#4 LIndsay Davis

Lit Review

Theme: Historical Fiction

Book: Meet Addy
by Connie Porter

Summary: This is a short chapter book about the American Girl doll, Addy Walker.  She is a young African American girl during the time of slavery.  This first book in the series is all about how she and her mother escape from slavery. 

Use: You really get attached to Addy and her family, and you begin to see how poorly most people treated African Americans.  You also get to see how people realized that they are people just like everyone else, and how they helped these slaves escape to better lives.  This book, along with the rest of the series, would be great for 2^nd or 3^rd grade girls.  Although this book may appeal only to girls, it is an incredible way to teach them about this time period and what all they went through.  Personally, when I read this book in Elementary school I cried.  I remember feeling so sad that this really happened.  Making these personal connections with characters and feeling like you’ve lived through these times makes an unforgettable connection about the history in this time period.  I remember thinking that I NEVER wanted anyone to ever go through that again.  It made me appreciate the changes that have occurred in our society.

Appropriate Ages: 2^nd grade and up