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Come Juneteenth: A Powerful YA Historical Drama About Family Lies, Emancipation Betrayal, and Tragic Freedom
Sis Goose is a beloved member of Luli's family, despite the fact that she was born a slave. But the family is harboring a terrible secret. And when Union soldiers arrive on their Texas plantation to announce that slaves have been declared free for nearly two years, Sis Goose is horrified to learn that the people she called family have lied to her for so long. She runs away--but her newly found freedom has tragic consequences.
How could the state of Texas keep the news of the Emancipation Proclamation from reaching slaves? In this riveting Great Episodes historical drama, Ann Rinaldi sheds light on the events that led to the creation of Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom that continues today.
Includes an author's note.
How could the state of Texas keep the news of the Emancipation Proclamation from reaching slaves? In this riveting Great Episodes historical drama, Ann Rinaldi sheds light on the events that led to the creation of Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom that continues today.
Includes an author's note.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
41 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
About the author
Ann Rinaldi
69 books987 followersAnn Rinaldi (b. August 27, 1934, in New York City) is a young adult fiction author. She is best known for her historical fiction, including In My Father's House, The Last Silk Dress, An Acquaintance with Darkness, A Break with Charity, and Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons. She has written a total of forty novels, eight of which were listed as notable by the ALA. In 2000, Wolf by the Ears was listed as one the best novels of the preceding twenty-five years, and later of the last one hundred years. She is the most prolific writer for the Great Episode series, a series of historical fiction novels set during the American Colonial era. She also writes for the Dear America series.
Rinaldi currently lives in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Ron, whom she married in 1960. Her career, prior to being an author, was a newspaper columnist. She continued the column, called The Trentonian, through much of her writing career. Her first published novel, Term Paper, was written in 1979. Prior to this, she wrote four unpublished books, which she has called "terrible." She became a grandmother in 1991.
Rinaldi says she got her love of history from her eldest son, who brought her to reenactments. She says that she writes young adult books "because I like to write them."
Rinaldi currently lives in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Ron, whom she married in 1960. Her career, prior to being an author, was a newspaper columnist. She continued the column, called The Trentonian, through much of her writing career. Her first published novel, Term Paper, was written in 1979. Prior to this, she wrote four unpublished books, which she has called "terrible." She became a grandmother in 1991.
Rinaldi says she got her love of history from her eldest son, who brought her to reenactments. She says that she writes young adult books "because I like to write them."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
June 20, 2016
I thought it was a little odd, when the main character was the daughter of a large slave holder.
I thought it was a little odd, that the story was told from the perspective of slave owners and how the loss of the slaves would effect the owners.
I thought it a little odd, that a book called 'Come Juneteenth' would depict slave owners and those fighting for the confederacy as benign influences in the lives of slaves.
I further found it odd, that the Yankees where depicted as villainous, when they came to free the slaves.
I found strange indeed, that the main black character was an octoroon at the very most, described as 'high yellow' and 'bright;' and who was raised pretty much from birth as a surrogate sister to the main white character, the plantation owners daughter--thus having no real experience with the lives of the laboring slaves.
Curious and more curious was the way the octoroon sister's life got harder under freedom, under Yankee rule.
Up top this point, this book in no way tells the story about what Juneteenth means to African Americans or what the experience was like for most slaves.
Yet I persisted in reading the book, thinking it would redeem itself at some point.
But no, it never happens. The main black character is killed off, more or less as an unavoidable tragic collision of the conflicting desires of the white people who supposedly cared about her. And this was supposedly how she gained her freedom. By dying.
Freedom is the right to choose. Free people choose where they will live. Free people choose who they will associate with. Free people choose what sort of work they will do. Dead is not free. When you die you no longer have any choices, you no longer can exercise free will. Dead is just dead. Dead is not free.
How convenient for the author. She doesn't have to explore how life after slavery for many black people, was nearly as bad - sometimes worse, as life was under slavery. Worse, because slaves were now charged rent for the land they lived on. Worse, because they had no education. Worse, because the jobs they were offered paid less than slave wages. Worse, because sometimes they were run out of the only homes they had ever known, with nothing except the clothes on their backs. Worse, because the end of slavery did not end racism, and the South took their losses out on the former slaves.
