Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder and Jerry Pinkney

Image retrieved from www.amazon.com

1. Bibliography

Schroeder, Alan, and Jerry Pinkney. Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1996. ISBN 0803718896

2. Plot Summary

Minty is a fictional story about Harriet Tubman as a child. While the premise for the story is based in fact, the story itself is fiction. Harriet Tubman’s birth name was Araminta, or Minty for short. In this story, Minty was a difficult slave as a child. She was punished for it and sent to the fields to work. After a failed attempt at escaping while working the muskrat traps (and a brutal beating for it), Minty’s father began teaching her things she would need to know to survive if she ever successfully escaped. When an opportunity arrives for her to escape, she loses courage, but she dreams of a road through the forest that “one day, when she had the courage, would carry her to freedom.”

3. Critical Analysis

While Minty is a fictional story, the preface of the book explains that Alan Schroeder and Jerry Pinkney conducted much research on Harriet Tubman and on the style and details of plantations in Maryland in the 1820’s. Schroeder says while “some scenes have been invented for narrative purposes, the basic facts are true.” Minty lived on the Brodas plantation on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the 1820’s. She was a difficult slave who was sent to work in the fields because she was too clumsy to be a house slave. This book depicts the reality and hardships of slavery. It causes the reader to have great empathy for the slaves and to desperately long for freedom for them.

Schroeder uses language and dialect to accurately portray the characters in this story. Minty and her family speak in African American dialect. One example of this is when Minty’s mother, Old Rit, says to Minty, “There’s somethin’ I got to say t’ you.” She proceeds to tell her a saying her daddy used to tell her. “‘If your head is in the lion’s mouth, it’s best to pat him a little.’ Your head’s in his mouth, Minty, but you sure ain’t doin’ any pattin’. You’re just fixin’ to get your head bit off.” Mrs. Brodas’s speech is indicative of Maryland in the 1820’s as well. She says, “Don’t lie to me, girl, ‘less you want a whippin’. Next time, you better jump to when I call.” Shroeder’s use of expressions and dialect bring the characters in this book to life.

The most obvious theme in this story is courage. Minty is courageous as a child, and her courage only grows as she grows. From her interactions with Mrs. Brodas to her attempt at escaping, her character exhibits great courage. Minty’s father exhibits courage by teaching Minty how to survive if and when she does escape the plantation. It take a courageous slave - one who knows the brutality of punishment - to empower his young daughter like that and essentially aid her escape. The Author’s Note at the end of the book goes on to speak of Minty’s courage later in life. In 1849, when she was about 29 years old, she successfully escaped the Brodas plantation. She had great courage to pursue her right of freedom. She went on to courageously free many through the Underground Railroad.

Jerry Pinkney uses pencil and watercolor to show what life was like for Minty and her family on the Brodas plantation. He portrays them with dark skin, simple clothing, and bandannas. Pinkney’s research about details regarding dress, food, and living conditions of the slaves and slave owners in Maryland during that time are obvious in his detailed paintings. In his research, he even learned about the style of plantations during that time, and his paintings depict that. Pinkney’s illustrations transport the reader directly to the Brodas plantation in 1820.

4. Review Excerpts

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (May 1, 1996): "This beautifully illustrated and moving fictional story can be used to introduce Harriet Tubman and the injustice of slavery to young audiences."

KIRKUS (April 15, 1996): "This exquisitely crafted book resonates well beyond its few pages."

Coretta Scott King Award Winner, 1997

5. Connections

Gather other books written by Alan Schroeder such as:

Satchmo’s Blues. (ISBN 978-0440414728)

Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella. (ISBN 978-0140566734)

Gather other books illustrated by Jerry Pinkney such as:

John Henry. (ISBN 978-0140566222)

Uncle Remus: The Complete Tails. (ISBN 978-0803724518)

• Read this book in conjunction with learning about slavery and the Underground Railroad.
• Have students conduct research on Harriet Tubman’s life and present their research.