Lilly Ann Eliza Cox was born into slavery around 1821 in Virginia. After losing her mother when she was four, Lilly was sold to a family in Kentucky, where she worked in the master’s house. The author reports:

“When the adults weren’t watching, the master’s children often played school with her. They even found an old ragged blue-back speller for Lilly Ann to use and keep.”

Lilly knew she had to hide her speller as well as the secret practice of her letters she did on her own; slaves were not permitted to have an education. But she loved the worlds that opened up to her from reading, and wanted to share her knowledge with other slaves. On Sundays, when the master’s family was away, she taught other children in her situation to read and write.

After her master died, Lilly Ann was sold again, this time to a planation near Natchez, Mississippi. For the first time, she had to work from sunup to sundown in the cotton fields. She had trouble keeping up with the others, and received daily whippings. Finally the master, possibly concerned about losing his “investment,” took her to work in the plantation kitchen.

Even though it was illegal in Mississippi for slaves to read or write, carrying a penalty of 39 lashes with a whip, Lily saw education as a path to freedom, and continued to teach in secret. For seven years, she took on 12 students at a time. She and her students were finally caught by a slave patrol. To Lily’s surprise, her master said he wouldn’t punish her and she could continue teaching other slaves. She was still teaching when the Civil War broke out.

At the end of the war and with the emancipation of slaves, Lily began teaching large numbers of former slaves eager to learn. The author concludes:

“Lilly Ann Granderson’s inspiration lives on today through all the generations changed forever by her dedication to helping others gain freedom and improve their lives through education.”

In an Afterword, the author gives more background on Lilly, who died in 1889. The author notes that today, Lilly and her midnight school are remembered during Civil War living history events in Natchez. She also observes that Lilly’s descendants continued Lilly’s dedication to education. One of her granddaughters was one of the first two college graduates of Spelman College, and a grandson became the first African American Democrat elected to the Michigan State Senate. Her great-grandson was the first African American to represent Michigan in the US Congress, and was a founder and the first chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. She writes:

“We can only imagine the many achievement Lilly Ann’s students and their families went on to accomplish because of their education - the everlasting legacy of a brave and dedicated teacher.”

A list of references is included.

Illustrator London Ladd’s acrylic paints in a soft palette show realistic scenes marked by expressive faces and historical references.

Evaluation: I can’t even imagine the bravery it took for Granderson to persevere in her mission to help other slaves find a path to growth, happiness, and freedom through education. Readers 7 and up will gain insight into just what a gift it is to have the freedom to learn and better themselves. They will also get a good sense of what slavery was like when people were considered “property” (even without gorier details), such as never knowing when you might be sold, to whom, and what your fate thereafter might be. ( )

Lilly Ann Granderson was enslaved - first in Kentucky, and later in Natchez, Mississippi. Both places, Lilly Ann was passionate about teaching enslaved folks to read and write, even though to do so was highly punishable, de facto or de jure. Lilly Ann’s secret schools, held in the middle of the night in a secluded cabin for over seven years, were an enormous risk that lead to the education of hundreds.
This book is an inspiring one, telling a tale of perseverance and sacrifice, as well as bravery and success. The illustrations were not my favorite. ( )

Lily Ann Granderson fought to educate fellow enslaved people. She risked a great deal in mid-1800s Mississippi to set up a school, determining that the reward is worth the immense risk. Early in life she played at reading with the plantation owner's family and later was able to read and put her own thoughts to paper, reading "everything she could get her hands on."

She shares her knowledge with friends and family by building letters from found materials, sounding them out, and helping her students to trace the letters with their fingers before forming words. Granderson's story is contextualized with crops, practices, and movement from Kentucky to Natchez, Mississippi where readers get a sense of slavery in the deep south. She had a very long life and experienced slavery, the civil war, and much much more. It is a long book with long text passages, so it would be suitable for more confident independent readers with an interest in the subjects. ( )

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )