Day of Tears by Julius Lester

Day of Tears: a novel in dialogue. by Julius Lester. Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 2007. 177 pages.

Plot: This story is based on the largest slave auction in United States history.  Approximately 429 human slaves were sold over a two day period netting over $303,000 (equivalent to 6.7 million dollars today.)  All of the slaves were the property of Pierce Butler whose gambling debts forced his choice.  Butler has two daughters named  Sarah and Frances.  Not only did Pierce grow up alongside many of the slaves as brothers and sisters, but the two Butler girls have been raised by Emma, also a slave. The lives of all of the characters are powerfully revealed by first person narratives that detail the story’s events.  Some of the dialogues are written in the present chronicling the events leading up to and including the auction and some are written as flashbacks 20 years after the auction.  The slaves have lived a relatively good life on the plantation, being well cared for and raising their own families.  The auction shatters the families as there are no guarantees families stay together.  In an incredibly devastating moment, Pierce agrees to sell Emma, even though he has promised her parents that he would not.  Frances and Sarah are stunned and in tears by their father’s heartless action.  Emma’s mother, Mattie doesn’t even get to say good bye to her daughter  She is left to say “I start thinking about Emma and tears rush to my eyes... Lord, please have mercy on my child! Please, I beg you. Have mercy on my child!”  More scenes are played out including escapes, the underground railroad, reunions and revenge.

Review/Personal thoughts:  I don’t believe it is an exaggeration to label this book as brilliant. The story is masterfully told and made powerfully believable through Lester’s dialogues. Even though I have been schooled in U.S. History, never has the horror of the reality of humans buying and selling other humans as personal property been made so strikingly evident. Slavery, betrayal, the consequences of our actions, freedom, abolition, courage, racism, family, love and incomprehensible demoralization are all themes that are revealed through the characters words.  Far be it from me to ever require anyone to read a book, but this book might be an exception.  My life was changed by reading it. I can’t help but believe the lives of tweens who read it will also be changed.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Reading Level: 4.4  Interest level: Ages 10 and up.

Awards: Coretta Scott King Award/Honor 2006

Notable/Best Books (A.L.A.) 2006