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Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019 · Est. 4 min read-aloud
The Bell Rang
Written & illustrated by James E. Ransome
A young girl faces heartbreak and hope when her brother escapes slavery.
40 pages· 501 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud
$17.99Save 6%
Bookroo's summary
In a world of relentless toil, a young slave girl watches as her brother, Ben, vanishes one morning, leaving behind fear and hope. As the plantation bell tolls, her family clings to the possibility that Ben has reached freedom in the North. 'The Bell Rang' captures the courage and resilience of those who dared to run, offering a poignant reminder of a past that must never be forgotten. Will Ben find the freedom he seeks, and can hope sustain those left behind?
"We sing. We hope. We pray Ben made it."
— from the book
From the publisher
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019
A young slave girl witnesses the heartbreak and hopefulness of her family and their plantation community when her brother escapes for freedom in this brilliantly conceived picture book by Coretta Scott King Award winner James E. Ransome.
Every single morning, the overseer of the plantation rings the bell. Daddy gathers wood. Mama cooks. Ben and the other slaves go out to work. Each day is the same. Full of grueling work and sweltering heat. Every day, except one, when the bell rings and Ben is nowhere to be found. Because Ben ran. Yet, despite their fear and sadness, his family remains hopeful that maybe, just maybe, he made it North. That he is free.
An ode to hope and a powerful tribute to the courage of those who ran for freedom, The Bell Rang is a stunning reminder that our past can never be forgotten.
At a glance
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 40
- Words
- 501
- Reading age
- 4–8
- Audience
- Picture
- Lexile
- 360L
What readers & critics say
Reviews
4.9
out of 7
“With spare text and gorgeous illustrations, this work represents a unique and engaging perspective on enslaved families.”
Kirkus
Critic · Starred review
“Stories about escaping people often follow the journeys of those leaving; this one imagines what life was like for a family left behind.”
Publisher's Weekly
Critic
The author & illustrator
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The fine print
Book details
Reading levels
- ATOS
- 1.8
- F&P level
- ~K
- AR points
- 0.5
- AR interest level
- LG
Publication
- Published
- January 15, 2019
- First published
- January 1, 2019
- Publisher
- AtheneumCaitlyn Dlouhy Books
Edition
- Language
- English
- Type
- Picture Book
- Text details
- The text for this book was set in Archer
- Illustration details
- The illustrations for this book were rendered in acrylics.
Identifiers
- ISBN
- 9781442421134
- LCCN
- 2018020589
- OCLC
- 1040083456
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