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Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl
A much-needed window into a little-documented time in black history
Based on an actual memoir written by Maritcha Rémond Lyons, who was born and raised in New York City, this poignant story tells what it was like to be a black child born free during the days of slavery. Everyday experiences are interspersed with high-point moments, such as visiting the U.S.'s first world's fair. Also included are the Draft Riots of 1863, when Maritcha and her siblings fled to Brooklyn while her parents stayed behind to protect their home. The book concludes with her fight to attend a whites-only high school in Providence, Rhode Island, and her triumphant victory, making her the first black person in its graduating class.
The book includes photographs of Maritcha, her family, and friends, as well as archival and contemporary maps, photographs, and illustrations.
Based on an actual memoir written by Maritcha Rémond Lyons, who was born and raised in New York City, this poignant story tells what it was like to be a black child born free during the days of slavery. Everyday experiences are interspersed with high-point moments, such as visiting the U.S.'s first world's fair. Also included are the Draft Riots of 1863, when Maritcha and her siblings fled to Brooklyn while her parents stayed behind to protect their home. The book concludes with her fight to attend a whites-only high school in Providence, Rhode Island, and her triumphant victory, making her the first black person in its graduating class.
The book includes photographs of Maritcha, her family, and friends, as well as archival and contemporary maps, photographs, and illustrations.
Author Bio: Tonya Bolden's books have received acclaim from organizations such as the American Library Association and the New York Public Library, and from publications like School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2005
7 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Tonya Bolden
79 books186 followersAuthor and publisher Tonya Wilyce Bolden was born on March 1, 1959, in New York City to Georgia Bolden, a homemaker, and Willie Bolden, a garment center shipping manager. Bolden grew up in Harlem in a musical family and loved to read; she attended Public M.E.S. 146, an elementary school in Manhattan, and then graduated from the Chapin School, a private secondary school, in Manhattan in 1976. Bolden attended Princeton University in New Jersey, and, in 1981, obtained her B.A. degree in Slavic languages and literature with a Russian focus. Bolden was also a University Scholar and received the Nicholas Bachko, Jr. Scholarship Prize.
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
Upon graduating from Princeton University, Bolden began working as a salesperson for Charles Alan, Incorporated, a dress manufacturer, while working towards her M.A. degree at Columbia University. In 1985, Bolden earned her degree in Slavic languages and literature, as well as a Certificate for Advanced Study of the Soviet Union from the Harriman Institute; after this she began working as an office coordinator for Raoulfilm, Inc., assisting in the research and development of various film and literary products. Bolden worked as an English instructor at Malcolm-King College and New Rochelle School of New Resources while serving as newsletter editor of the HARKline, a homeless shelter newsletter.
In 1990, Bolden wrote her first book, The Family Heirloom Cookbook. In 1992, Bolden co-authored a children’s book entitled Mama, I Want To Sing along with Vy Higginsen, based on Higginsen’s musical. Bolden continued publishing throughout the 1990s, releasing Starting a Business from your Home, Mail-Order and Direct Response, The Book of African-American Women: 150 Crusaders, Creators, and Uplifters, And Not Afraid to Dare: The Stories of Ten African-American Women, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military from the Revolution to Desert Storm and The Champ. Bolden became editor of the Quarterly Black Review of Books in 1994, and served as an editor for 33 Things Every Girl Should Know, in 1998. Bolden’s writing career became even more prolific in the following decade; a partial list of her works include:, Our Souls: A Celebration of Black American Artists, Maritcha: A Nineteenth Century American Girl, MLK: Journey of a King, Take-Off: American All-Girl Bands During World War II, and George Washington Carver, a book she authored in conjunction with an exhibit about the famous African American inventor created by The Field Museum in Chicago.
