Walter, Jon. My Name is Not Friday.

Walter, Jon. My Name is Not Friday.  Scholastic  2016  368p.  $18.99  ISBN 978-0-5458-5522-8  ms/hs  Historical fiction VG     

Samuel, thirteen years old, is freeborn, but he is sold into slavery at the height of the Civil War. He and his younger brother Joshua are freeborn blacks who live in a boys’ home run by a priest. Samuel tries to cover for his mischievous brother’s actions and finds himself sold into slavery at the height of the Civil War. He must learn how to hide the fact that he can read and write and navigate the complex world of plantation life into which he is suddenly thrust. Samuel is convinced that God sent him to the plantation to help the other slaves, and his religious faith gives him strength. Some slaves have similar religious views, while others shun religion entirely, seeking other ways to find resilience in their daily struggles. Realizing that he cannot escape the plantation, Samuel works hard and earns the trust of the white owners and his fellow slaves alike. There is a large cast of characters, and most are well developed. The story is at times violent, but is ultimately a thought-provoking piece on a difficult time in American history.

Summary: Samuel, thirteen years old, is freeborn, but he is sold into slavery at the height of the Civil War. As a slave, he tries to carry out God’s plan by working for the cause of abolition.   

Slavery-Fiction, American Civil War-Fiction          

--Stephanie Pennucci