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
HSE 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
Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > endurance Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > loss Family > father > father-child relationships Geography > locations > continents/regions > Africa Geography > locations > countries > Jamaica Social Studies > sociology > social issues > immigration Ethnic Groups > African

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