This picture book helps introduce young readers to the history of African American family members desperately trying to find their children, spouses, siblings, parents, and other loved ones during Reconstruction. The U.S. government sanctioned the sale of human beings and the tragic separation of families for 246 years. After the Civil War, the federal government could have launched a massive campaign with free ads, access to the mail, and transportation to reconnect as many families as possible. Instead it was up to individuals, like the young protagonist (Lettie) in the story, to save enough money to buy an ad in the paper and then hope that against all odds (including forced illiteracy), the lost family member reads it.
The book includes text from real ads that Lettie reads aloud in the church so her congregation has access to them. While Lettie’s story has a hopeful ending, that was the exception. Teachers can supplement the book with resources from the digital archive, Last Seen: Finding Family After Slavery and the Zinn Education Project Teach Reconstruction campaign.
ISBN: 9781665913072 | Atheneum Books for Young Readers
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