(source; http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biogr...)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 17, 2022
I found this book when I started searching other titles by one of my “go to” authors Tonya Bolden. The book is put together in a way I’d like to explore with 4th-6th grade students. The author’s purpose is to tell the story of Maritcha’s childhood in New York City as a free-black during the mid-1800’s AND to describe the people, places, events that Maritcha “may have” experienced based on other historical artifacts, writings of that period. For example, Bolden knows that Maritcha’s grandmother met Frederick Douglass once – so she describes who he was and his role in the anti-slavery movement. You see where I am going? Maritcha’s childhood is a frame of sorts for learning about that period of time.
Bolden’s main primary source is an autobiography Maritcha wrote the year before she died and then additional sources were dug up and researched further by Bolden. The text is rich with well-chosen primary sources – photographs, illustrations, publications and so forth. Bolden is careful to use “qualifiers” when writing about what Maritcha may have experienced like (put words in bold)-
"As for play, make-believe games with dolls, a spinning top, ring toss, and making a clackety-clack dance with a Limber Jack may have ranked high among Maritcha’s delights." (p. 8)
When Bolden knows for sure that something happened – based on her research – she does not use the qualifier language, but instead states it as a matter of fact.
As periods of history are being pushed further down in the grades, I think that books like Maritcha –with a focus on the Civil War and anti-slavery movement and the life of a free black during this period – would be developmentally appropriate and rigorous as a read aloud. Place the book on the document camera so students can view the primary sources as you read aloud. Or book talk it and place it in a text set for independent reading during a particular unit of study.
AND WRITING – a discussion of Bolden’s organization and use of primary sources and so forth could serve as a launch for students researching and writing their own historical narratives – fiction or nonfiction, making arguments about the life of a free black, writing informational pieces on particular aspects of this period. Oh, the possibilities!
Lots and lots of potential.
There are several places you could read aloud or excerpt a paragraph for close reading and discuss the author’s main idea and textual evidence or discuss how an author develops an idea. There are three paragraphs on page 20 that begin with the following:
"What enabled Maritcha to endure whatever the weather? True grit. And she had plenty of examples around her."
What follows are a description of her godfather’s grit, another remarkable community member’s grit, and her parents’ grit. One of the author’s ideas here is that these people influenced and shaped Maritcha in many ways (RI 5.3). Students might explain how the author makes the case that Maritcha had several examples of grit in her life (RI 5.8). Students might analyze how first two sentences in this excerpt contribute to the development of the main idea (RI 6.5) and so forth. Some good discussion could happen here.
Bolden’s main primary source is an autobiography Maritcha wrote the year before she died and then additional sources were dug up and researched further by Bolden. The text is rich with well-chosen primary sources – photographs, illustrations, publications and so forth. Bolden is careful to use “qualifiers” when writing about what Maritcha may have experienced like (put words in bold)-
"As for play, make-believe games with dolls, a spinning top, ring toss, and making a clackety-clack dance with a Limber Jack may have ranked high among Maritcha’s delights." (p. 8)
When Bolden knows for sure that something happened – based on her research – she does not use the qualifier language, but instead states it as a matter of fact.
As periods of history are being pushed further down in the grades, I think that books like Maritcha –with a focus on the Civil War and anti-slavery movement and the life of a free black during this period – would be developmentally appropriate and rigorous as a read aloud. Place the book on the document camera so students can view the primary sources as you read aloud. Or book talk it and place it in a text set for independent reading during a particular unit of study.
AND WRITING – a discussion of Bolden’s organization and use of primary sources and so forth could serve as a launch for students researching and writing their own historical narratives – fiction or nonfiction, making arguments about the life of a free black, writing informational pieces on particular aspects of this period. Oh, the possibilities!
Lots and lots of potential.
There are several places you could read aloud or excerpt a paragraph for close reading and discuss the author’s main idea and textual evidence or discuss how an author develops an idea. There are three paragraphs on page 20 that begin with the following:
"What enabled Maritcha to endure whatever the weather? True grit. And she had plenty of examples around her."
