January's Sparrow

Written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco

A family flees slavery, but a mysterious package threatens their newfound freedom.

4.5/5 Goodreads · 764 ratings

96 pages· 7,372 words· Est. 1 hour read

$23.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

Young Sadie and her family escape a brutal plantation, leaving behind a cherished wooden sparrow. Safe in Michigan, their peace shatters when the sparrow reappears with a chilling note: "I found you." As the Crosswhites and their new community confront this ominous message, they must navigate fear and uncertainty. Will they protect their hard-won freedom, or will the past catch up with them? This gripping tale of courage and resilience will captivate readers, leaving them pondering the power of hope and the shadows of history.

From the publisher

Patricia Polacco’s most powerful book since Pink and Say. In the middle of the night, The Crosswhites?including young Sadie?must flee the Kentucky plantation they work on. Dear January has been beaten and killed by the plantation master, and they fear who may be next. But Sadie must leave behind her most valuable possession, the wooden sparrow carved for her by January. Through the Underground Railroad, the Crosswhites make the slow and arduous journey to Marshall, Michigan, where they finally live in freedom. And there they stay, happily, until the day a mysterious package shows up on their doorsteps. It is January’s sparrow, with a note that reads, ?I found you.? How the Crosswhites, and the whole town of Marshall, face this threat will leave readers empowered and enthralled. This is a Polacco adventure that will live in the minds of children for years.

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