1. James Forten
Genre:
Biography

2. Meet the Author Walter Dean Myers discovered he loved to
write when he was in fifth grade. His teacher
required that all her students read in front of
the class. Myers, who had a
speech impediment, froze with
fear at the thought. But when
the teacher allowed the
students to read something
they had written themselves,
Myers relaxed.

3. Meet the Illustrator Because he was "obsessed with
Leonard Jenkins comes from a family of eight children, and as a boy he wanted to set himself apart in some way.
Because he was "obsessed with
drawing," he made his mark
through his art. He now likes to
encourage kids who share his
enthusiasm for drawing and painting.

4. Words
to Know
and Learn

5. abolitionists Abolitionists thought that slavery was wrong and
should be against the law.

6. apprentice
An apprentice works with
an expert to learn a trade.

7. captives
Captives are not free.
They are prisoners.

8. dread
The soldiers dread
the upcoming conflict.

9. enslavement
Enslavement is a
terrible thing.

10. influential
Paul Revere and George
Washington were
influential men.

11. privateers The colonists used privateers because their
navy was too small.

12. tacking
The sailboats are tacking
back and forth across the
bay.