How convenient for the author, she avoids having to deal with the attitudes about mixed marriages and about white men raising their mixed children as their heirs.
How utterly convenient for the author, as she avoids telling the story of those former slaves who thrived, made their way successfully in the world, and then worked had against the odds to uplift the rest of their people.
This book claims to be a historical novel. It is a historical fantasy, with racist supremacist under-pinnings trying to masquerade itself as a liberal educational narrative. It fails utterly.
This is absolutely the worst book I have read all year.
How convenient for the author.
I thought it was a little odd, that the story was told from the perspective of slave owners and how the loss of the slaves would effect the owners.
I thought it a little odd, that a book called 'Come Juneteenth' would depict slave owners and those fighting for the confederacy as benign influences in the lives of slaves.
I further found it odd, that the Yankees where depicted as villainous, when they came to free the slaves.
I found strange indeed, that the main black character was an octoroon at the very most, described as 'high yellow' and 'bright;' and who was raised pretty much from birth as a surrogate sister to the main white character, the plantation owners daughter--thus having no real experience with the lives of the laboring slaves.
Curious and more curious was the way the octoroon sister's life got harder under freedom, under Yankee rule.
Up top this point, this book in no way tells the story about what Juneteenth means to African Americans or what the experience was like for most slaves.
Yet I persisted in reading the book, thinking it would redeem itself at some point.
But no, it never happens. The main black character is killed off, more or less as an unavoidable tragic collision of the conflicting desires of the white people who supposedly cared about her. And this was supposedly how she gained her freedom. By dying.
Freedom is the right to choose. Free people choose where they will live. Free people choose who they will associate with. Free people choose what sort of work they will do. Dead is not free. When you die you no longer have any choices, you no longer can exercise free will. Dead is just dead. Dead is not free.
How convenient for the author. She doesn't have to explore how life after slavery for many black people, was nearly as bad - sometimes worse, as life was under slavery. Worse, because slaves were now charged rent for the land they lived on. Worse, because they had no education. Worse, because the jobs they were offered paid less than slave wages. Worse, because sometimes they were run out of the only homes they had ever known, with nothing except the clothes on their backs. Worse, because the end of slavery did not end racism, and the South took their losses out on the former slaves.
How convenient for the author, she avoids having to deal with the attitudes about mixed marriages and about white men raising their mixed children as their heirs.
How utterly convenient for the author, as she avoids telling the story of those former slaves who thrived, made their way successfully in the world, and then worked had against the odds to uplift the rest of their people.
This book claims to be a historical novel. It is a historical fantasy, with racist supremacist under-pinnings trying to masquerade itself as a liberal educational narrative. It fails utterly.
This is absolutely the worst book I have read all year.
How convenient for the author.
August 10, 2020
Unlikeable protagonist.
September 20, 2015
This is a book for young readers, however, that is no excuse for the flaws in it. The main premise in the book is that all the states in the Confederate States of America freed their slaves in 1863 when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which is ludicrous. Since all the Southern States considered themselves to be the Confederate States of America with their own President and laws, it is weird that someone would make the mistake of thinking they would accept Lincoln’s proclamation as law and actually free their slaves; to them, it wasn’t worth the match to burn it up. This story happens in Texas where, in contrast to the premise that the other Confederate States freed their slaves, plantation owners in Texas did not free their slaves and kept the knowledge of their freedom a secret. The lengths they went to to keep it a secret demonstrate that they actually thought their slaves were freed in 1863. This is breathtaking, and more so when I discovered while reading reviews for this book, that all of the reviewers I read were totally on board with this misconception. Sis Goose is a slave who was raised almost as a family member by the family that owned her. The story is told in first person by Luli, the plantation owner’s daughter. Luli and Sis Goose grow up together and are best friends. The fact that Luli’s family did not free its slaves in 1863 explains Luli’s guilt and Sis Goose’s anger near the end. The story hinges on this historical blunder.