What follows are a description of her godfather’s grit, another remarkable community member’s grit, and her parents’ grit. One of the author’s ideas here is that these people influenced and shaped Maritcha in many ways (RI 5.3). Students might explain how the author makes the case that Maritcha had several examples of grit in her life (RI 5.8). Students might analyze how first two sentences in this excerpt contribute to the development of the main idea (RI 6.5) and so forth. Some good discussion could happen here.
March 16, 2019
Fascinating story of a free black girl in New York City before, during, and after the Civil War. Maritcha lived through traumatic times, but came out on top, eventually writing a memoir that this book is based on. Illustrated with period-appropriate photographs. Recommended.
March 2, 2016
Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl is the perfect example and lesson for middle graders learning about American history, historical research, and primary source documents. After reading the 1928 memoir of Maritcha Remond Lyon, author Tonya Bolden gifted the world with her beautiful life-story, enriching our understanding life and race relations in pre and post civil war lower Manhattan.
Maritcha recalled the wonders of witnessing America's first official baseball game, Knickerbockers vs the New York Nine at the Elysian Fields, and all the admonishments at America's first world fair at the newly constructed Crystal Palace. She explores her rich family history, including her parents' civic roles in the local church community, the political landscape, and how they assisted with the Underground Railroad. There are harrowing episodes, also, such as their terrifying experiences during the draft riots and her family's subsequent flight.
A rewarding and well-researched history for young people.
Maritcha recalled the wonders of witnessing America's first official baseball game, Knickerbockers vs the New York Nine at the Elysian Fields, and all the admonishments at America's first world fair at the newly constructed Crystal Palace. She explores her rich family history, including her parents' civic roles in the local church community, the political landscape, and how they assisted with the Underground Railroad. There are harrowing episodes, also, such as their terrifying experiences during the draft riots and her family's subsequent flight.
A rewarding and well-researched history for young people.
March 2, 2015
I enjoyed reading this and the photos are a nice addition. However, I really didn't get a sense of who Maritcha was.
Want to read
February 14, 2020Lyons' memoir and photographs of herself and her family are included in the Harry A. Williamson Papers at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library.[18] Her memoir was never published, but includes a breathtaking account of the sacking and burning of her family's home by a mob during the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. These riots were so destructive of black neighborhoods in Manhattan that many African Americans left the city permanently, some moving to Brooklyn for safety. It also descriptions Lyons wrote about her family's involvement in assisting escaping slaves as part of the Underground Railroad in her memoir, Memories of Yesterdays: All of Which I Saw and Part of Which I Was (1928).
A young adult book was written about Lyons, Maritcha: A Remarkable Nineteenth-Century Girl, based on her memoir and writing.
In addition to her memoir, Lyons contributed eight biographical sketches to Hallie Quinn Brown's Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction (1926), which include sketches of Sarah H. Fayerweather (1802–1868) and Agnes J. Adams (1985–1923).
A young adult book was written about Lyons, Maritcha: A Remarkable Nineteenth-Century Girl, based on her memoir and writing.
In addition to her memoir, Lyons contributed eight biographical sketches to Hallie Quinn Brown's Homespun Heroines and Other Women of Distinction (1926), which include sketches of Sarah H. Fayerweather (1802–1868) and Agnes J. Adams (1985–1923).
November 21, 2016
Summary: I really can't make this sound interesting. I have thought about it for about 10 minutes, but I can't make it sound too interesting. If you are a fan of biographies then you will enjoy this book as you follow Maritcha and her family within New York/ modern day Manhattan.
Analysis: Within the picture book biography, we see pictures of her, her family, and some of the things she was a part of throughout her life. The book doesn't feel like a story told through words, but it felt has if it was told to me through different comments said. The author also makes notes like "We don't know if she had a diary, but we are still looking for it" or something quite similar to it. This book has plenty of pictures with text to explain what the pictures are doing; the pictures don't necessary reflect the text, but sometimes is mentioned within it. Overall, I did enjoy the book, but just a little bit boring.
