A pre-read for Simon. This was a middling book that, I think, has excellent discussion potential for 10-14 year-olds; as will be obvious from the questions, I think there are some troubling aspects to the attitude toward race presented in this book:--Amos' experience of slavery is almost idyllic. What is your reaction to that? Is it wrong to present a very positive experience of slavery?
--What might be some of the advantages and disadvantages of the vendue system of caring for the poor?
--Was Violate wrong to bury the money? What do you think about how Amos and Violate solved their disagreement?
--Amos says, "it does a man no good to be free until he learns how to live" to explain his decision not to fight against those who captured him. This implies (or does it?) that he "learned how to live" while a slave. Is this accurate? Would he, as a young man in Africa, have thought that he didn't know how to live when he was a prince and therefore should be enslaved until he figured it out?
--Amos refers to Polly's poverty as a kind of slavery. Do you agree?
--Amos seems completely devoted to freeing women. Why?
--Amos responds humbly and patiently to racist insults. Was this the best policy?
--Would you have disbursed your money in the same way that Amos did?
--This book was written in 1950. In what ways do you think it reflects racial attitudes of that time?
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