Reading Metrics
Description
In 1619, twenty Africans stepped foot on American soil. They came not as slaves, but as indentured servants. They knew if they could hold on and finish out their sentences, they would be free. The coauthor is Frederick L. McKissack, Jr.
Quick Summary
Hard Labor tells the story of twenty Africans who arrived in Virginia in 1619 as indentured servants instead of slaves, facing years of grueling labor with the hope that completing their contracts would earn them freedom. The book explores themes of resilience, racial injustice, survival, and the often-overlooked origins of African American history in colonial America. If your kid likes Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, they will be drawn to this powerful, lesser-known historical narrative about the first Africans on American soil. This book is ideal for 4th-6th graders reading at a 6th-grade level who enjoy historical fiction and want to understand the complex beginnings of American history.