A house slave on the Hoopers' Missouri farm in 1859, 13-year-old Jonas aspires to become his master's manservant when he grows big enough. Before that day comes, though, he is sent to accompany the Hoopers' ne'er-do-well son, Percy, to the goldfields in the Kansas Territory. Jonas proves his worth to their companions in the wagon train and, seeing new possibilities for his life, begins to dream of freedom. When Percy puts him in an unbearable situation, Jonas sets a new course for his future. Dahlberg paints a convincing picture of Jonas, who is surprised by what he finds in the broader world and increasingly hopeful that he can make his own way, given a chance. Though there are many stock characters, the attitudes and outlooks of the slaves in the opening scenes are sensitively portrayed. The ability to let readers feel the essential cruelty of slavery without scenes of excessive brutality makes this well-crafted, engaging novel appropriate for a middle-grade audience. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2007, Farrar, $16.

Dahlberg, Maurine. The Story of Jonas. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2007.

Summary: This book chronicles the life of a thirteen year old slave name Jonas who lives in the South in the 1800’s. Both his father and mother have passed away and he depends on other slaves for advice and companionship. As Jonas’ story is told, numerous incidents of the sad realities and humiliation of slave life are spoken of.
One day he is told that he will be accompanying his master’s son on a trip to Kansas to look for gold. On the journey he meets up with some people who do not believe in slavery and who begin to teach him out to read. After many days on the journey he learns that most of the slaves that he knew back home were sold off after trying to escape. One was also whipped and another was killed. This convinces Jonas that he must escape, which he does with the help of a young girl. The book ends after Jonas has met up with a man who promises to lead him to Mexico.
Age: The book is appropriate for children aged 11 and 12. Its length of 148 pages and its mature and heartbreaking topics fit this age range. The story also talks frequently about how Jonas’ survived his ordeals, something which this age group enjoys.
Usage: I would incorporate this book into an American History curriculum in order to put faces and emotions into the horrible truth of our country’s history of slavery.