Wolf by the Ears

Rinaldi, Ann. Wolf by the Ears. ISBN-10: 0590434128 , ISBN-13: 9780590434126 . Scholastic Paperbacks. 1993

Summary
Sally Hemings is said to be the mistress of the great American Thomas Jefferson, and is said to have mothered several of his children. Wolf by the Ears is a fictional account of one of their children, Harriet. She has grown up in comfort and protection on the plantation of Monticello. She worked little, was tutored much and faced little of the real world of slavery in America. However, now at 19, she has been offered her freedom on her 21^st birthday. This is a frightening thought, because if she stays at Monticello, she'll remain a slave; but if she leaves, she leaves her family and her race behind.

Critical Evaluation
RInaldi weaves a story from pieces of legend and speculation. However, the story has a strong readability factor because there is always the mystery of whether or not Thomas Jefferson carried on a long-time affair with Sally Hemings and fathered several children with her. Young adults may be intrigued in the slavery and second-class status yoking the African-Americans at Monticello. Harriet's inner struggle to stay or go will also appeal to readers who are on their own paths of independence.

Reader's Annotation
Alleged daughter to Thomas Jefferson, Harriet Hemings faces a life of comfortable slavery or braving the unknown as a free "passing" white woman.

About the Author
Ann Rinaldi began her writing career as a weekly columnist with the Somerst Messenger Gazette in 1969. But it was her son's involvement in Revolutionary War reenactments that piqued her interest in history. By the early 1980's, she finished her first book, Time Enough for Drums and thus begun a career that has given young adult readers over 40 titles.

Rinaldi writes young adult historical fiction in hopes to interest readers in the great history of our country. Not only does she hope to grab the imaginations of older teens, she writes for younger readers in the Dear America series.

Genre
Historical

Challenges
Sexual content

Slavery

Curriculum Ties
History: Thomas Jefferson

Booktalking Ideas
Could you leave the only life you've ever known, for the "promise" of a better life…
If you could "pass" for something your weren't, would you fool people for a better life…

Awards
American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15-18

Why I included this title...
This is an interested topic to me… how often did this happen and how often were these children treated like pets rather than regular slaves…?