Send One Angel Down

by Virginia Frances Schwartz

Eliza experiences the horrors of slavery at an early age--she sees newborn babies torn from their mothers and knows of the cruel sun and even crueler overseer in the cotton fields. Even as her cousin Abram strives to protect her from these harsh realities, Eliza cannot escape the hatred of the master's daughters, when they stare at her fair skin and blue eyes. Freedom seems faraway, but somewhere, among the cracking whips and scorching heat, lies hope.Schwartz's gripping coming-of-age novel set in the pre-Civil War South depicts the anguishing hardships imposed by an inhumane system, but also celebrates the resilience and determination of the human spirit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Debra]

Eliza experiences the horrors of slavery at an early age--she sees newborn babies torn from their mothers and knows of the cruel sun and even crueler overseer in the cotton fields. Even as her cousin Abram strives to protect her from these harsh realities, Eliza cannot escape the hatred of the master's daughters, when they stare at her fair skin and blue eyes. Freedom seems faraway, but somewhere, among the cracking whips and scorching heat, lies hope.Schwartz's gripping coming-of-age novel set in the pre-Civil War South depicts the anguishing hardships imposed by an inhumane system, but also celebrates the resilience and determination of the human spirit.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eliza is a slave with a white father. Her cousin Abram tries to protect her from the horrors of slavery but of course he is unable to do so. When he learns that she is to be sold he does what he can to set her free. Based on a true account.

[Alethea B.H. Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when I was a school and this book touched my heart. The image alone draws you in. In the girl eyes you can see all the things that she went through. You should read it will change your life.

[Dicky Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it very much. Moved me deeply. Wondering who to share it with.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on real people and actual events.

[Toughlove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Send One Angel Down by Virginia Frances Schwartz is a great and informing book. It is told through the eyes of Abram, a young boy, who is telling the story about his life and his cousin’s life on a plantation. He tells of how she is treated, as well as the others, and about there life. Eliza is his cousin; she is a very cute and nice child, but is secretly hated by the master’s children. Abram tries to protect her from the harsh life of slavery. She is sold at a very young age, but even though she lives a horrible life, she escapes. She escapes from her plantation, with other slaves, and only travels at night. She is not only trying to escape and survive, but also survive for her child. They only travel at night, and meet a man who helps them on the way. They finally get free, in The Under Ground Railroad in Canada. It is a very fulfilling story that starts off slow, but speeds up with every chapter.

The reason that Virginia Frances Schwartz wrote this story is to let all the people see all of the horrors of slavery. To let all the readers get an inside look on the process of being sold, and having that little spark of hope that still burns inside even though everything has been taken away from you. She has that hope, and that desire, not only for herself, but for her child. I would recommend this book to everyone that I know, especially people who like to read books that have to do with history, and inspiration.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gem covers the same territory that has been examined numerous times: the life of slaves in the South. But Schwartz is so skilled at choosing perfect details that the book's plot seemed new. For instance, this description of the first time protagonist Abram picks cotton:

"I grabbed a boll of cotton sitting there like a cloud, but it didn't feel like a cloud. It bit me right away. My fingers got caught in a dry shell that snapped like a mousetrap. That cotton didn't slip out easy. All around me hands shot out like lightening bugs, two hands at a time, one grabbing to the left, the other to the right."

This book is filled with emotional resonance. I cared about the characters and what happened to them and was happy to learn that the novel is based on a true incident the author discovered in Julius Lester's TO BE A SLAVE.

[Rebecca Lien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found that this book needed more to it but I loved the plot line and the characters. I felt it depicted a very tame version of an American slave's plights. It is good for the younger generation to read. It would be good to introduce exactly what was happening on plantations in America to the 12-14 age range. I wanted more at the time that I read it but I now understand more about the author's reasons behind his writing. My point is that youth may not be able to appreciate it without the guidance of an adult.
Tarot Card: Ann Stokes - King of Pentacles -This speaks of a journey into something both unknown and known to you. A great learning experience through another's eyes.

[Sha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention at the first sight of it because of its title and my afterthought of the girl on the cover but in the story Eliza, the girl on the cover, is born into slavery but faced with jealousy among her beauty which makes her life harder giving her the want for hope for an angel. One thing that I learned from this story though is that no matter how unfair life can seem to be there's always gonna be hope that comes in the end.

[Cinnamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was painful to read in some spots because it very realistically portrayed life for most slaves, and especially slave women. Some middle schoolers would not be mature enough to read this book.

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Send one angel down is a great book a bout the intensity of slavery. It helps you understand the position slaves were put in. The main character is a boy named Abram, who loves his cousin dearly and tries to shield her from the horrors of slavery.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a tear jerker at times! It was an amazing and insperational story!!!! It is my #1 recomandation to you! It is a MUST READ!

[Avery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it!

[Daneisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

alright

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can honestly say that this is the second book I've read and cried while reading it! I loved it.