Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt
Deborah Hopkinson

Knopf
New York
1993

This is the story about a slave girl named Clara, who is separated from her mom. With help of another slave, Clara gets to work as a seamstress inside instead of in the fields. Her position allows her to overhear the white men talk about the path to freedom for slaves. Clara decides to use scraps to create a secret map for slaves to use to go north toward freedom. Once she completes the map, she uses it, but leaves the actual map she made behind for others to use.

Noteworthy Features:

• Written in conversational dialogue
• Illustrating are paintings
• Multicultural
• Slavery, Underground Railroad

Teachers can use this book to teach students about slavery and the underground railroad. Teaching this topic through the use of books will be beneficial for the students, because they will have a better understanding of the thoughts and emotions of all involved.

Links to Classroom Activities:

• Unit Plan 
• Lesson Plan 
• Create Freedom Quilt (see picture)