Patsy, an orphaned slave with a bad leg and a quiet nature, is considered slow by the Davis family. But Patsy's smart -- smart enough to learn to read and write on the sly. After the Civil War ends and slavery is abolished, Patsy believes Master Davis's promise to pay the former house slaves and to educate the slave children. But when the master ignores his promise to establish a school and the Freedmen's Bureau cannot provide a teacher, Patsy steps in to teach the students to read and write.
Patsy's diary is filled with courage, conviction, and hope as she strives toward her freedom.---from the publisher
224 pages 978-0545266864 Ages 9-13
Keywords: diary, historical fiction, slavery, freedom, orphan, Civil War, American history, girls and women, reading, education, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, part of a series, Black Lives Matter, diversity, diverse books