Day of Tears

Author: Julius Lester

Title: Day of Tears: A Novel of Dialogue

Illustrator: None

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Subgenre: Chapter Book/Slavery

Theme: Your actions will always have consequences, both good and bad, so make you actions wisely.

Primary Characters: Emma, Joe, Pierce Butler, Sarah Butler, Frances Butler, Will, Mattie

Secondary Characters: Sampson, Charles, Winnie, Mr. Henry, Ms. Butler, Mrs. Henfield

Award/Date: Coretta Scott King/2005

Publisher: Hyperion Books

Summary: The story is a book of dialogue that involves the thoughts of multiple characters. It centers itself around one main character, a slave named Emma. She works on the Butler plantation, which, up until this moment, was a wonderful place to be for a slave. After Pierce Butler, the plantation owner, gambles away his money, he has to sell off many of his slaves to repay his debts, including Emma. He broke his promise to her, her parents, and his daughter Sarah, all of which loved her very much. The story continues to follow her thoughts as well as some of the other characters and how they are affected by each event that occurs. It is a story of slavery that can easily move you to tears.

How used: This story can be used for the purpose of history. Although most of these people were not necessarily real, the author took stories from events in history as well as the actual Butler family, who really were like they were described in the book, and created this wonderful novel. It's a great way to illustrate to students how slavery affected not only the lives of the slaves, but also the lives of the people who owned them. It a great way to illustrate multiple view points.