Analysis: Within the picture book biography, we see pictures of her, her family, and some of the things she was a part of throughout her life. The book doesn't feel like a story told through words, but it felt has if it was told to me through different comments said. The author also makes notes like "We don't know if she had a diary, but we are still looking for it" or something quite similar to it. This book has plenty of pictures with text to explain what the pictures are doing; the pictures don't necessary reflect the text, but sometimes is mentioned within it. Overall, I did enjoy the book, but just a little bit boring.
October 14, 2020
Genre: Biography - Partial
Awards: Coretta Scott King Honor Book (2006)
Source: Textbook
Audience: Grades 4 - 8
Response:
This is a partial biography because the book only covers Maritcha’s childhood up until about the age of 21. The title tells us this book will be about the life of a girl, so it makes sense that the book is not a biography of her entire life but a window into what it was like to live as am African American female during the nineteenth century of slavery and Civil War.
This is an authentic biography because it only includes dialogue Maritcha has written and there are real photographs on almost every page of the people, places, and events that were prevalent in her life. The text is very factual and does not stray from authenticity to make the story more interesting. The story remains true to the life of Maritcha while making it easy for the reader to imagine what their life would look like as an African American little girl in the nineteenth century.
Awards: Coretta Scott King Honor Book (2006)
Source: Textbook
Audience: Grades 4 - 8
Response:
This is a partial biography because the book only covers Maritcha’s childhood up until about the age of 21. The title tells us this book will be about the life of a girl, so it makes sense that the book is not a biography of her entire life but a window into what it was like to live as am African American female during the nineteenth century of slavery and Civil War.
This is an authentic biography because it only includes dialogue Maritcha has written and there are real photographs on almost every page of the people, places, and events that were prevalent in her life. The text is very factual and does not stray from authenticity to make the story more interesting. The story remains true to the life of Maritcha while making it easy for the reader to imagine what their life would look like as an African American little girl in the nineteenth century.
December 22, 2025
I didn't realize this was only 34 pages making it the shortest book of this year but. I enjoyed it so whatever I'll count it. I took it off a free bookshelf one day and put it back on the free bookshelf the next day! It was very well put together, definitely invited the reader to deeply imagine and put themself into the New York of Maritcha's time. My favorite part was reading about the parents' lives to be honest... I remember having more critiques when I read this book a little over 2 weeks ago which just goes to show why I should write my reviews write away but. Whatever.
A lot of this author's other books sound interesting so maybe I will search them out in the library! Searching for Sarah Rector sounds cool and I enjoy books that get into the development of the author's efforts throughout the project.
A lot of this author's other books sound interesting so maybe I will search them out in the library! Searching for Sarah Rector sounds cool and I enjoy books that get into the development of the author's efforts throughout the project.
April 30, 2019
This is another informational book that gives the story of a girl who was born free during the existence of slavery in New York. It tells about her experience of living in a world where the location of her birth could have changed her fate forever. I would use this book with middle school students especially during their western exploration unit when learning about the North and South in the US.
I gave the book 5 stars because it is classic in the sense that it tells the story of a girl from birth. Most stories about this time period were either written from the point of view of an adult escaping slavery or a biography about someone escaping slavery. This book breaks that norm for me in the sense that students can learn about a new perspective.
I gave the book 5 stars because it is classic in the sense that it tells the story of a girl from birth. Most stories about this time period were either written from the point of view of an adult escaping slavery or a biography about someone escaping slavery. This book breaks that norm for me in the sense that students can learn about a new perspective.
August 3, 2018
I am really glad this book exists. It tells the story of a black girl born free during the time of slavery, who lived a life of comparative luxury in New York - a life not unlike that of white girls at the time, except for the few times racism interfered and was conquered.
The author took her information from Maritcha's own un-published autobiography. I would have like to have seen some of that. I'm guessing it was excluded because this book is aimed towards kids, rather than because it was poorly written. Or maybe she couldn't get the rights. Anyway it was a disappointment. But the book, as a whole, would be a wonderful addition to any kid's shelf.
