"Frederick Douglass knew that learning to read and write would be the first step in his quest for freedom. Told from first-person perspective and using some of Douglass's own words, this biography draws from his experiences as a young boy and his attempts to learn how to read and write."--

Frederick Douglass was a self-educated slave in the South who grew up to become an icon. He was a leader of the abolitionist movement, a celebrated writer, an esteemed speaker, and a social reformer, proving that, as he said, "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."

"Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree, was one of the most important leaders in the anti-slavery movement. Before she fought for freedom and changed American history, she was a young enslaved girl who wanted a better life for herself and for all Black people. She overcame many incredible challenges as she bravely stood up for equality and justice."--

Profiles the life of Frederick Douglass, his escape from slavery, his career as an author and orator, and his quest for justice.

A clear-sighted, carefully researched account of two surprisingly parallel lives and how they intersected at a critical moment in U.S. history.