Historical Fiction: Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Title: Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Author: Deborah Hopkinson
Publisher: Random House Children’s Books
Copyright date: July 10, 1995
Number of Pages: 40 pages
Awards: International Reading Association Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Award for Younger Readers
Reading Level: Independent Reader Jr. "I am a Reader"
Generally appropriate for 4th Grade to 7th Grade.
These books are appropriate for the independent reader who can retain and understand more elaborate and sophisticated story elements.
Lexile: 680L
Genre: Children’s Literature, Fiction, Historical Fiction
Summary:
This book is about a slave named Clara who dreams of escaping the plantation she works on, and finding her mother. Using her seamstress skills, she designs a quilt that maps out the pathway to freedom. Fellow slaves help her by relaying information about the Underground Railroad to Clara, and she in turn sews the pathways and landmarks into a quilt. In the end does Clara and a fellow slave escape to freedom safely? Does Clara find her mother?
Academic Purpose:
To fulfill the social studies standards, the teacher could do an activity that involves creating a map. The teacher could hang a map of the school at the front of the classroom. Divide the map into squares and assign each student a square. Have them think of some sort of symbol that represents their individual square, for example the gym could be balls, a court, and some gym clothes and shoes. For the library, the symbols could be books, shelves, library cards, etc. Then, in color, the teacher would ask the students to design a quilt square that will combine with the other quilt squares in the classroom to create a giant quilt-map of the school. This map would turn out to be kind of abstract.

Another activity students could do is, sewing their own map on cloth materials. This would help them understand how Sweet Clara, in the book, had patience to sew together a whole map on a quilt. I would have students first map out their route to school on a piece of paper. I would want them to pay attention to details, such as stores, turns and curves in the road, their house, the school, and trees and bushes. Then, once they are done with their draft, I would provide cloth materials for students to sew together their map. Students will be able to learn a new skill too. (This activity would work best with upper elementary and middle school students)

This book would be a good way to show students some of the ways that the African-American slaves escaped to freedom. They may not have heard about anything but the Underground railroad so this book could further educate them.

Rating System:

Categories:	5 Stars	3 Stars	1 Star	Comments
Style and Language	The book anticipates readers’ questions and uses great word choice for the age targeted. It has linear progression and communicates its point clearly.	The book follows a linear progression, with some unclear points. The word choice is okay.	The book is confusing as it doesn’t follow a linear progression at all. The vocabulary in the book is either too simple or too complex for the age group targeted.	This book uses great word choice for the age targeted. There is many vocabulary words such as, plantation, seamstress, and squirrel. The books style and language creates a great book for independent readers. This book communicates its point clearly about the historical event that takes place (slavery, Underground Railroad). The linear progression storyline is fantastic. 5 stars
Plot and Character Development	The plot is in depth and helps to create a picture in the reader’s mind. The plot is organized having a beginning, middle, and end. The character development is strong.	The plot is okay. The book is organized with a beginning, middle, and end. The characters are well developed.	The book is confusing and doesn’t have a clear beginning, middle, or end.	This book does have a plot, which creates a picture in the reader’s mind. The plot is organized having a beginning, middle, and end. This book does a great job of unfolding the characteristics of each character. Readers get know how strong, determined, and brave the characters are. 5 stars
Interest	The book holds real life situations which draw the reader in. The word choice and story hold the reader’s attention. The book is suitable for the age group targeted.	The book holds little interest and draws the reader in sometimes. The book is suitable for the age group targeted.	The book is very boring and doesn’t hold the reader’s attention. The book is not suitable for the age group targeted.	This book definitely holds the reader’s attention. This book is intense, and with it being about the Underground Railroad and slavery the readers don’t know what will or could happen when the characters escape.  The book does such a great job engaging the reader with its suspenseful storyline. This story definitely will keep its readers on their toes. 5 stars
Educational Value	The book is relatable to education. The book can be integrated into other content areas.	The book is relatable to education. The book may need further resources to help connect it to other content areas.	The book is not relatable to education whatsoever. The book is not appropriate to be integrated into other content areas.	This book is relatable to education. This book can teach students about creating maps, slavery, and the Underground Railroad.   5 star