McKissack, Pat. A Picture of Freedom: The Diary of Clotee, A Slave Girl. Scholastic, 1997. ISBN 0-590-25988-1. $9.95. 194 pp. A 3-8 FI Reviewed by Sandra L. Tidwell Twelve-year-old Clotee, a slave girl on Virginia's Belmont Plantation, keeps a diary just as her master's wife “Miz Lilly” does, but hers is made up of discarded paper. As a house slave, Clotee learns to read and write while fanning Master Henely's son during school lessons. She must keep her skills a secret, however, because slaves who know how to read and write are quickly sold to the deep South to discourage them from escaping to freedom. This story portrays the abolitionist movement in the 1860s and Clotee's individual search for freedom. Freedom is an elusive concept to Clotee. When she learns to spell a word (for example, the word “home”) Clotee associates a whole range of pictures, memories and feelings with it. But freedom is different.”The letters just sit there on the page. Spelled right or wrong, freedom got no picture, no magic. Freedom is just a word.” This historical fiction is based on the life of Clotee Henley, whose short biographical account is included in the epilogue. McKissack's skill in using the diary format brings the real, day-to-day experience of a slave to the reader. I recommend this Dear America Series selection for use in history or social studies units and read-aloud programs at home and school. Through Clotee's eyes, ears and heart, the reader learns the similarities and differences between the life of a house slave and the life of a plantation field slave. However, neither slave nor slave owner is portrayed as the “bad guy” or “good guy.” Just as every person can have “cruelness that lives inside,” McKissack's account empha-sizes that compassion, patience, and selflessness can also be traits of both groups of people. Here are a few hidden nuggets of wisdom tucked in Clotee's diary:”What good is knowing if I cain't never use it to do some good”(p. 98)”If we can last through February we can March on through”(p. 126)”Freedom is about making choices and learning from them”(p. 165). The volume also includes an interesting collection of pictures, photographs, maps and posters of “Life in America in 1859.” You'll also find the words and music for “Go Down, Moses,” a recipe for Sweet Potato Pie, and an “About the Author” section.
