Fifty Cents and a Dream

Written by Jabari Asim

A former slave embarks on a journey to education, transforming dreams into reality.

4.3 Goodreads · 778 ratings

48 pages· NC650L

$18.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington dreams of reading and writing. After emancipation, he embarks on a grueling 500-mile journey to Hampton Institute with just fifty cents and a dream. Will this determined young man overcome the odds to become a legendary educator? Follow Booker's inspiring quest for knowledge and freedom, where each step brings him closer to realizing his dreams.

From the publisher

Booker dreamedof making friends with words, setting free the secretsthat lived in books. Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington could only dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, Booker began a five-hundred-mile journey, mostly on foot, to Hampton Institute, taking his first of many steps towards a college degree. When he arrived, he had just fifty cents in his pocket and a dream about to come true. The young slave who once waited outside of the schoolhouse would one day become a legendary educator of freedmen. Award-winning artist Bryan Collier captures the hardship and the spirit of one of the most inspiring figures in American history, bringing to life Booker T. Washington’s journey to learn, to read, and to realize a dream.

At a glance