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Check shelf
Call number
Genres
Publication
Hyperion Books for Children (2008), Hardcover, 48 pages
Description
"Robert Smalls was a true American patriot. Despite the burdens America laid upon him, he loved our country. He believed in the "inherent justice" of American democracy and in the principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence"--Afterword.
Local notes
1202-76
User reviews
LibraryThing member kmcnutt
I received my fresh copy of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s new book, Robert Smalls: The Boat Thief, in the mail today. I was thrilled to read it.
My comments and criticisms do not take away from the reality that Kennedy has essentially got the basic story right, but the flaws in the book and the story as
Overall, I'm delighted this book is in print and I'd recommend it for reading for grades 4th-6th, with the below-listed reservations.
In full-disclosure, I have been seriously researching the Robert Smalls story for eight years so some of my critiques might seem a little picks. You be the judge.
First, on the positive side, it is beautifully illustrated. Patrick Faricy did an excellent job. There are roughly 15 illustrations, mostly in color.
But there are several downsides to this book that need to be corrected if it is published in a second edition.
First, the publisher's web site says the book is intended for an audience of ages 8-12. That would be grades one through fifth. I'd disagree. It is more appropriate for grades 4th - 6th.
Are words like "audacious, stereotypes, precariousness, astern, archipelagos, fusillade" aimed at the lower elementary grades?
The story might appeal to grades 1-5 but the language reading level is way beyond what the average 1st through 3rd grader could comprehend.
Compared to other resources on Smalls aimed at children (i.e., Seven Miles to Freedom, Halfmann; and Robert Smalls Sails to Freedom, Brown) Kennedy's book is clearly better aimed at upper elementary grades.
Second, the author quotes Smalls as saying, "damned sight" (p. 21). Not only is the quote not historically true, why add an expletive into the narrative if it's aimed at the lower elementary ages?
Third, there are several inaccurate facts or statements in the book.
The author says that Robert (as a young boy) watched "slaves being whipped in the streets" in Beaufort. The truth is Robert only told of seeing one whipping in his youth at Beaufort. It was at the arsenal yard. The exaggeration is not needed to make the author's point.
Kennedy states that Robert was married to Hannah Jones in 1858 (p.3). In fact he was married on December 24, 1856 in Beaufort [see Billingsley p. 45]. Thus the author also gets the year of their first child - Elizabeth - wrong. His text implies it would have been 1859. In fact, she was born February 12, 1858. The correct date of marriage is important because the incorrect 1858-date is oft-repeated in secondary literature about Smalls.
Again, perhaps too picky, but the author states (p. 6) that the evening before the escape the black crew loaded the Planter with "six guns". To be accurate there were two guns already on the boat and so the crew would have only loaded four. Does it change the essence of the story? No? Is it more historically faithful? Yes.
Kennedy says that the ship's white officers were "court-marshalled, fined and imprisoned" (p. 16). In fact, only one prison sentence was meted out by the justice system, and yet all the convictions of the white crew were over-turned before an official prison sentence was served. In other words, they essentially got off scott-free under the Confederate justice courts.
Fourth, there are omissions that would have made the story richer. For example, Kennedy does not inform the reader that Lydia (Robert's mother) and Robert were from the Gullah culture in the Sea Islands of South Carolina.
Fifth, Kennedy mis-states the nature of regarding Smalls's promotion to Captain (pp. 21-24) . The biggest problem is that author suggests that Smalls was an official Captain of the U.S. Navy, as the Captain of the Planter. This might be hair-splitting but to due justice to the true story Smalls never got his fair-due as an official (i.e., on paper and documented) Captain of the Planter or for the U.S. Navy.
Smalls was black and denied that official designation and honor. Does that take anything away from the essential story either? No. But the more complete picture reveals how Smalls continued to serve with honor and distinction without having the appropriate and deserved respect of his peers and government.
Another correction to be noted is that Kennedy says that the action involving Smalls's 'promotion' to Captain took place in May 1863 (p.21). That is incorrect. It was in December 1863.
Perhaps being a little too picky, Kennedy could have added that the name of the McKee plantation Lydia worked on was called Ashdale, and that Robert was known as a house servant called 'Swonga'. Not major omissions but would have added some color and an opportunity for a teacher to expand on these facts in the classroom.
I apologize for being so nit-picky but since I love this story so much and desire for the entire truth to be known about the Smalls Civil War escape, I feel it is important to bring these points to one's attention.
