Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl - Hardcover

Tonya Bolden

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810950456 ISBN 13: 9780810950450

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2005

Synopsis

A poignant story of Maritcha Rémond Lyons, born and raised in New York City, tells what it was like to be a black child born free during the days of slavery, and her fight to attend a whites-only high school in Providence, Rhode Island.

About this title

About the Author

Tonya Bolden's books have received acclaim from organizations such as the American Library Association and the New York Public Library, and from publications like School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up - Readers met Maritcha Rémond Lyons in Bolden's Tell All the Children Our Story (Abrams, 2002), in a one-page entry that included an excerpt from her unpublished memoir. The author has now expanded her use of Lyons's memoir, family archival materials, and other primary sources to tell the story of this free black child before, during, and after the Civil War. Maritcha's achievements were extraordinary for her time, gender, and race. During her youth in lower Manhattan, she was exposed to many strong, well-educated adults. Her parents, their friends (some well known), and her own determination carried her through difficult times, including the Draft Riots of 1863, the destruction of the family home and business, and a fight for public education. Strength of family and education were the driving forces in this girl's life. Bolden emphasizes these themes as she skillfully presents interesting facts and a personal view of an often-overlooked segment of history. While the book focuses on Maritcha's childhood, a concluding note discusses her adulthood. (Lyons spent close to 50 years as an educator, including a term as assistant principal of Brooklyn's Public School No. 83.) A number of family documents and photographs are included; period sketches and paintings complete the picture of 19th-century life in New York City. The high quality of writing and the excellent documentation make this a first choice for all collections. - Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
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About this edition

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0810950456
• ISBN 13: 9780810950450
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48