Culture 2 Review - Minty

 

Bibliographic Information

Schroeder, A. 2000. MINTY: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman. Ill. by Jerry Pinkney. London, UK: Puffin Books. ISBN 978-0140561968

Plot Summary

They called her "Minty."

When she grew up, she became Harriet Tubman, the courageous and heroic woman who helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad. But she was just a little girl for a while—and this is her story. Minty, short for Araminta, was a feisty and headstrong young slave whose rebellious spirit often got her into trouble. She told stories to her doll, released animals from traps, and, above all, dreamed of running away. And when her father began to teach her the skills necessary for escape, she listened carefully, and learned. . . .

Critical Analysis

This is the story of young Harriet Tubman, then called "Minty". As a slave in the Brodas household, she is often punished for her feisty, rebellious spirit. Her parents worry about her. Her mother tells her, “Listen to me, Minty. Now that you’re in the fields, you gotta do a good job, ‘cause there ain’t no other place for them to send you but downriver - and you don’t want that. Once they sell you South, you’ll never come back.” The reader can feel the love and fear that these parents express as she shares her desire to run away. In the book, young readers are shown a story through the eyes of a young slave, something rarely seen in books today. Children will be able to relate to Minty and be able to understand just how important Harriet “Minty” Tubman was in the fight for freedom. 

Jerry Pinkney illustrated this beautiful book with pencil, colored pencil, and watercolors. His illustrations are full of color and show the beauty of Minty and her family, as well as the sadness and sorrow that they experience in the story. Alan Schroeder’s words and Jerry Pinkney’s illustrations help readers understand the lives of slaves. The characters in the story are portrayed in a culturally appropriate way, both the African American slaves and their white slave owners. This book is an incredible way to introduce young readers to the horrible, but historical, world of slavery, the love of a good family, and doing the right thing, even when it is the most difficult thing in the world to do. 

Awards Won & Review Excerpt(s)

*Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award

*An ALA Notable Book

*"Rich with melodrama, suspense, pathos, and, of course, a powerful vision of freedom. This exquisitely crafted book resonates well beyond its few pages." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

*”This fictionalized account of Tubman's childhood on a Maryland plantation provides a cruel snapshot of life as a slave and the horrid circumstances that fueled the future Underground Railroad leader's passion and determination. At eight years old, Minty (so-called as a nickname for Araminta) boils with rebellion against her brutal owners and bucks their authority whenever possible. Deeming her too clumsy for housework, Mrs. Brodas banishes Minty to harder work in the fields. Toiling in the hot sun only intensifies Minty's desire to run away to freedom, and soon her father teaches her how to survive in the wild, so that she'll be prepared to make her break one day. Schroeder's (Ragtime Tumpie; Carolina Shout!) choice of lively vignettes rather than a more traditional biography is a wise one. With color and feeling he humanizes a historic figure, coaxing readers to imagine or research the rest of the story. Pinkney's (John Henry) full-bodied watercolors evoke a strong sense of time and place. Laudably, Pinkney's scenes consistently depict young Minty's point of view, giving the harshness of her reality more resonance for readers. A formal author's note follows the text and both Schroeder and Pinkney have included personal messages about the history of the book project. A firm stepping stone toward discussions of slavery and U.S. history.”  - Publishers Weekly

Connections

*Compare Minty’s life to your own. Use a Venn diagram or some other graphic organizer to discuss similarities and differences in your daily life, responsibilities, and freedoms in comparison to Minty’s.

*This Harriet Tubman timeline activity is great for the introduction or review of Harriet's life. There are two versions of this activity, one with matching pictures and one without. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Harriet-Tubman-Timeline-7399500

*Watch the read-aloud video, which includes musical narration by Woodmere Art Museum https://www.youtube.com/embed/TsE_gPQvKQ8