Back of Book
The inspirational story of William Lewis.
Born into slavery in Tennessee, William Lewis learned the blacksmith trade as soon as he was old enough to grip a hammer. He proved to be an exceptional blacksmith and earned so much money fixing old tools and creating new ones that he was allowed to keep a little money for himself. With just a few coins in his pocket, Bill set a daring plan in motion: he was determined to free his family.
Winner of Lee & Low s New Voices Award and a Junior Library Guild selection, Hammering for Freedom tells the true story of one-man s skill, hard work, and resolve to keep his family together.
My Review:
I received a copy of this story from author Rita Lorraine Hubbard in exchange for an honest review. Before reading this story, I had never heard of William Lewis. I was quickly drawn into this remarkable nonfiction story about a man who worked his entire life so his family would be free. The story follows Will as he grows up and becomes a young man. The more Will works, the more money he makes and the more family he is able to free. This is an amazing story about the strength and determination that Will continued to have throughout his life. The illustrations are vibrant and beautiful. The detail on each page is marvelous! I loved reading the afterword in the back of the book that has a more in-depth look at Lewis’s life. I think this story is an excellent addition to any Civil War or Slavery Unit. It looks at how some slaves were able to buy their freedom and is a perfect lead-in for history or book reports. Rita opened my eyes to a part of history I didn’t know much about. I look forward to sharing it with my classroom.
Ages 7 and up
32 Pages
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