- Book title: Friends For Freedom
- Author: Suzanne Slade
- Authors connection to the topic: During research, years ago, Suzanne discovered details about the friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass that inspired her to write this children’s book.
- Date published: 2016
- Awards the book has won: Unknown
- Where you found the book: I found the book at weneeddiversebooks.org
- Brief summary of the story: Friends For Freedom tells the true story of how an unlikely friendship of more than forty-five years blossomed between the women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony, and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Though they grew up under different circumstances they came together in adulthood over their shared passion for equality for both women and African Americans. Their friendship was so strong that it was able to survive many obstacles such as the danger that existed when a woman and man were friends publically; and Frederick wasn’t just any man, he was a black man which made this friendship even more taboo.
- Why it is considered a ‘diverse’ book: This book is considered a diverse book because it shows a woman, Susan B. Anthony, in a untypical position as a famous activist, abolitionists, orator, and equal rights supporter in the late 19th century. The book also features the story of a former slave that escaped to his freedom and fought for the freedom and equality of others. His fight came at a great expense—fear for his family and the loss of his home. These were both two people that fought against the odds and against the social norm for what they believed was true and right.
- Review
- How does the story amplify or silence the voice(s) of its characters? I think the story amplifies the voice of its characters by sharing the hurdles they faced and how they were able to overcome them individually in some cases and together as partners for equality in adulthood.
- Does the book resist or reproduce the status quo? I think this book resists the status quo. This story tells how two people went against societal norms to form a friendship and fight against the majority for equal rights for all together.
- Is it accurate historically, culturally, etc? I think this book definitely has some fictionally elements, which the author admits to in her notes. For the most part the book appears to be historically and culturally accurate with many sources cited at the end.
- Would you recommend this book? Why or why not? I would recommend this book. Many students (especially outside of the upstate New York greater area) never get the chance to learn about the many women and men who fought for equality and struggled against societal norms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This story shows women in a new light that probably many young students don’t have previous knowledge of.
