Calico Girl
No. of pages 192
Reviews
Great for age 8-13 years
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2017
"Nolen's tender story of the Wilcomb family's losses and aspirations will resonate. At once heartbreaking and uplifting, a gentle, lyrical story of a determined black girl's journey toward freedom during the Civil War." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Jerdine Nolen's Calico Girl waves fabrics of freedom in every forward step of her undaunted heroine's journey. Nolen's deftly crafted scholarship offers a poignant and hopeful glimpse at the past for today's curious readers." -Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor author
From the award-winning author of Eliza's Freedom Road comes the powerful tale of a slave girl's triumphant journey to freedom with her family during the Civil War.
Twelve-year-old Callie Wilcomb and her family are slaves, and the Civil War gives them hope that freedom may be on the horizon. On May 23, 1861, the State of Virginia ratified their vote to secede from the Union. In Virginia, a window was opened where the laws of the land no longer applied. Because of the Contraband Law, slaves no longer had to be returned to their owners, granting them a measure of protection and safety. With the possibility of Callie and her family escaping their bonds forever, Callie is eager to learn and become educated and hopes to teach others one day. Through hardship and loss-with love and strong family ties-Callie proves that freedom is in her stars.
"Nolen's tender story of the Wilcomb family's losses and aspirations will resonate. At once heartbreaking and uplifting, a gentle, lyrical story of a determined black girl's journey toward freedom during the Civil War." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Jerdine Nolen's Calico Girl waves fabrics of freedom in every forward step of her undaunted heroine's journey. Nolen's deftly crafted scholarship offers a poignant and hopeful glimpse at the past for today's curious readers." -Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor author
From the award-winning author of Eliza's Freedom Road comes the powerful tale of a slave girl's triumphant journey to freedom with her family during the Civil War.
Twelve-year-old Callie Wilcomb and her family are slaves, and the Civil War gives them hope that freedom may be on the horizon. On May 23, 1861, the State of Virginia ratified their vote to secede from the Union. In Virginia, a window was opened where the laws of the land no longer applied. Because of the Contraband Law, slaves no longer had to be returned to their owners, granting them a measure of protection and safety. With the possibility of Callie and her family escaping their bonds forever, Callie is eager to learn and become educated and hopes to teach others one day. Through hardship and loss-with love and strong family ties-Callie proves that freedom is in her stars.
This book has been graded for interest at 8-12 years.
There are 192 pages in this book. This book was published 2017 by Simon & Schuster .
JERDINE NOLEN is the author of many beloved picture books, including Plantzilla and Raising Dragons , which won the Christopher Award and was a Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book for Children. She lives in Maryland. KADIR NELSON has illustrated many popular books for children, including Just the Two of Us by Will Smith and Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee. He lives in California.