The author took her information from Maritcha's own un-published autobiography. I would have like to have seen some of that. I'm guessing it was excluded because this book is aimed towards kids, rather than because it was poorly written. Or maybe she couldn't get the rights. Anyway it was a disappointment. But the book, as a whole, would be a wonderful addition to any kid's shelf.
August 2, 2023
This was on our library summer reading list for years, and I finally read it because it matched the requirements for a book challenge. Bolden does an excellent job weaving Maritcha's own memoir with information about the culture and events of her period, using archival photos and illustrations. Her family's boarding house suffered looting, etc. during the NYC draft riots (which I learned more about while reading Melville's poetry.) She fought to attend the only high school in Providence, and the legislature passed a bill to make it integrated. "The iron had entered my soul. I never forgot that I had to sue for a privilege which any but a colored girl could have without asking."
April 7, 2019
This book is great for a lesson with getting ti know past history. The book has big font so the students can read and see clearly what the words are saying. The pictures in the book are fantastic and very nice to look at the pages feel really nice in the book also. The author did a great job with thus book as in explaining what has happened and all the words that are easy to understand. The book has nice and smooth pages that are nice to feel when turning the page.
April 22, 2021
So interesting. I wish more records existed of Maritcha and her family because I wanted to know so much more! Bolden does a great job of contextualizing the time period and location of Maritcha's life experiences. This is geared to young readers, of course, so my one nitpicky complaint as an old head-- that the font is beautiful but it's difficult to tell the difference between a 3 and an 8-- may not be an issue for the target audience. 😄
January 16, 2025
This was a really interesting read. I got to learn about a remarkable woman who led a pioneering life, before she became that woman. It was interesting to see how her life intersected with influential figures I was familiar with, and others who I hadn't heard of before despite how important they were in creating the world I get to live in today. I also learned about the Civil War Draft Riots, which I'd never heard of before. All in all, a great book.
February 15, 2020
Sadly, the most boring children’s history/biography I think I’ve ever read. I was intrigued by the subject, and eager for the promised window into the life of an African American child in the 1800s. But the book itself bored me.
January 13, 2021
An exploration of Maritcha Remond Lyon's childhood in New York (and later Massachusetts) during the 19th century.
The author stated that there wasn't much information on Maritcha, and-unfortunately-it shows.
The author stated that there wasn't much information on Maritcha, and-unfortunately-it shows.
November 13, 2017
Would also be a good non-fiction resource for teens reading Zetta Elliott's A Wish After Midnight
February 25, 2018
This is more of an autobiography then a children’s book because of the historical significance and artifacts presented. I learned so much about Mariechia and her family.
January 3, 2020
An excellent book for middle grades to fill in and expand understandings of Black history. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2024
A gorgeous and important book.
October 29, 2025
There is nothing trivial about the lives of ordinary citizens. Thank you, Ms. Bolden, for introducing us to Maritcha Lyons.
May 2, 2019
Genre: Biography
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award
Audience: 4th - 5th Grade
A) This book would be considered a memoir because it is a biography that has a collection of events and special sources.
B) This is an authentic biography because there are many sources and well-documented.
C) Are there any more book about her? Did she enjoy the social activities as much as the rest of her family?
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award
Audience: 4th - 5th Grade
A) This book would be considered a memoir because it is a biography that has a collection of events and special sources.
B) This is an authentic biography because there are many sources and well-documented.
C) Are there any more book about her? Did she enjoy the social activities as much as the rest of her family?
March 12, 2017
what I really liked about this book was that it's a story of a free black girl in new York. for my daughter, and her class, the environment will be very familiar to them, since it's pretty near to where they grew up. it's also great to have a girl who resembles so much of the population.
in social studies they only seem to read about slavery when there was, at least in the north, a pretty substantial free black population. bolden mentions historical figures like Frederick douglass, who are more familiar, and stories about the draft riots, which caused so many problems in manhattan at that time.
in social studies they only seem to read about slavery when there was, at least in the north, a pretty substantial free black population. bolden mentions historical figures like Frederick douglass, who are more familiar, and stories about the draft riots, which caused so many problems in manhattan at that time.
