Nobody's Boy

by Jennifer Fleischner

A work of historical fiction, Nobody’s Boy is loosely based on the real-life story of a slave named George Kirkland. George’s owner, Hugh Garland, the lawyer for Mrs. Emerson in the Dred Scott case, brought him to St. Louis at the age of about five. George’s mother, Elizabeth Keckly (dressmaker for and confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln), bought his freedom and, in about 1860, sent him to college in Ohio. Like the main character in Nobody’s Boy, the light-skinned George ultimately joined a Missouri regiment in the Civil War, enlisting as a white man on the Union side. Not long after, he died in the battle of Wilson’s Creek.

            The early 1850s was an important time in Missouri—a turning point in the buildup to the war and the beginning of the historic Dred Scott case. The story of George’s short life is an intimate look at race and life in Missouri at this time, seen through the eyes of an African American boy who grew up on the color line.

Genres: Historical Fiction

112 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2006

Reviews

[TammyJo Eckhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slavery can be a challenge topic to tackle in American schools especially for the ages when we should start learning about American history. As a historian who has studied slavery and who is also a writer, I was impressed by Jennifer Fleischner's research and the incorporation of it into this story. She is honest about slavery and the effects on the enslaved without being too graphic for grades 4 and 5, which is where I'd probably suggest the target audience for the book should fall.

Even as an adult, I felt deeply connected to George, our viewpoint character, but also to those around him, white, black, old, young, free, or enslaved. There was empathy without excuses for slavery. I loved that she included historical photos, drawings, and documents as well. This made the book one of the best historical fictions I have read in years. I recommend it to teachers, parents, and kids alike. And if you don't know or understand slavery in the USA, this is a good introduction to the urban slave population shortly before the Civil War.

[Salamah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical read for middle school students. This story is of a real slave named George. George looks white because his mother was the forced concubine of a white man. His mother was a great dressmaker and actually became the dressmaker of Mary Todd Lincoln. It is not a greatly exciting story but very factual and the author talks about how families were separated and children were sold. I like how she talked about this at detail because I think it would relate well to the children who will read the book today. What was it like for a black child. George helps the underground railroad, passes as a white man to help others and even gains his freedom through his mother's hard work.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out as a really cool book and ended up completely anti-climactic. The story ended just as it was getting exciting. I loved going through my hometown of St. Louis with the main character in the 1850s, but the story was way too short. Yes, I know it's for Juvie readers. But it could have had more to it than was given. I think it would make a good story for 8 year olds who are interested in slavery in St. louis; it's not too brutal in it's execution but it also does not shy away from the details of life back then.

[Danielle Mebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was on the Adelphu table at AWP. It was short, so I read it.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is interesting in that it peeks into the life of a slave and how he escapes slavery. It's also set in St. Louis and includes historical locations. However, it has some objectionable content and I think would be appropriate for middle-school level. It also has a dissatisfying ending.