Way Up and Over Everything

by Alice McGill, Jude Daly (Illustrations)

My great-grandmama’s mama told her and she told me this story about a long time ago . . .

So begins this account of the author’s great-great-grandmother Jane, and how she meets a slave new to the plantation, a slave who would prove to have magical powers . . . created by the wish for freedom. Alice McGill remembers this story, passed down in her family through the generations, from her childhood and how her greatgrandmother told it to her “as if unveiling a great, wonderful secret. My siblings and I believed that certain Africans shared this gift of taking to the air—‘way up and over everything.’”

Genres: Picture Books, Cultural, Historical Fiction, Folklore, Childrens, Folk Tales, Fantasy

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 21, 2007

Reviews

[Allison Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way Up and Over Everything is a piece of folklore written by Alice McGill and illustrated by Jude Daly. The setting of this story is on a plantation in Charleston in 1842, a time when slavery was still legal. The theme or lesson of this tale is to keep hope and that is really shown at the end of the book when we see the slaves escape by flying away. The illustrations throughout the book were very moving and well done but the illustrations on the last page were incredible and flowed with the text very well which is why I think the last spread is my favorite part. This book would be a great book for a read-aloud during black history month to start conversations with your class about slavery and what it was like to be an African American during those times.

[BiblioBickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling of an African-American folk tale about people who are kidnapped from Africa, brought to a plantation in chains, and forced to work; they finally escape by flying away. Beautifully illustrated, this book addresses a difficult subject in a matter-of-fact way without sugar-coating but also gently enough for early elementary students. Ages 7-12 (lots of discussion topics including how folktales are formed)

[Dominique Maderitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way Up and Over Everything by Alice McGill and Jude Daly was a wonderful story about a time in history was slaves were legal. This story buts a different twist on this horrible time. The story does a good job educating the overall way slaves were captured and treated without being too visual and brutal for children to read. I really loved how the slaves escaped and I found it could be taken in many different ways. The slaves flew into the sky; this could be interpreted by them going up to the heavens or just magic. This book would be perfect for a third grade classroom to discuss slavery in a proper way that is not to intense.

This story is about a time of slavery. The book discusses how and why slaves were captured. I love this book because the women in the story over comes the struggle of slavery in a beautiful way. This story would be effective in a classroom because it is informative yet an easy read for young children.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl relates a story told to her by her mama, who heard it from her great-grandmother, a former slave. It describes how a group of 5 slaves just off the boat from Africa are brought to a plantation and whipped and made to work like the others. During dinner time the 5 disappear, and the narrator's young great-grandmother follows the master and his dogs, who track them to the field. There she witnesses them performing an African ritual and then literally rising into the sky and flying away. Apparently, according to a note at the back of the book, when slaves mysteriously disappeared (escaped to the north) some thought they could literally fly. And so "flying stories" were born. Combine this with Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly. Recommended.

[Amanda Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story that was told by slaves hundres of years ago and has been passed down. It is about a small group of Africans who are captured and sold to a plantation owner. Not long after, they disapear and the other slaves see them flying away. The book gives some insight at a child's level of what slavery was like in the south and how many slaves would dream of freedom. The book would be good to use when teaching about slavery and plantations.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five new African slaves are brought to a plantation in the Old South. They are soon forced to work alongside the other slaves in the fields. One day they go missing. How did they escape? The answer will lift your spirits when you read this book. This telling of an old folk tale is great because it can be used in a history or social studies class. I found the language hard to read sometimes, but even that lends this story authenticity.

[Ariel Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great picture book for older kids. Tells how a group of people are brought from Africa to be enslaved on a plantation. They eventually escape, and are spotted by the other slaves and plantation masters flying "way up and over everything". The tough subject matter, syntax, and vocabulary make it more appealing to school-age kids.

Beautiful, folk art-like illustrations compliment the text without overpowering it.

[Debbie Hayes-miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

CIP summary "In this retelling of a folktale, five African escape the horrors of slavery by simply disappearing into thin air."

This book captures the desire for freedom by slaves. It is beautifully illustrated in watercolor and the images of the slaves are delicate and frail. I love the wisy images of the slaves flying through the sky.

[Cassandra Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!!! I am from the South and that is where the story took place. I love how this story took what happened all those years ago and made it magical, uplifting and hopeful!!! It really brings out the heritage of the slaves and embraces the hope that they had in that idea that one day they would be free again.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story handed down from parent to child about slaves flying away from masters during that dark period in American history. This is so well written and shows the beauty of the tradition of storytelling and the hope it brings. Grades 2+

[Zonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated African folktale. Shows the importance of storytelling throught the generations.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful retelling of a 'flying story' passed down generation to generation in the author's family.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent telling of the folk tale of enslaved Africans being able to fly to freedom. Lovely illustrations. Highly recommended.

[stillme · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALA ALSC Notable 2009

[Elaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of my review books for the library in which I work

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrator describes a tale told by her Great-Grandmother about Africans captured and sold into slavery who "fly away" during mealtime.

[Heather]

A good way to introduce slavery to kids

[Josie Dipiero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't too sure about this book. I was a good way to introduce children to slavery but I still wasn't a big fan of it. I really liked the illustrations though, I thought they were really good.

[Winsome · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our history presented in manner children can grasp.

[Beth Thames]

Children will sit wide-eyed as the slaves fly away.