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Zusatztext "Believable characters with human strengths and weaknesses, lively writing, and plenty of action and suspense make this book a real page-turner for lovers of historical fiction."-- School Library Journal Informationen zum Autor ANN RINALDI is an award-winning author best known for bringing history vividly to life. A self-made writer and newspaper columnist for twenty-one years, Ms. Rinaldi attributes her interest in history to her son, who enlisted her to take part in historical reenactments up and down the East Coast. She lives with her husband in central New Jersey. Klappentext Sis Goose is a beloved member of Luli's family, despite the fact that she was born a slave. But the family is harboring a terrible secret. And when Union soldiers arrive on their Texas plantation to announce that slaves have been declared free for nearly two years, Sis Goose is horrified to learn that the people she called family have lied to her for so long. She runs away--but her newly found freedom has tragic consequences. How could the state of Texas keep the news of the Emancipation Proclamation from reaching slaves? In this riveting Great Episodes historical drama, Ann Rinaldi sheds light on the events that led to the creation of Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom that continues today. Includes an author's note. Chapter One I was in the pumpkin patch, counting the ones that were good enough for Old Pepper Apron, our cook, to make into bread. I recollect that Pa was happy that he’d gotten one or two cents more on the pound from the cotton Granville had shipped out of Bagdad. And that the fields were being sown with winter oats and rye. I looked up and saw Sis Goose standing by the gate, a frown on her lovely face. It was all like some Dutch still life I was learning about from my tutor. Sis twisted her apron in her hands. She always wore a snow-white apron, like I did, even though we had no real household chores. “Luli, there’s an old negro man in our barn,†she said. For a moment I did not understand. The place was full of negro men: field hands, household help. But the look on her face told me something was amiss. “Who is he?†“Says he comes from Virginny. Says . . .†and her voice broke. “Says what?†“Says the negroes are free. That Abraham Lincoln freed them in January of ’63.†That rumor again. But with the war there was a different rumor every week. I swallowed. Something on Sis Goose’s face bespoke her distress. “Go and get Gabe,†I told her. “He’ll know what to do.†Gabe was in the house, helping Mama decide whether the one hundred bushels of corn she wanted to trade for three pounds of sugar was worth it. I went to the horse barn, but I didn’t go in until Gabe and Sis Goose came back. “Where’d you come from, Uncle?†Gabe asked the man, who looked old enough to be somebody’s grandfather. “Virginny. I comes from Virginny,†came the answer. “From Applegate I come. On the advice of Miz Heather.†Applegate was my Virginia grandmother’s plantation. Gabe scowled and ran his hands over the back of the man’s mule. It had usa branded on its back. “This is a fine-looking animal. Where’d you get it?†“Miz Heather give it to me. And say to come here. She give me a message for y’all.†“What message?†from Gabe. “She say that no matter what, I shud tell y’all that Mister Linkum done freed the slaves nigh over a year ago now.†“Did she now?†Gabe’s voice was tight, forced in its casualness. “Well, to my knowledge my grandmother never had a mule with usa branded on its back. This mule is ...
