I did my best to rate this what I might have rated it as a child, or maybe if I'd read it back when it was written.As a book, I would probably rate it highly in a list of similar children's biographies for interest and readability. Amos Fortune had a very interesting life, and a new biography of him would be great. But this book is almost unreadably racist and patronizing. If it weren't for the award, it would certainly have been weeded from school and public libraries long ago. I don't know what should be done about Newberys like this. I wonder if, possibly, the new edition that I see pictured includes a foreword about the racist nature of the book, which would help somewhat.The illustrations (in the edition I read, anyway) depict dreadful caricatures.NOT recommended.

Amos Fortune, Free Man

"Hate could do that to a man, Amos thought, consume him and leave him smoldering. But he was a free man, and free at a great cost, and he would not put himself in bondage again."  Here is a story not to be missed, of a young teenage boy in Africa, son of a chief and tribal leader, who is kidnapped by slavers and brought to America. Educated by Quakers and offered his freedom, Amos possesses both an extraordinary spirit as well as a penchant for learning his trade well. His tenderness for his young, handicapped sister, and the memory of how he would want to see her cared for, prove to be the gateway for freedom for other suffering Africans, as he buys their freedom with the money earned by his skill of tanning leather.  "It was Ath-mun who had been the fount of freedom to those others, Amos thought, as he reached back into memory for the beloved sister."  As terrible as it was to read of African tribal slavery, the horrors of the transatlantic voyage, and the mistreatment of blacks in America, the most incredible part of this story is its picture of redemption. Suffering such cruelty and injustice that he did, Amos could easily have become embittered, even murderous in his spirit. But like Joseph in prison, he did not forget his identity as a king - the son of a chief in Africa - and as he read the Bible, he realized now he was a king unto the Lord (Rev. 1:6)  There were times I had to set this book down to cry. I could not believe how blessed I've been in my life compared to some, and how shameful it is ever to complain. But the best part of this powerful, true story is that one day, I will get to meet Amos.

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