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Ajeemah and His Son

Publication Information
Author:  Berry, James Illustrator:  
Title:  Ajeemah and His Son Date:  1991
Publisher:  HarperCollins City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:   ISBN, hardback:  0-06-440523-0

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:  

General Information:
Book Type(s):    historical fiction

GED Descriptor(s):    social studies

Summary:
This very powerful, short chapter book (83 pages) is set first in Africa, then on a slave ship, and then in Jamaica where Ajeemah and his son are taken. It tells the story of a father and son who are captured outside of their village and torn from their lives to begin new lives as slaves, and follows their very different fates.

Teaching Ideas:
Students may want to read this book individually, respond in journal writing, and then in an all-class discussion. Teachers may want to pair this book with other books on slavery or use it to teach geography (Africa and Jamaica) and history. Students may want to research and compare slavery in Jamaica vs. the United States. Students may want to reflect on the point of view of second and third generations after immigration (forced or voluntary). Students may want to respond to the reading of this book by writing their family histories. Because of its power, teachers may want to plan carefully.

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Family > father > father-child relationships
bullet Geography > locations > continents/regions > Africa
bullet Geography > locations > countries > Jamaica
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > endurance
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > loss
bullet Social Science > sociology > social issues > immigration
bullet History > topic > slavery
bullet Ethnic Groups > African


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