So Tall Within

Written by Gary D. Schmidt · Illustrated by Daniel Minter

A former slave rises to lead a movement for freedom and equality.

5.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.4/5 Goodreads · 786 ratings

48 pages· 1,723 words· Est. 14 min read-aloud· 950L

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Bookroo's summary

Born into slavery, Sojourner Truth transforms her life, escaping bondage to become a powerful voice for women's and African American rights. Her journey from Isabella Baumfree to a leader in the civil rights movement is marked by resilience and vision. As she navigates the challenges of her time, Sojourner's story raises questions about justice and equality, inspiring a new generation to continue her fight. Discover how one woman's courage and determination changed the course of history in this compelling picture book biography.

From the publisher

From celebrated author Gary D. Schmidt comes a picture book biography of a giant in the struggle for civil rights, perfectly pitched for readers today. Sojourner Truth was born into slavery but possessed a mind and a vision that knew no bounds. So Tall Within traces her life from her painful childhood through her remarkable emancipation to her incredible leadership in the movement for rights for both women and African Americans. Her story is told with lyricism and pathos by Gary D. Schmidt, one of the most celebrated writers for children in the twenty-first century, and brought to life by award winning and fine artist Daniel Minter. This combination of talent is just right for introducing this legendary figure to a new generation of children.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 48
Words: 1,723
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: 950L

Themes & topics

Books about leadership Books about slavery Books about girls and women Books about 19th century Books about activism

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.0

out of 7

5.0

“This is a fantastic book about Sojourner Truth that marries beautiful illustrations and storytelling to convey a poignant tale. The content isn't graphic, but because it does deal with the issue of slavery some material may still be too sensitive for the youngest readers (being separated from your family as a child to be sold into slavery, being beaten, etc.) The text is on the longer side too, so I would personally recommend this for readers who are on the older end of picture book reading all the way up to adults!”

Marmee

Trusted reviewer

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