Frederick Douglass was a slave with a thirst for knowledge. Frederick was born into slavery but was given an opportunity when his master's wife, taught him to read and write. Frederick learned the basics but was then cut off for fear from his master that he would become "spoiled" and "get ideas". Even with a limited amount of literacy, that did not stop him from gaining more knowledge. Since he was little, Frederick would pick up newspaper on the streets and schoolbooks children left behind and taught himself to read and write. This book brings us through his whole life and the struggles Frederick encountered to become a free man. With forged paperwork he got on a train and made his way to New York, where he sent for his love Anna and married her. After they were married Frederick changed his name to not be found and help slaves escape by writing passes for slaves to become free. ( )

Frederick Douglass was a slave who worked his way to freedom through learning how to read and write. At a young age he always wanted to learn how to read and write, and he was sure this was how he could become free. We are taken through his journey of trials and tribulations until he is a free man. Multiple slave owners, and failed attempts to runaway, Frederick never gave up. He would learn how to write any chance that he got, and he even taught fellow slaves how to read and write in secrecy. Finally, a friend who was a sailor, gave Frederick special papers to allow him to travel by train to the north. He was finally free, and he still plays an important part in history today. I thought this book was well-written, and I enjoyed the illustrations that went along with it. I didn't know who Frederick Douglass was, and I would love to learn more about him. Great quality book. ( )

In this biography of Frederick Douglass, he is learning how to read and write until the master of the house finds out his wife was teaching Frederick and was punished and not allowed to read or write anymore. But Frederick would sneak and find ways to practice reading and writing so he would not forget. ( )

Frederick Douglass was a slave that lived in Baltimore. He was determined to learn how to read and write in the hopes of writing his own "papers" for his freedom. He tried very hard to learn to read and write but his efforts were stopped by his slaveowners. He would practice reading signs, newspapers, and stay up all night writing the four letters he knew. Once he started mastering reading and writing, he taught other slaves. When he was caught, he was sent to "a cruel slave breaker" named Edward Convey. Convey would beat Frederick for no reason, until one day Frederick fought back. He was sent back to his previous owners who were more kind. There, he tried to escape with four other slaves, but it didn't work. He knew he would have to wait a while before he could try to escape again. In the mean time, he excelled in caulking ships and some workers were upset that he was taking a "white" job. He thought about if he could be happy in Baltimore, but he decided to escape for freedom once more. He borrowed a friend's sailing papers and headed North. His plan worked and he was a free man. He amazed the world not because he escaped slavery, but because he was an educated, self-taught black man. I think this book was suspenseful and informing. Although I know what slavery was, I enjoyed reading about a specific man and his journey to freedom. ( )

Young Frederick Douglass: The Slave Who Learned to Read, written Linda Walvoord Girard, tells the amazing story of how a slave boy learned to read. As a young child, Frederick worked as a slave boy in the Auld household. He longed to learn how to read and write, as the white children his age knew how. Frederick also wanted to learn how to read and write so he could forge his “papers”, which were written documents that all slaves were required to carry in order to walk freely around town. Unfortunately for Frederick, it was illegal for free individuals to teach slaves how to read or write. Frederick did not let such laws stop him; he worked tirelessly until he could proficiently read and write.
Frederick dreamed for years of becoming a free man. He successfully escaped from slavery in 1838. Frederick Douglass, unlike the majority of escaped slaves, could read, write, and gives speeches to large audiences. This made him a prominent leader in the African American community at that time.
Young Frederick Douglass: The Slave Who Learned to Read is a well written and inspirational biography about a remarkable man that, against all odds, taught himself how to read and write in the early 1800’s. ( )