MIDNIGHT TEACHER, LILLY ANN GRANDERSON AND HER SECRET SCHOOL REVIEW

Midnight Teacher

Lilly Ann Granderson and her Secret School

by Janet Halfmann

Illustrated by London Ladd

Midnight Teacher, Lilly Ann Granderson and her Secret School, by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by London Ladd, is an important true story of a slave who dedicated her life to educating fellow slaves. Lilly Ann Granderson secretly taught many slaves to read and write before and after the Civil war. It was a daring and risky undertaking, so it was done at night. Even though they risked severe punishment by being beaten, Lilly Ann Granderson and her students felt it was worth the risk to become educated and have a chance for a better life and even the ability to escape to freedom in the North.

Ms. Halfmann put a lot of careful research into bringing this story to students, teachers, and librarians. At the back of the book is an Afterword about accomplishments directly attributable to Lilly Ann Granderson’s teaching and efforts to establish schools; plus, there’s information on the lives and contributions of her descendants. Ms. Halfmann has included several excellent Selected References for further reading and study.

This is a great historical addition to classrooms and school libraries to show how important literacy and education are to people’s lives, especially to people like Blacks and other minorities who have constantly been denied equal educational opportunities throughout their history in America. Midnight Teacher is highly recommended for students, teachers, and librarians. Lee and Low Books list this book for reading level grade 2 to 6. The detailed illustrations by artist London Ladd clearly show and clarify what is happening in Lilly Granderson’s story, which helps lower grade students to visualize and better understand the seriousness of that period in history.

Information on talented children's author, Janet Halfmann is at http://www.janethalfmann.com/

Information on artist London Ladd is at https://www.londonladd.com/

Reviewed by:

Penelope Anne Cole

Children’s Author, Writer, Poet, and Reviewer

SLO Night Writers Golden Quill Non-Fiction Finalist 2017

Tri-Valley Writers Conference 2017 Prose Award

San Mateo County Fair Short Story Award 2017

Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea,
Magical Mea Goes to School, Magical Max and Magical Mickey, and

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