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  1. Books
  2. Ages 6-9
  3. Stories ages 6-9

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Sarny

Nightjohn

"To know things, for us to know things, is bad for them. We get to wanting and when we get to wanting it’s bad for them. They thinks we want what they got. … That’s why they don’t want us reading."—Nightjohn

"I didn’t know what letters was, not what they meant, but I thought it might be something I wanted to know. To learn."—Sarny

Sarny, a female slave at the Waller plantation, first sees Nightjohn when he is brought there with a rope around his neck, his body covered in scars.

He had escaped north to freedom, but he came back—came back to teach reading. Knowing that the penalty for reading is dismemberment Nightjohn still returned to slavery to teach others how to read. And twelve-year-old Sarny is willing to take the risk to learn.

Set in the 1850s, Gary Paulsen’s groundbreaking novel is unlike anything else the award-winning author has written. It is a meticulously researched, historically accurate, and artistically crafted portrayal of a grim time in our nation’s past, brought to light through the personal history of two unforgettable characters.


Author:

  • Gary Paulsen

Narrator:

  • Michele-Denise Woods

Series:

  • Volume 2 in Sarny

Format:

  • Audiobook

Duration:

  • 1 h 29 min

Language:

English

Categories:

  • Ages 6-9
  • Stories ages 6-9
  • Ages 6-9
  • Children’s nonfiction ages 6-9

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  • 23 books

    Gary Paulsen

    Gary Paulsen (1931–2021) was one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers, author of three Newbery Honor titles, Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He wrote over 100 books for adults and young readers.

    Read more

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Excellent4.3 out of 5