Once the premise crashes and burns early in the book, it is a slow dying slog to get to the end, with numerous other flaws. On top of everything else, the way it is presented is boring. It has the potential for a good plot, some of the characters are interesting, and there are some historical facts that fit well into the plot, such as it was. Juneteenth is June 19, 1865, when news reached Texas that the Civil War was lost, resulting in the implementation of the Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Once the premise crashes and burns early in the book, it is a slow dying slog to get to the end, with numerous other flaws. On top of everything else, the way it is presented is boring. It has the potential for a good plot, some of the characters are interesting, and there are some historical facts that fit well into the plot, such as it was. Juneteenth is June 19, 1865, when news reached Texas that the Civil War was lost, resulting in the implementation of the Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
May 15, 2024
This book I had to read for social studies. Has a good plot twist, but is super slow paced and not very engaging.
November 10, 2016
Synopsis: Sis Goose is a slave, sort of? And she lives like a family member on her adopted sister Luli’s family’s plantation in Texas. But then Sis Goose falls in love with Luli’s brother and crap gets weird. To top it all off, after the end of slavery no one tells Sis Goose for like two freaking years. So, yeah, she finds out, gets mad…there’s more to it.
This book started out strong. I loved the characters, I could tell a lot of heart and effort went into their development. That’s hard to do in such a small book. I’ve always loved Ann Rinaldi’s creativity in character creation (also, she tends to pick unusual settings). The storyline was also intriguing. You knew things were going to blow up because they definitely couldn’t keep going as they were. There were quite a few plot twists, and maybe I had my eyes kept willfully closed, but I didn’t see them coming.
However, as soon as Sis Goose found out the truth, it got weird. Like, from that point on nothing makes sense to me. Why she ran off with the Yankee general. Why Luli has to go help find her, even though Sis Goose is just as mad at her as everyone else. Why didn’t they just tell her the truth in the first place? Why didn’t Luli just go ahead and tell her brother “The Secret”? And then the ending…it was just the worst. It was a bad thing that happened and then the book abruptly wrapped up.
Again, it had a lot of potential, but by the end it had deflated.
This book started out strong. I loved the characters, I could tell a lot of heart and effort went into their development. That’s hard to do in such a small book. I’ve always loved Ann Rinaldi’s creativity in character creation (also, she tends to pick unusual settings). The storyline was also intriguing. You knew things were going to blow up because they definitely couldn’t keep going as they were. There were quite a few plot twists, and maybe I had my eyes kept willfully closed, but I didn’t see them coming.
However, as soon as Sis Goose found out the truth, it got weird. Like, from that point on nothing makes sense to me. Why she ran off with the Yankee general. Why Luli has to go help find her, even though Sis Goose is just as mad at her as everyone else. Why didn’t they just tell her the truth in the first place? Why didn’t Luli just go ahead and tell her brother “The Secret”? And then the ending…it was just the worst. It was a bad thing that happened and then the book abruptly wrapped up.
Again, it had a lot of potential, but by the end it had deflated.
February 21, 2016
Tragedy. That is what you can expect when lies are in the mix.
Sis Goose is a member of the family for all that she is owned by Aunt Sophie, who loaned her to her sister's family as she preferred not to be responsible for a babe in arms. Sis Goose is the older companion of Luli, who thinks of her as her older sister and friend.
Sis Goose, aka Rose, is the offspring of a sea captain and a slave woman. Her father visits her on the Holcomb plantation. The family relationships are, or should be, intensely conflicting for me, but I bring 21st C sensibilities to this thing. White folks were some odd creatures when they were allowed to own people and think that was behavior sanctioned by G-d.
Luli has two brothers. One is guarding Texas from the Indians, the other managing black market sales of goods through Mexico. The war, the Civil War, is over and the slaves in the east have been free for a couple of years. The Holcomb family is aware of this fact, but fail to inform their chattel that they are free. Here is a lie by omission.
Rinaldi has me hooked on historical fiction.
Thought-provoking read.
Sis Goose is a member of the family for all that she is owned by Aunt Sophie, who loaned her to her sister's family as she preferred not to be responsible for a babe in arms. Sis Goose is the older companion of Luli, who thinks of her as her older sister and friend.
Sis Goose, aka Rose, is the offspring of a sea captain and a slave woman. Her father visits her on the Holcomb plantation. The family relationships are, or should be, intensely conflicting for me, but I bring 21st C sensibilities to this thing. White folks were some odd creatures when they were allowed to own people and think that was behavior sanctioned by G-d.