August 24, 2020
Great photographs and very well researched information make this book well worth reading. It is another book that could be used as part of a study of live in different places in the United States. Well worth reading and using during Black History Month. I learned a lot from this book and made connections with other books I have read this summer.
August 11, 2015
I was drawn immediately to the photograph of Maritcha on the cover. I just love old photos and Maritcha looks so lovely and composed. There are several more photos of family members, her sister in what appears to be the exact same dress (or at least fabric and pattern) but seeming more timid.
Maritcha's life begins as a freeborn black child in New York City before the Civil War. Her father and grandfather owned property in Seneca Village, one of the areas razed to make room for Central Park (an area Bill Bryson erroneously referred to as unoccupied in At Home and I'm still annoyed about that). There were not many materials available (other than her memoirs) to the author and Bolden made the decision to use contemporary illustrations instead of having modern ones done. This is perfectly understandable and done all the time, but the captions reiterating the "similar to what Maritcha's family" wheeze got annoying. I'm not sure how that could have been handled better.
The story is captivating. There is high adventure during the anti-draft riots and suspense when Maritcha has to plead her own case before the Rhode Island state assembly to be permitted to attend high school. This led to the passage of an act making no distinction on account of race or color for admission to any school in RI. Of course, she still had to take a written and oral examination to prove she was up to it.
The biography only covers her childhood, but Maritcha dedicated her life to teaching and never married.
Excellent book. She deserves hero status.
Maritcha's life begins as a freeborn black child in New York City before the Civil War. Her father and grandfather owned property in Seneca Village, one of the areas razed to make room for Central Park (an area Bill Bryson erroneously referred to as unoccupied in At Home and I'm still annoyed about that). There were not many materials available (other than her memoirs) to the author and Bolden made the decision to use contemporary illustrations instead of having modern ones done. This is perfectly understandable and done all the time, but the captions reiterating the "similar to what Maritcha's family" wheeze got annoying. I'm not sure how that could have been handled better.
The story is captivating. There is high adventure during the anti-draft riots and suspense when Maritcha has to plead her own case before the Rhode Island state assembly to be permitted to attend high school. This led to the passage of an act making no distinction on account of race or color for admission to any school in RI. Of course, she still had to take a written and oral examination to prove she was up to it.
The biography only covers her childhood, but Maritcha dedicated her life to teaching and never married.
Excellent book. She deserves hero status.
May 20, 2011
Fascinating look into the life of a young woman born in 1848 in New York City.
Central Park exists because whole villages were destroyed. Maritcha's grandparents and parents owned property in Seneca Village, along with black, Irish, German and Native American residents. The residents were on their way to building a stable community with 3 churches and a school. Their property was taken because of plans for what one man called "nineteenth-century America's greatest work of art" the 800+ acre Central Park.
I also learned a lot about the Draft Riots (whites were drafted and forced to serve in the Civil War, but the draft could be avoided for $300, leaving the burden on the poor; non-whites couldn't serve in the military). The anger over the draft flared into a mob, which destroyed property and beat/murdered innocent people. Maritcha's German neighbor was beaten after his role in helping her parents to safety from the mob was discovered.
Sixteen year old Maritcha had to speak before the Rhode Island State legislature to plead for the right to go to high school. After segregated schools were banned, she finished high school and went on to become a teacher and a principal.
This interesting and informative book is text-rich and for advanced readers. It is full of pictures and art from the period of time and provides a great glimpse into the time period. Kudos to the author and editors for bringing Maritcha's story to light.
