward gaining his freedom. The narrative is occasionally interrupted by pages that provide context for Equiano's world, which enhance the book's curricular value and accessibility to young readers. For example, why did Equiano continue to take jobs in the transatlantic slave trade even after he gained his freedom and began speaking and writing on behalf of abolition? Source notes, a bibliography, a glossary, and further reading complete this absorbing, singular creation. --starred, Booklist -- Journal (2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) Using the historic autobiography The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself as this book's source material, educators Edinger (Africa Is My Home) and Younge, a debut author, craft a moving found-verse narrative that draws from the subject's life to deliver an expansive and textured telling. In this significant adaptation, the authors mirror Equiano's chronological trajectory to outline his early life 'in that part of Guinea, Africa... where trade for slaves is carried on'; his time as an enslaved person, during which he 'determined to seize the first opportunity/ of making my escape'; and his later occupation as a free abolitionist. According to an introduction, the creators reorganized 'a selection of words, phrases, and sentences' from Equiano's text into new and succinct passages, providing an effective and unusual through line to the original. Brief sidebars throughout offer historical context, ensuring that readers grasp the gravity of the subject's experiences. Without losing the source text's emotional heft, Edinger and Younge's visceral poems respectfully provide an effective entry point into the seminal work. A timeline, glossary, and extensive notes conclude. --starred, Publishers Weekly -- Journal (1/30/2023 12:00:00 AM) The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789) remains one of the best-known stories about the life of an enslaved African man in the 18th century. Equiano was born in the kingdom of Benin and kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young person. His experiences of the Middle Passage, described in detail, were brutal. After working in the Caribbean, he was shipped to a plantation in Virginia and a life of bondage. When he was sold to a British naval officer, Equiano was given a new name against his will, but he formed relationships that allowed him to learn to read and write. Through it all, he never lost his dream of liberty and the resolve to purchase his freedom. Once he was successful, he took on an apprenticeship as a hairdresser and eventually had more adventures, traveling to Turkey, among other places. His autobiography formed part of his abolitionist efforts and was important to the movement that eventually ended the institution of slavery in Britain. This highly successful adaptation of his original work uses Equiano's own words, turned into found verse and supplemented with important historical context that makes this primary source accessible. The overall result is highly readable as well as informative. An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times. --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789) remains one of the best-known stories about the life of an enslaved African man in the 18th century. Equiano was born in the kingdom of Benin and kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young person. His experiences of the Middle Passage, described in detail, were brutal. After working in the Caribbean, he was shipped to a plantation in Virginia and a life of bondage. When he was sold to a British naval officer, Equiano was given a new name against his will, but he formed relationships that allowed him to learn to read and write. Through it all, he never lost his dream of liberty and the resolve to purchase his freedom. Once he was successful, he took on an apprenticeship as a hairdresser and eventually had more adventures, traveling to Turkey, among other places. His autobiography formed part of his abolitionist efforts and was important to the movement that eventually ended the institution of slavery in Britain. This highly successful adaptation of his original work uses Equiano's own words, turned into found verse and supplemented with important historical context that makes this primary source accessible. The overall result is highly readable as well as informative. An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times. --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

"""This combination of ""found poetry"" from Equiano's autobiography and other writings and non-fiction essay reveals the depth of feeling held in Equiano's heart as he suffered through kidnapping, transportation across the ocean to strange countries, and a desperate search to understand his place in a new and strange world. Reviewer Rating: 5""--Children's Literature -- (1/5/2024 12:00:00 AM) ""This flawless and well-composed performance is an invaluable addition to youth collections, giving listeners the important story of a truly remarkable man.""--starred, Booklist, audio book published by Listening Library -- (10/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""[T]he story makes for compelling reading that moves quickly. . . . This important and unique work introduces this pivotal man to a new audience and will make for interesting classroom discussions.""--starred, School Library Journal -- (4/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Highly readable as well as informative. An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times.""--starred, Kirkus Reviews -- (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM) ""In this unique work of nonfiction, Edinger and Younge transform the words of Olaudah Equiano's 1789 autobiographical slavery narrative into found-verse poetry. . . . [An] absorbing, singular creation.""--starred, Booklist -- (2/1/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge--former fourth grade co-teachers--brilliantly transform the autobiography into 'found poems' by cutting and rearranging Equiano's original into verse . . . Their deft transformation of Equiano's odyssey is well-equipped to inspire and empower new generations.""--starred, Shelf Awareness -- (3/9/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""Without losing the source text's emotional heft, Edinger and Younge's visceral poems respectfully provide an effective entry point into the seminal work.""--starred, Publishers Weekly -- (1/30/2023 12:00:00 AM) ""This moving found-verse adaptation of the formerly enslaved Equiano's 1789 memoir makes a seminal work of history accessible to young readers.""--New York Times Book Review -- (3/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)"

Author Information

Monica Edinger is a retired classroom teacher and the author of the children's book Africa Is My Home: A Child of the Amistad (Candlewick 2013), which won the 2014 Children's Africana Book Award and Nearer My Freedom (co-written with Lesley Younge) which was a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist. Monica is a children's book world influencer with a large following on her blog, educating alice. She has contributed reviews and articles for the Horn Magazine and The New York Times, served on several award committees, and published numerous books and articles for educators. She is based in New York. Lesley Younge is a writer, mother, and educator currently teaching middle school English and math in Washington D.C. Originally from Southern California, she graduated from New York University and Bank Street College of Education. Lesley has developed curriculum with a wide range of organizations such as the Central Park Conservancy, the Museum of Art and Design, the Montgomery County Lynching Memorial Project, the Zinn Education Project, and the National Museum of Asian Art. Now she is the author of two books for young people, Nearer My Freedom and A-Train Allen. A fellow of the Hurston/Wright Foundation and Anaphora Literary Arts, Lesley blogs regularly at teacherlesley.com.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available