I still plan on buying several copies and donating them to the elementary school libraries in my county in middle Tennessee.
My comments and criticisms do not take away from the reality that Kennedy has essentially got the basic story right, but the flaws in the book and the story as
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told, reduces the power of the fuller story as I will show in this review.Overall, I'm delighted this book is in print and I'd recommend it for reading for grades 4th-6th, with the below-listed reservations.
In full-disclosure, I have been seriously researching the Robert Smalls story for eight years so some of my critiques might seem a little picks. You be the judge.
First, on the positive side, it is beautifully illustrated. Patrick Faricy did an excellent job. There are roughly 15 illustrations, mostly in color.
But there are several downsides to this book that need to be corrected if it is published in a second edition.
First, the publisher's web site says the book is intended for an audience of ages 8-12. That would be grades one through fifth. I'd disagree. It is more appropriate for grades 4th - 6th.
Are words like "audacious, stereotypes, precariousness, astern, archipelagos, fusillade" aimed at the lower elementary grades?
The story might appeal to grades 1-5 but the language reading level is way beyond what the average 1st through 3rd grader could comprehend.
Compared to other resources on Smalls aimed at children (i.e., Seven Miles to Freedom, Halfmann; and Robert Smalls Sails to Freedom, Brown) Kennedy's book is clearly better aimed at upper elementary grades.
Second, the author quotes Smalls as saying, "damned sight" (p. 21). Not only is the quote not historically true, why add an expletive into the narrative if it's aimed at the lower elementary ages?
Third, there are several inaccurate facts or statements in the book.
The author says that Robert (as a young boy) watched "slaves being whipped in the streets" in Beaufort. The truth is Robert only told of seeing one whipping in his youth at Beaufort. It was at the arsenal yard. The exaggeration is not needed to make the author's point.
Kennedy states that Robert was married to Hannah Jones in 1858 (p.3). In fact he was married on December 24, 1856 in Beaufort [see Billingsley p. 45]. Thus the author also gets the year of their first child - Elizabeth - wrong. His text implies it would have been 1859. In fact, she was born February 12, 1858. The correct date of marriage is important because the incorrect 1858-date is oft-repeated in secondary literature about Smalls.
Again, perhaps too picky, but the author states (p. 6) that the evening before the escape the black crew loaded the Planter with "six guns". To be accurate there were two guns already on the boat and so the crew would have only loaded four. Does it change the essence of the story? No? Is it more historically faithful? Yes.
Kennedy says that the ship's white officers were "court-marshalled, fined and imprisoned" (p. 16). In fact, only one prison sentence was meted out by the justice system, and yet all the convictions of the white crew were over-turned before an official prison sentence was served. In other words, they essentially got off scott-free under the Confederate justice courts.
Fourth, there are omissions that would have made the story richer. For example, Kennedy does not inform the reader that Lydia (Robert's mother) and Robert were from the Gullah culture in the Sea Islands of South Carolina.
Fifth, Kennedy mis-states the nature of regarding Smalls's promotion to Captain (pp. 21-24) . The biggest problem is that author suggests that Smalls was an official Captain of the U.S. Navy, as the Captain of the Planter. This might be hair-splitting but to due justice to the true story Smalls never got his fair-due as an official (i.e., on paper and documented) Captain of the Planter or for the U.S. Navy.
Smalls was black and denied that official designation and honor. Does that take anything away from the essential story either? No. But the more complete picture reveals how Smalls continued to serve with honor and distinction without having the appropriate and deserved respect of his peers and government.
Another correction to be noted is that Kennedy says that the action involving Smalls's 'promotion' to Captain took place in May 1863 (p.21). That is incorrect. It was in December 1863.
Perhaps being a little too picky, Kennedy could have added that the name of the McKee plantation Lydia worked on was called Ashdale, and that Robert was known as a house servant called 'Swonga'. Not major omissions but would have added some color and an opportunity for a teacher to expand on these facts in the classroom.
I apologize for being so nit-picky but since I love this story so much and desire for the entire truth to be known about the Smalls Civil War escape, I feel it is important to bring these points to one's attention.
I still plan on buying several copies and donating them to the elementary school libraries in my county in middle Tennessee.
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Language
Physical description
48 p.; 11.32 inches
ISBN
1423108027 / 9781423108023