Central Park exists because whole villages were destroyed. Maritcha's grandparents and parents owned property in Seneca Village, along with black, Irish, German and Native American residents. The residents were on their way to building a stable community with 3 churches and a school. Their property was taken because of plans for what one man called "nineteenth-century America's greatest work of art" the 800+ acre Central Park.
I also learned a lot about the Draft Riots (whites were drafted and forced to serve in the Civil War, but the draft could be avoided for $300, leaving the burden on the poor; non-whites couldn't serve in the military). The anger over the draft flared into a mob, which destroyed property and beat/murdered innocent people. Maritcha's German neighbor was beaten after his role in helping her parents to safety from the mob was discovered.
Sixteen year old Maritcha had to speak before the Rhode Island State legislature to plead for the right to go to high school. After segregated schools were banned, she finished high school and went on to become a teacher and a principal.
This interesting and informative book is text-rich and for advanced readers. It is full of pictures and art from the period of time and provides a great glimpse into the time period. Kudos to the author and editors for bringing Maritcha's story to light.
March 20, 2013
Almost too short for its own good, the story chronicles the early life of Maritcha who was born in 1848 in New York City. In her later years, she penned a memoir that was roughly kept and then passed to historians, where Bolden took her story as well as others to chronicle black life in the North. Then, she became interested in knowing more about her situation-- how she was raised, what she contributed to society, and what her family did and how they were treated.
It's the story of perseverance through hard work. She was a very humble and very ambitious girl. Bolden tells how she spoke in front of the state legislature to allow her to attend high school after she was denied because she was black. She won and graduated and then went on to teach for nearly fifty years.
I was disappointed that there wasn't a more "final" ending, it seemed like an after thought after learning about her and her family. I felt like I got to know her and then the story finished. Though, what was there is valuable, especially in terms of what her family did for the Underground Railroad, who her relatives and family friends were, and how they were entrepreneurs.
It's the story of perseverance through hard work. She was a very humble and very ambitious girl. Bolden tells how she spoke in front of the state legislature to allow her to attend high school after she was denied because she was black. She won and graduated and then went on to teach for nearly fifty years.
I was disappointed that there wasn't a more "final" ending, it seemed like an after thought after learning about her and her family. I felt like I got to know her and then the story finished. Though, what was there is valuable, especially in terms of what her family did for the Underground Railroad, who her relatives and family friends were, and how they were entrepreneurs.
December 4, 2009
I don't think I had ever read anything about free blacks in the North during the nineteenth century, so was very interested to read about Maritcha's experiences as a young girl. The use of photographs and illustrations from the time period was very effective. Overall, this was an interesting, well-presented story of a young girl.
For some reason, I just felt that this book was missing something. I didn't really feel as if I had any sort of sense of who Maritcha was. A good biography should make me feel as if I know the person, and I didn't get that feeling here. While her story was very interesting and certainly taught me a lot about that time period, Maritcha herself is still mostly a stranger to me. Nevertheless, it is certainly worth reading.
For some reason, I just felt that this book was missing something. I didn't really feel as if I had any sort of sense of who Maritcha was. A good biography should make me feel as if I know the person, and I didn't get that feeling here. While her story was very interesting and certainly taught me a lot about that time period, Maritcha herself is still mostly a stranger to me. Nevertheless, it is certainly worth reading.
July 2, 2012
I always find myself in the children's section of the library, well, with my children. I do find some fascinating books and this book is included as one fascinating read.
Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl is an account of the life of an African American girl born free in New York in 1848. Author Tonya Bolden tells part of Maritcha’s story using her unpublished memoir and historical details about her family and life in New York and New England, including the Draft Riots of 1863.
A quick read that enriched my understanding of American History although I wish the book included more from Maritcha's memoir.
Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl is an account of the life of an African American girl born free in New York in 1848. Author Tonya Bolden tells part of Maritcha’s story using her unpublished memoir and historical details about her family and life in New York and New England, including the Draft Riots of 1863.
A quick read that enriched my understanding of American History although I wish the book included more from Maritcha's memoir.
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