Luli has two brothers. One is guarding Texas from the Indians, the other managing black market sales of goods through Mexico. The war, the Civil War, is over and the slaves in the east have been free for a couple of years. The Holcomb family is aware of this fact, but fail to inform their chattel that they are free. Here is a lie by omission.
Rinaldi has me hooked on historical fiction.
Thought-provoking read.
February 21, 2014
Let me start this review by saying that I really like Ann Rinaldi as an author, and she has written many excellent books. For me, this was not up to standard. I liked the characters and the world she managed to create. The plot was good, and I related to the characters well. I also liked that it showed the other side of the Civil war. Of course, slavery was a disgusting institution, and the North was right to abolish it, but it is important to remember that the Union had flaws as well and not all of it's officers were kind. They were just as open to destruction as the confederacy.
My problem with this book was simply that it was boring. The plot kind of plodded along. I was rooting for the characters throughout, but on several occasions I found myself bored. Therefore, I didn't really enjoy this book. I can't say it was a complete waste of time, however, because it was a good history lesson and eye-opener about the Civil War in the South.
My problem with this book was simply that it was boring. The plot kind of plodded along. I was rooting for the characters throughout, but on several occasions I found myself bored. Therefore, I didn't really enjoy this book. I can't say it was a complete waste of time, however, because it was a good history lesson and eye-opener about the Civil War in the South.
June 18, 2010
Junteenth combines June & 19th, being the date in 1865 the slaves in Texas were finally freed. The slave holders continued the practice of slavery after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted. Their slaves heard rumors they were free, but until the Federal Government came to enforce it, it was apparently well hidden.
The Texans said they feared an uprising of freed slaves, retaliating against their owners. It is also said Texas thought itself an entity unto itself. For those of us nearly 150 years later, it seems unimaginable to believe one could believe in the ownership of another, as one owns cattle. Texas proves to me how insidious this practice was and foreshadowed the difficulties freedmen would have being accepted as equals in society in the century or more following emancipation.
The Texans said they feared an uprising of freed slaves, retaliating against their owners. It is also said Texas thought itself an entity unto itself. For those of us nearly 150 years later, it seems unimaginable to believe one could believe in the ownership of another, as one owns cattle. Texas proves to me how insidious this practice was and foreshadowed the difficulties freedmen would have being accepted as equals in society in the century or more following emancipation.
July 21, 2023
I thought this book might be an interesting way to learn more about Juneteenth. Instead, it was a disjointed story, not even told from the point of view of the enslaved people, that was mostly just about painting southern plantation owners in a positive light. If I didn't have to return it to the library, I'd throw it in the trash.
March 23, 2019
This was pretty boring.
August 4, 2020
Nothing like reading a book that you thought might be a children's/middle-grade book, and then reading that book and realizing ... it's not. Ann Rinaldi has this talent of ripping my heart out, and then making me think the book is good at the same time.
Setting: Texas, 1865, when the Union soldiers finally got around to occupying that region. The setting, besides being crucial to the plot of the story, isn't detailed overly vividly, but just enough. It's clear where they live, how the slaves are treated, why the slaves weren't notified of their freedom for two years, and the perspective of Luli and her family. In addition to fighting the North, there are also mentions are fighting the Kickapoo Indians, which establishes the setting well. I loved reading about this setting, as previously I hadn't known much about it.
Characters: First, Luli, the narrator. Aside from being a sometimes annoying teenager, she's written well and is believable. Her relationship with Gabe is pretty precious, and of course I love him, too (despite his sinful and consequential act that wasn't treated as bad at all ... oh, well). Part of me wishes to have had more of his thoughts, but as the book isn't set up to reveal those thoughts, I know it's an unrealistic wish. Then Sis Goose ... goodness, my heart breaks for her. It's hard. Everything about her story is hard.
The other members of Luli's family are also mentioned and developed an appropriate amount of times. I like Pa: the respect and good example he gives is quite admirable, and I wish more people nowadays had that. Haffernan is extremely bad, as appropriately portrayed; you hate to make the Yankees antagonists, but when they act like that (and you know some of them did) ... it's all a messy business, but Rinaldi writes it very clearly, while keeping the gray line of "good and "bad."
