Book Review: Day of Tears : A Novel in Dialogue
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that the way slaves are treated is
disturbing -- they are beaten into unconsciousness, treated
like animals with no feelings, and separated from their
families. Readers will encounter the whipping of slaves, a
forced fight in which a slave loses an eye, the death of a baby
in a rainstorm, and a suicide.
Families who read this book could discuss the historical background of the American slave system. How could people who considered themselves to be good, decent people have treated others in this way? How could the slaves endure it? How could Sampson, a slave, come to identify so strongly with being a slave that he resisted freedom?
Common Sense Media Review
Lester tells the story in the form of snippets of scripted
dialogue, thoughts, flashbacks, and quotes from an historical
pamphlet that gives the names and prices of those sold at this
auction.
It's easy to see how this format could be adapted for school plays, dramatic readings, and reader's theater performances. Though it sometimes can be a bit confusing when being read silently, the format makes the story very accessible to elementary-age children, as does the author's careful avoidance of the more sensational and lurid aspects of the story.
This same format, though, creates an emotional distance that robs the novel of some of the raw power one might expect from the subject matter. The author skips from character to character, and time to time, never letting the reader identify too strongly with any one person. Perhaps the author felt this was necessary to bring young readers face-to-face with the reality of the situation without overwhelming them.
In any case, as an adjunct to elementary and middle-school history classes, and for children who are interested on their own in the subject, this is a fascinating and engrossing look at a little-known historical event that encapsulates the institution of slavery. The author's note provides historical facts and a short bibliography.
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