Book 49: Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters

TITLE: Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters
AUTHOR: Patricia C. McKissack and Frederick L. McKissack
STARTED: June 5, 2009
FINISHED: June 6, 2009
PAGES: 68
GENRE: Juvenile

FIRST SENTENCE: [From the author's note] Think of yourself as a time traveler, a visitor who has just gone back to a Virginia plantation in 1859 at Christmastime.

SUMMARY: [From barnesandnoble.com] The year is 1859, and it's Christmastime on a Virginia Plantation. The slaves are cleaning and setting up the Big House - where their masters live - for the festivities. The Big House is filled with warmth, colorful decorations, and yummy food... but there is talk of war and a sense that times may be changing. In the quarters - where the slaves live - conditions are poor, dirty, and cold, but the slaves are filled with hope for better times ahead, and they sing songs of freedom. Moving deftly between two worlds, this beautifully illustrated book is a historical tale as well as a holiday treat.

THOUGHTS: This is a good vignette book. It takes one aspect of history and crafts a moving and informative narrative. I appreciate how the authors showed all sides of slavery at this time, including all the bad parts. The slaves in this book are shown enjoying themselves around the holidays, but the authors make it clear that this is not a joyfully story - slavery was (and still is) horrendous and the point out the numerous reasons why.

I also enjoyed the explanation of the daily activities, events, and recipes that were used during this era.

RATING: 6/10 [Good]

Comments