Plot: Besides being a heartbreaking one, the storyline is really good and provoked some deep thinking on my part. Mostly about love and freedom. It's an interesting question: Then all that got me to thinking about who's really free, black or white, considering the whole Holcomb family is under duress of the Union Army. (Side note: Colonel Heffernan is a hypocritical scum, and he deserves a severe punishment.) It also did my heart good when the field hands decide to stay and work, and Pa is fair to all of them. And what Luli does at the end ... well, that captured my heart, too.
My rating couldn't quite reach the five star mark, due to some adult topics being discussed by young teenagers, a few swearwords, and a pretty confusing prologue. My heart breaking may not have helped, either. But I would recommend this book to any historical fiction lover, and who especially wants to learn about an individual situation regarding Juneteenth.
Setting: Texas, 1865, when the Union soldiers finally got around to occupying that region. The setting, besides being crucial to the plot of the story, isn't detailed overly vividly, but just enough. It's clear where they live, how the slaves are treated, why the slaves weren't notified of their freedom for two years, and the perspective of Luli and her family. In addition to fighting the North, there are also mentions are fighting the Kickapoo Indians, which establishes the setting well. I loved reading about this setting, as previously I hadn't known much about it.
Characters: First, Luli, the narrator. Aside from being a sometimes annoying teenager, she's written well and is believable. Her relationship with Gabe is pretty precious, and of course I love him, too (despite his sinful and consequential act that wasn't treated as bad at all ... oh, well). Part of me wishes to have had more of his thoughts, but as the book isn't set up to reveal those thoughts, I know it's an unrealistic wish. Then Sis Goose ... goodness, my heart breaks for her. It's hard. Everything about her story is hard.
The other members of Luli's family are also mentioned and developed an appropriate amount of times. I like Pa: the respect and good example he gives is quite admirable, and I wish more people nowadays had that. Haffernan is extremely bad, as appropriately portrayed; you hate to make the Yankees antagonists, but when they act like that (and you know some of them did) ... it's all a messy business, but Rinaldi writes it very clearly, while keeping the gray line of "good and "bad."
Plot: Besides being a heartbreaking one, the storyline is really good and provoked some deep thinking on my part. Mostly about love and freedom. It's an interesting question: Then all that got me to thinking about who's really free, black or white, considering the whole Holcomb family is under duress of the Union Army. (Side note: Colonel Heffernan is a hypocritical scum, and he deserves a severe punishment.) It also did my heart good when the field hands decide to stay and work, and Pa is fair to all of them. And what Luli does at the end ... well, that captured my heart, too.
My rating couldn't quite reach the five star mark, due to some adult topics being discussed by young teenagers, a few swearwords, and a pretty confusing prologue. My heart breaking may not have helped, either. But I would recommend this book to any historical fiction lover, and who especially wants to learn about an individual situation regarding Juneteenth.
July 11, 2023
I should have followed my instinct and put this book down after the first page. I kept thinking it would get better because I have loved the other books in this series. This is such a weird story and not really appropriate for young readers. Worst of all? It doesn’t even teach us anything about Juneteenth. Sorry, but hated it.
August 4, 2020
This is a good book covering Civil War and slavery issues. I do NOT recommend it for students under ninth grade. If you or your school is avoiding the word "negro," then do not read this book.
July 29, 2020
Obviously written for white girls (which I am, or rather was) but it is about an event and era I knew very little about (probably because textbooks are written with Texas in mind). Hopefully this drives "white girls" to do their own research.
June 8, 2020
Got me a little misty-eyed, Ann. I loved this one as much as her others.
October 20, 2023
This book was dreadful. Made slavery seem like nothing more than an minor annoyance. Almost no character was remotely realistic. I have to wonder if the author was familiar with how bad slavery really was and if she was at all familiar with the mores surrounding Black & white.
July 1, 2020
I am on a learning journey to gain facts about racism and the history of slavery. Learning more about Juneteenth was a great addition to my knowledge.
February 15, 2020
While the Union and the Confederacy are warring against each other in America, President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. But Texans keep their enslaved laborers from hearing about it, a fact that will impact Luli Holcomb and the sister she never thought of as a slave in Come Juneteenth by author Ann Rinaldi.
This is my first time reading this author since back in my teens, when her novels matured and sharpened my taste for historical fiction, especially concerning American history.
Knowing the kind of hard-hitting and poignant young adult stories Rinaldi can deliver, I probably should have been better prepared emotionally for this story of injustice, violence, and human relationships. Although my interest in the read waned here and there, the parts that got me, got me.
