Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Starred Review In this unique work of nonfiction, Edinger and Younge transform the words of Olaudah Equiano's 1789 autobiographical slavery narrative into found-verse poetry. They chose their subject well: Equiano's extraordinary life story is full of suffering and terror, but also adventure and exploration, shocking reversals of fortune and, eventually, freedom and abolition work. Born in 1745 Benin, Equiano was kidnapped as a child and survived the horrors of the Middle Passage, a Barbados slavery market, and enslavement on a Virginia plantation. He is particularly expressive in sharing the disorientation and despair of these early experiences. Serving on the ship that landed him in England just as he turned 12 years old sparked a passion for sailing the high seas, where Equiano's fortunes followed those of his masters into dramatic naval battles against the French. He took every opportunity to acquire skills, from reading to navigation to dressing hair, as he looked toward gaining his freedom. The narrative is occasionally interrupted by pages that provide context for Equiano's world, which enhance the book's curricular value and accessibility to young readers. For example, why did Equiano continue to take jobs in the transatlantic slave trade even after he gained his freedom and began speaking and writing on behalf of abolition? Source notes, a bibliography, a glossary, and further reading complete this absorbing, singular creation.

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

An important narrative presented with clarity.The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789) remains one of the best-known stories about the life of an enslaved African man in the 18th century. Equiano was born in the kingdom of Benin and kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young person. His experiences of the Middle Passage, described in detail, were brutal. After working in the Caribbean, he was shipped to a plantation in Virginia and a life of bondage. When he was sold to a British naval officer, Equiano was given a new name against his will, but he formed relationships that allowed him to learn to read and write. Through it all, he never lost his dream of liberty and the resolve to purchase his freedom. Once he was successful, he took on an apprenticeship as a hairdresser and eventually had more adventures, traveling to Turkey, among other places. His autobiography formed part of his abolitionist efforts and was important to the movement that eventually ended the institution of slavery in Britain. This highly successful adaptation of his original work uses Equiano's own words, turned into found verse and supplemented with important historical context that makes this primary source accessible. The overall result is exceptionally readable as well as informative.An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times. (creating a verse version, timeline, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further reading, index, photo acknowledgements) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

School Library Journal Starred Review (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 7 Up— Olaudah Equiano, born in West Africa in 1745, was captured and enslaved as a preteen and forced to work at sea. He was afforded unique opportunities while enslaved, taught to read, and able to earn wages. At 21, Equiano bought his freedom. After this, he often swore off working at sea only to find he had no other way to support himself. The authors don't shy away from Equiano's complicated relationship with slavery; he often had to work on ships carrying enslaved Africans. In 1789, he published his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano , which became very popular and is still in print today. With this success, he was finally able to support himself and family away from the sea. He went on to become one of the most influential antislavery activists in England. Using text found in his autobiography, Edinger and Younge recreate Equiano's life story as a found verse narrative. In this form, the story makes for compelling reading that moves quickly. The story is broken up with useful sidebars giving background information. It is well documented with a time line, glossary, source notes, bibliography, and further reading. VERDICT This important and unique work introduces this pivotal man to a new audience and will make for interesting classroom discussions. Strongly recommended.— Karen T. Bilton

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

An important narrative presented with clarity.The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African, Written by Himself (1789) remains one of the best-known stories about the life of an enslaved African man in the 18th century. Equiano was born in the kingdom of Benin and kidnapped and sold into slavery as a young person. His experiences of the Middle Passage, described in detail, were brutal. After working in the Caribbean, he was shipped to a plantation in Virginia and a life of bondage. When he was sold to a British naval officer, Equiano was given a new name against his will, but he formed relationships that allowed him to learn to read and write. Through it all, he never lost his dream of liberty and the resolve to purchase his freedom. Once he was successful, he took on an apprenticeship as a hairdresser and eventually had more adventures, traveling to Turkey, among other places. His autobiography formed part of his abolitionist efforts and was important to the movement that eventually ended the institution of slavery in Britain. This highly successful adaptation of his original work uses Equiano's own words, turned into found verse and supplemented with important historical context that makes this primary source accessible. The overall result is exceptionally readable as well as informative.An excellent way to understand a remarkable individual and his times. (creating a verse version, timeline, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further reading, index, photo acknowledgements) (Nonfiction. 12-18)