The Slave Dancer facts for kids
The cover of the first edition of the book, published in 1973
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| Author | Paula Fox |
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| Translator | Bruce Davis |
| Illustrator | Eros Keith |
| Cover artist | Eros Keith |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Bradbury Press |
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Publication date
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October 1973 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 176 pages |
| ISBN | 0-87888-062-3 |
| OCLC | 804264 |
| LC Class | PZ7.F838 Sl |
The Slave Dancer is a children's book written by Paula Fox. It was first published in 1973. The story follows a thirteen-year-old boy named Jessie Bollier. He experiences the harsh realities of the Atlantic slave trade firsthand.
The book shares a historical account of this difficult time. It also explores the feelings of people involved in moving enslaved people. These people were taken from Africa to other parts of the world. Jessie is captured from his home in New Orleans. He is forced onto an American ship. On board, he must play the fife. This music makes the enslaved people dance. It helps them stay strong for their journey. The book won the Newbery Medal in 1974.
Contents
The Story of The Slave Dancer
The story begins in New Orleans in early 1840. Riverboat workers and enslaved people are celebrating in the rain. Jessie Bollier lives nearby with his mother and sister. One evening, while walking home, Jessie is kidnapped.
He is taken to a ship called 'The Moonlight'. This ship is a slaver, meaning it carries enslaved people. As they sail towards Africa, Jessie tries to learn about the ship. He observes how things are done. The captain, Cawthorne, acts strangely. The first mate, Nicholas Sparks, is very unkind. The sailors care only about making money from the slave trade.
When they reach Africa, they travel along the coast. The captain uses a small boat. He meets with African chiefs. These chiefs are selling people into slavery.
Life on the Ship
Jessie is shocked by how the enslaved people are treated. Once on the ship, they are packed very tightly. They are forced to lie on top of each other in the ship's hold. If someone becomes sick, they are thrown overboard. This is done to stop illness from spreading. Many are still alive when they are thrown into the water. They are then eaten by sharks or drown.
Jessie is horrified by these events. He tries to focus on staying alive. He hopes to return home to his family. As the journey to America continues, Jessie starts to hate everything. He even feels anger towards the enslaved people. He sees them as a reminder of his own capture.
He refuses to play the fife and goes to his room. He is quickly brought back on deck. He is whipped for not obeying. This punishment makes him think more about the situation. He sees the sailors as uncaring, just like they are with the enslaved people. He hates himself for playing the fife. He feels like he is part of this terrible situation.
The journey continues, and conditions get worse. The crew is often drinking. The ship is dirty, and rules are not followed. An enslaved person attacks Nicholas Sparks. Sparks then shoots and kills him. The sailors only care about losing the money. This money would have come from selling the enslaved person.
Escape and New Life
As the ship nears Cuba, another ship approaches. The captain becomes worried. British and American ships patrol to stop the slave trade. The crew starts throwing chains into the ocean. Then, they throw the enslaved people overboard. Jessie cannot stop this, even though he wants to. He sees even very young children being thrown into the sea.
Jessie manages to get a young boy his own age back to the slave hold. They hide there while their ship sails past the other ship. A powerful storm then begins. After a few days, Jessie and the boy come out of the hold. They discover the ship is sinking. The crew members are either dead or missing.
The two boys use part of the ship's mast to float. They manage to swim to shore. Jessie and the boy end up in Mississippi. There, an escaped enslaved man finds them.
This man is old and lives in the woods. His name is Daniel. He gives them food and helps them get healthy again. Daniel then arranges for others to take the enslaved boy, named Ras, north. This way, Ras can be free. Daniel gives Jessie directions to walk back to New Orleans. He says it should take three days. Daniel asks Jessie not to mention him to anyone. This is to prevent Daniel from being recaptured.
Jessie walks back home to his mother and sister. Life seems to return to normal. But Jessie himself has changed. He no longer dreams of becoming rich. He wants nothing to do with anything connected to slavery. Over time, he decides to become an apothecary (a type of pharmacist). He moves to Rhode Island, a state where there are no enslaved people. He sends for his mother and sister to join him. He settles into a quiet life.
He misses some things about the South. He wonders what happened to Ras, the boy he befriended. But he never finds out. During the Civil War, Jessie fights for the North. He marries and starts his own family. One lasting effect of his time on the slave ship is that he cannot stand to hear music. It reminds him of the enslaved people dancing.
About the Author's Experience
Paula Fox said that The Slave Dancer was the hardest book she had ever written. It was her first historical book. She found it challenging to be very accurate with historical events. She also worked hard to describe the time period correctly.
Images for kids
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The cover of the first edition of the book, published in 1973