Now, it's important to know this isn't a story told from the perspective of African American characters, and it isn't about a big Juneteenth celebration. Nor is it a simplistic, romantic painting of the Civil War and Reconstruction that depicts all white Yankees as completely good and noble and all white Southerners as completely wicked and backward. Rather, it's a story of flawed human beings and what happens when you have to face where you, and other people in the place you fondly call home, have been profoundly wrong.
This is a tragic novel. Still, it has glimmers of hope for healing and learning from the past.
This is my first time reading this author since back in my teens, when her novels matured and sharpened my taste for historical fiction, especially concerning American history.
Knowing the kind of hard-hitting and poignant young adult stories Rinaldi can deliver, I probably should have been better prepared emotionally for this story of injustice, violence, and human relationships. Although my interest in the read waned here and there, the parts that got me, got me.
Now, it's important to know this isn't a story told from the perspective of African American characters, and it isn't about a big Juneteenth celebration. Nor is it a simplistic, romantic painting of the Civil War and Reconstruction that depicts all white Yankees as completely good and noble and all white Southerners as completely wicked and backward. Rather, it's a story of flawed human beings and what happens when you have to face where you, and other people in the place you fondly call home, have been profoundly wrong.
This is a tragic novel. Still, it has glimmers of hope for healing and learning from the past.
June 21, 2020
What a terrible book! I felt like the author bit off way more than sure could chew here, dealing with too many variables in the story (slavery and it's end, the isolation of the setting, fighting Indians, sick parents, sibling relationships) and was unable to fully realize it explain any one of them. The relationship between Luli and Gabe was hard for me to gauge, and his love for Sis Goose was hard to believe (they grew up as siblings, right?).
But beyond all of that, there was the enormous unfathomable error in judgement that the author meant for us to somehow sympathize with those who enslaved blacks and kept from them information that they were indeed freed too yesterday earlier. Despicable, hateful, and selfish on their part, ridiculous on behalf of the author.
(To be fair, her note explains that no one knows how they kept this information from their slaves for so long, but i had less trouble swallowing that than her mercy and sympathy toward the white slave-owning family)
Just dreadful. Never recommend this to a young person.
But beyond all of that, there was the enormous unfathomable error in judgement that the author meant for us to somehow sympathize with those who enslaved blacks and kept from them information that they were indeed freed too yesterday earlier. Despicable, hateful, and selfish on their part, ridiculous on behalf of the author.
(To be fair, her note explains that no one knows how they kept this information from their slaves for so long, but i had less trouble swallowing that than her mercy and sympathy toward the white slave-owning family)
Just dreadful. Never recommend this to a young person.
March 4, 2015
I think the authors message is that even though people are different races, they can still be counted as family. Even though a girl named Sis Goose, who is a slave and belongs to the Holcomb family, she is treated as one of their family members. This books takes place in Texas year 1865, at the Holcomb farm. The point of view is in a girl named Luli in first person. This book is about Luli, her family, and Sis Goose Luli’s best friend. How they own a ranch and there is news about that the slaves are free, but Luli’s father kept it a secret because he is afraid of what the “slaves” might do.
I did not enjoy this book. It was confusing because at first I did not know Luli and her family were white, I thought hey were slaves on the ranch like Sis Goose. I think the theme is important because it does not matter if people have different colored skin. This book reminds me of social studies class because we are learning about slavery there too. I would not recommend this book to a friend because it is very boring.
I did not enjoy this book. It was confusing because at first I did not know Luli and her family were white, I thought hey were slaves on the ranch like Sis Goose. I think the theme is important because it does not matter if people have different colored skin. This book reminds me of social studies class because we are learning about slavery there too. I would not recommend this book to a friend because it is very boring.
Read
May 19, 2009A family in Texas has slaves, and one inparticular...sis goose. She is more like a sister as to a slave. She doesnt' have to work. The emancipation proclomation is annonced, but none of the slaves know they are free. Then when the war is over, they decide to tell the slaves that they are really free. None of them leave because they realize that life there would be better than on their own, with no food, home or money, jobs. Yankees come to their door and tell them that they are going to live in their house. So the family is forced to live in a cabin on their farm. The Yankees want Sis Goose to live in the house with them becase she's beautiful. Then the general tells Sis Goose that she was really free 2 years ago. She runs off with one of the commanders. Luli and her brother Gabe..(Family's children) search for her. When they find her...she decides not to go with them. This book is very steady then when it gets to the end..it's very powerful and tells alot.
