Child Out of Place: A Story of New England

The novel,CHILD OUT OF PLACE: A Story of New England,by Patricia Q. Wall with illustrations by Debby Ronnquist, introduces youngsters (age 10 & up) to a long neglected chapter in the history of enslaved Africans in America -- the New England chapter. Crafted in rich historical detail, this poignant story carries young readers back into the early 19th century, into an elegant old mansion in Portsmouth, NH, and into the troubled heart of ten-year-old Matty, servant and newly freed slave. Though serious in intent, this story has a lighthearted spirit that keeps youngsters,and even adults, eager for the next page. Based on thorough research, CHILD OUT OF PLACE provides parents and teachers with a gentle way to help youngsters understand; get classroom discussions going about a painful era in American history and its repercussions for today. New England's role in that era was different from that in the South, but most schoolbooks continue to ignore it. AND NOW, young Matty's story continues in the new sequel, BEYOND FREEDOM. A slightly older Matty faces new challenges in Boston, Massachusetts. Available on Amazon.