Abolition and the African American Story

by Patricia Williams Dockery

Until now, you've only heard one side of the how Abraham Lincoln defeated the Confederacy to end slavery, but the truth involves a vast network of abolitionists who would keep fighting for freedom long after the end of the war. Here's the true story of the Civil War and Reconstruction, from the African American perspective.

A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

By 1850, Africans had already been in the United States for nearly 300 years. Their labor created a strong economy and defined American society in profound ways, but their rights nearly tore the country apart, a century after its founding.

The beginning of the Civil War marked a turning the beginning of a public fight to recognize African Americans as Americans. Though much of this played out on the battlefield, the real fight was going on in every corner of the North and South, free households and enslaved, in the halls of government and secret meetings. That fight didn't end when the South surrendered, and young people were central to the way abolitionists envisioned the future. From soldiers to public speakers to the Underground Railroad, this is the true story of the African American experience of the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade

208 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2025

Reviews

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really great overview of abolition and the fight for Black freedom, from the Declaration of Independence to Reconstruction and touching on the Civil Rights era. It has a lot of information packed into a short book, and is much better than the simplified "Abraham Lincoln ended slavery" that often gets taught in schools.

the writing is simplified for middle school readers but not dumbed down, and it flows nicely. The information is broken into easily digestible chunks with subheadings that offer great stopping points if you are, like I was, reading this aloud to your middle schooler at bedtime.

There are tough subjects covered--like lynching and the KKK-- that are difficult to read about but also necessary to grasp the full extent of the difficulties Black Americans faced.

The final section covers the racist origins of policing and how Black Americans are disproportionately represented in prison populations, which are important and relevant topics today

My 11-year-old 6th grader listened intently as I read and learned a lot that had not been covered in school. I learned quite a bit myself, that was never covered in my own schools. He thought the book was well done and so did I.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers for providing an early copy for review.

[Emily Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia Williams Dockery’s Abolition and the African American Story is a crucial and compelling work of corrective history. The book’s central purpose is to successfully dismantle the oversimplified narrative that credits figures like Abraham Lincoln alone with ending slavery. Instead, Dockery masterfully shifts the focus, framing the conflict not just as a war about slavery, but as a public fight to recognize African Americans as Americans, highlighting the vast network of Black activists, both enslaved and free, who fought for freedom long before and after the Civil War.

Dockery handles this complex, nuanced subject matter with grace and clarity, utilizing great subheadings and a writing style that is simplified for elementary and middle school readers without ever feeling condescending. The carefully selected historical photographs and images provide interesting context, while the extensive backmatter (including a glossary, suggested museum visits, and a robust bibliography) encourages continued critical thought and study. This book succeeds brilliantly in celebrating underrepresented heroes and offering an unflinching account of U.S. history, ensuring essential African American perspectives are fully integrated. I commend the entire “Race To The Truth Series” for tackling these vital subjects with such necessary nuance and accessibility.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Random House Children's Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Race to the Truth Series because it dives into the nuance of history adding both context and truthfulness to tough subjects long simplified. Patricia Williams Dockery’s ability to compact so much information in less than 200 pages is remarkable!

First, a huge shoutout to Dockery's introduction which calls out states like mine (Florida) that are actively working to censor and ban information and books around slavery and the black experience in America. The irony is, this well written and highly intelligent book that wades into the Abolition Era and its lasting effects on our country would be banned in my local schools.

Dockery’s writing is intelligent and broken up in easy to consume bursts that lay out the nuances of slavery within America from start to present day. This includes the role the government played, key historical figures and what their lasting legacies were, and many common misconceptions of the time period. The book also doesn’t end with the abolishment of slavery, which Dockery explains wasn’t as simple as it was often taught about, but continues on to the present day.

Abolition and the African American Story is one of those books that should be required reading for all middle grade students especially those living in states like Florida.


Thank you to Random House Kids for the gifted copy.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shorter nonfiction for a middle grade audience to give a fuller perspective of abolition through African Americans throughout the history of African Americans in the United States including contemporary celebrations of Black military leaders, president, etc.

There are thoughtful questions at the end of every chapter to get readers responding to what they just read while also getting some information that might not have made it into their textbooks focused on people who worked on abolition (not just the popular names associated with it) but war, military experience, migration out west, and reconstruction. It features well-known stories like Henry Box Brown and Solomon Northup and specifics on legislation and court cases.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughtfully written and presented, Abolition and the African American Story does an outstanding job explaining the history and development of the cause of abolition in the United States, as well as doing away with the simplified narrative that Abraham Lincoln, acting as a lone voice of sanity, ended slavery in the U.S. This book ought to be in classrooms everywhere, in my opinion. Very well done.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done book presenting the history of abolition in the US for a middle grade audience (and great for adults as well). It did a great job of connecting the history to the modern issues and fights for right's of today.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(DNF - 35%)