February 21, 2016
This is another Ann Rinaldi story about slaves, although this one takes place in Texas rather than the South.
>Luli is a white girl of 13 who has a young slave whose name is Ruth, but whom she calls Sis Goose. Sis Goose is one of the slaves that can pass for white. Gabe, Luli's brother, is in love with Sis Goose, and so there is one of focus points of the book.
Another focus point is truth withheld. The Texas slaves are not told about the Emancipation Proclamation in fear that they will all leave, or there will be some form of slave uprising. Luli doesn't tell Sis Goose about the freedom the slaves are supposed to have.
Those two themes, of course, have major consequences for the main characters. The situation worsens when the war ends and Union soldiers take over the house, and one of them forces Sis Goose to go with him.
Anne and Gabe set out to find her. All of this will lead to tragedy.
It's another really good book by Ann Rinaldi.
>Luli is a white girl of 13 who has a young slave whose name is Ruth, but whom she calls Sis Goose. Sis Goose is one of the slaves that can pass for white. Gabe, Luli's brother, is in love with Sis Goose, and so there is one of focus points of the book.
Another focus point is truth withheld. The Texas slaves are not told about the Emancipation Proclamation in fear that they will all leave, or there will be some form of slave uprising. Luli doesn't tell Sis Goose about the freedom the slaves are supposed to have.
Those two themes, of course, have major consequences for the main characters. The situation worsens when the war ends and Union soldiers take over the house, and one of them forces Sis Goose to go with him.
Anne and Gabe set out to find her. All of this will lead to tragedy.
It's another really good book by Ann Rinaldi.
June 13, 2015
With only three years age difference, Luli and Sis Goose were raised together. They are just like sisters, but Sis Goose was born a slave and Luli is the Niece to the woman who owns Sis Goose. But, Sis Goose was raised by Luli's parents and she is considered family. She was never raised as a slave.
But, Luli is keeping a secret from Sis Goose, a big secret that she wishes she didn't have to keep.
This is set in Texas in 1865. Somehow, Africans were still slaves two years after they were freed. This book is about the Luli and her family. The story is seen through Luli's eyes.
I liked the book, thought it was good and I definitely learned something I didn't know before. However, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as previous books I've read by Ann Rinaldi. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction or is a fan of the author.
But, Luli is keeping a secret from Sis Goose, a big secret that she wishes she didn't have to keep.
This is set in Texas in 1865. Somehow, Africans were still slaves two years after they were freed. This book is about the Luli and her family. The story is seen through Luli's eyes.
I liked the book, thought it was good and I definitely learned something I didn't know before. However, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as previous books I've read by Ann Rinaldi. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction or is a fan of the author.
October 3, 2010
It took me a while to get into this one. I read the first chapter and put it down for two months. Finally, I felt an obligation to read it. I loved it. The characters are real and I fell in love with all of them -- except for Sis Goose. I didn't really get her. She played her part well, though. Luli was amazing. I love spirited characters who vex their older brothers, and Mrs. Rinaldi must too, because lots of her books have those kinds of sibling relationships.
The plot was good, it didn't drag and held your interest. The ending was really good, and all in all, despite some things I had heard about it, I really enjoyed this book.
One more thing... Did anyone else notice that Gabe's eyes changed from brown to blue?
The plot was good, it didn't drag and held your interest. The ending was really good, and all in all, despite some things I had heard about it, I really enjoyed this book.
One more thing... Did anyone else notice that Gabe's eyes changed from brown to blue?
July 21, 2013
This is a story of rich landowners in Texas. They own slaves, but do treat them kindly. The family takes in one half black child and raise along with their own children. Since Texas isn't a state at the time of emancipation the slaves aren't free.
The family keeps this secret from the slaves for two years. Once the union soldiers come the slaves and Sis find out and this causes all kinds of issues. Some stay and some go.
The one thing I learned from the book was that no matter how well slaves were treated, freedom was more important than anything. Once slaves were free they did not find it easy to make a good life.
I'm not sure how well the book was written, but it was a very good story and young readers would enjoy it. I enjoyed it.
The family keeps this secret from the slaves for two years. Once the union soldiers come the slaves and Sis find out and this causes all kinds of issues. Some stay and some go.
The one thing I learned from the book was that no matter how well slaves were treated, freedom was more important than anything. Once slaves were free they did not find it easy to make a good life.
I'm not sure how well the book was written, but it was a very good story and young readers would enjoy it. I enjoyed it.
August 15, 2013
It took me a little while to figure out what was going on in this book-- it starts in the middle with not quite enough information. But once I got a grasp on the storyline, I was hooked. This portrayal is empathetic all around-- including to the protagonist, a girl from a white, slave-owning Texas family who grew up thinking of light-skinned Sis Goose as a sister, even though she is technically the family's property.
For the first time ever, in reading this book, I was able to understand Southern Honor as something to be respected rather than sneered at. I got a glimpse into the pain that Texas suffered during the Civil War, their bewilderment at being expected to suddenly change their way of life, and their fear at what stepping into that new life would entail.
For the first time ever, in reading this book, I was able to understand Southern Honor as something to be respected rather than sneered at. I got a glimpse into the pain that Texas suffered during the Civil War, their bewilderment at being expected to suddenly change their way of life, and their fear at what stepping into that new life would entail.
April 28, 2013
An interesting look at the end of the civil war from a very unique perspective of Texas ranchers. The story seemed very unbelievable to me, it sugarcoated the horrors of slavery and set up unrealistic charaters and situations. It did make me think about the idea of slaves being free but not being aware of it, but it is hard to imagine 'good folks' not telling thier slaves they were free and still trying to show that they were 'good people' The dynamics of Luli and her big brother Gabe were odd, and I was disappointed about the ending that seemed to just dump the events out without developing them.
March 27, 2017
This is the second of Rinaldi's historical novels that I have read. It was an interesting read, but also slow in some places and not as enjoyable as her other novel.
The novel is set in 1860's Texas during the Civil War and primarily focuses on the relationship between a white agricultural family and their slaves. For two years after the slaves were given their freedom in the United States, Texas slave owners had still not given their slaves their freedom. The story focuses on consequences of the choice to the primary family.
Interesting from a historical standpoint, but the narrative seemed forced in some areas and also the storyline felt like it lacked substance.
The novel is set in 1860's Texas during the Civil War and primarily focuses on the relationship between a white agricultural family and their slaves. For two years after the slaves were given their freedom in the United States, Texas slave owners had still not given their slaves their freedom. The story focuses on consequences of the choice to the primary family.
Interesting from a historical standpoint, but the narrative seemed forced in some areas and also the storyline felt like it lacked substance.
September 18, 2019
0.5-star read
I can't even begin to enumerate the problems with this story.
A biracial girl is raised with a white family as a daughter but is "owned" by another family member living on a plantation hours away. When the host family finds out slavery has ended do they tell this girl that has been raised as a daughter, of course not, even though they know she's in love with one of their sons and will most likely marry him after he returns from the war? The entire story is a rationalization/justification of why the family hid the truth from their darling and beloved so-called family member when in reality it was done to protect their livelihood. I could go on, but this says enough.
I can't even begin to enumerate the problems with this story.
A biracial girl is raised with a white family as a daughter but is "owned" by another family member living on a plantation hours away. When the host family finds out slavery has ended do they tell this girl that has been raised as a daughter, of course not, even though they know she's in love with one of their sons and will most likely marry him after he returns from the war? The entire story is a rationalization/justification of why the family hid the truth from their darling and beloved so-called family member when in reality it was done to protect their livelihood. I could go on, but this says enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2008
Ann Rinaldi is a master at presenting both sides of a historical situation, equally passionate, keeping her biases to herself it seems, and then allowing the reader to decide how they feel about it. Somewhere I read a quote that a novel should be a question. This author masters that.
This book questions how Texas plantation owners were able to keep Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation a secret from their slaves for two years! The author explores the consequences of that and also the two sides of southern pride.
This book questions how Texas plantation owners were able to keep Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation a secret from their slaves for two years! The author explores the consequences of that and also the two sides of southern pride.
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