Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Hyperion Book CH (2007), Paperback, 192 pages
Description
Emma has taken care of the Butler children since Sarah and Frances's mother, Fanny, left. Emma wants to raise the girls to have good hearts, as a rift over slavery has ripped the Butler household apart. Now, to pay off debts, Pierce Butler wants to cash in his slave "assets", possibly including Emma.
Media reviews
Children's Literature
During two rainy days in early March, 1859, the largest auction of slaves in America was held in Savannah, Georgia. Pierce Butler, a grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the former husband of English actress and abolitionist Fanny Kremble, sold more than 400 slaves to pay his
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gambling debts. Against the backdrop of the so-called “Weeping Time,” award-winning author Julius Lester has woven different first-person voices--told in flashback and flash forward scenes--into a moving, generational tale. The main story line is that of Emma, the slave girl who takes care of Butler’s children until he breaks a promise and sells her at the auction. Neither quite poetry nor a play, the book gives the voices of each character life and brings the reader closer to understanding, on an individual basis, the legacy of slavery and its impact on whites and blacks alike. The author is the Newbery Honor Book award winner for To Be a Slave. 2005, Jump at the Sun/Hyperion, $15.99. Ages 9 to 13.
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Kirkus
On a day when rain came down "hard as sorrow," George Weems sets out to sell more slaves at one time than anyone ever had. Pierce Butler must sell off hundreds of slaves to cover gambling debts and 12-year-old Emma is one of his victims. Named after Lester's grandmother, whose mother was a slave,
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Emma is part of a large cast of characters-slaves, owners, businessmen and abolitionists-who tell their own stories, in their own voices. Interludes occasionally have characters return in old age to reflect on their lives since the auction, a brilliant technique that demonstrates, in some characters, the persistence of racist belief. Other, good-hearted, characters, white and black, act towards each other with respect and dignity and affirm the possibilities of conscience and common humanity even in the worst of times. This important novel, based on an actual slave auction in 1859, begs to be performed, though teachers and performers may be hesitant to utter the racist language of the day. Show Less
Kliatt
Nearly 200 years ago it rained for two days, merging God's tears with those of over 400 slaves auctioned in Georgia, separated from loved ones forever. In 13 chapters and 14 interludes, Lester shares their stories, beginning with Emma, the central character, who is sold unexpectedly, though she
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later escapes and eventually finds freedom in Canada. Other characters reveal how the auction changed their lives as well. The ambitious slave-seller loses his voice during the auction, ruining his career. Jeffrey's master is unable to buy his lover Dorcas, but he remains faithful to her and is crushed after the Civil War when he learns she is married to someone else. Emma shares the story of the day of tears with her granddaughter, who is doing a report on American slavery. She emphasizes the goodness of white abolitionists and others like her slave owner's daughter, for whom her own daughter was named. While it has become fashionable to tell slave stories from multiple perspectives, acknowledging that the institution devastated blacks and whites, leaving us all with a mixture of feelings, including guilt, this perspective seems contrived at times. The familiar types are all present: the loyal slave, the benevolent master/mistress, the devoted mammy figure, and the subversive slave. Yet, this book does what history texts are not designed to do: it humanizes the people involved as a Georgia plantation owner made history, having orchestrated the largest slave auction to ever take place. The final note from the author is especially important as it shares bibliographical sources used to create this novel, which reads more like a play. Many of the characters are based on real people and both the plot and subplots are influenced by real events that will capture the attention of young readers. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kyle.Torres
Day of Tears is about slaves that are sold and they escape to Canada. It starts out when two slaves named Emma and Joe live with their friends and family. They live in the Butler Plantation, where there are owned by Master Butler. In their town, they are having a slave bidding. Master Butler is
Day of Tears is a sad book. I didn't know that owners would lie to their slaves, and their families. Their families are suffering every time, they go to an auction. They could be sent to another owner. I am happy, that Joe and Emma made it to Canada. This should be a book to a person who is doing a report on slavery in the US. This book shows how the slaves live in plantation, and how they escape.
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selling most of his slave in the bidding. At the start, he told Emma that he wouldn't sell her. At the end, he sold her and Joe to a lady named Mistress Henfield. Mistress Henfield takes both of Kentucky. When Master Butler gets home, he gets into a fight with Emma's mother, because he sold her even if he promised not to. Mistress Henfield treats the slaves like family. She gave Joe a job at the local store on some days. At Joe's job, Mr. Henry the manager of the store, teaches Joe how to read, and talks to him about escaping, and going to the north. Joe tells Emma about escaping, and they escape, with their friends in the plantation. They go to Philadelphia, and then to Canada. Day of Tears is a sad book. I didn't know that owners would lie to their slaves, and their families. Their families are suffering every time, they go to an auction. They could be sent to another owner. I am happy, that Joe and Emma made it to Canada. This should be a book to a person who is doing a report on slavery in the US. This book shows how the slaves live in plantation, and how they escape.
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LibraryThing member moonlight1418
Imagine being alone, sad, tired, and working for hours in horrible conditions. Imagine not being with your family. Imagine being many miles away from being separated from your family. Imagine working for people you didn’t like/wanted to be with. Imagine not eating for days. This was a life of a
Day of Tears was in many different settings, but it took place at Georgia. My book was written in dialog form. It was written when one person speaks/talks about what is happening. Then the next person speaks. (Ex. Emma: Hello.) The important/major characters were Emma, Will, Sarah, Frances and Mistress Fannie. Emma was important because she was one of the slaves. She was the property of Pierce Butler. She has to take care of Sarah and Frances. Sarah and Frances’s parents are divorced Emma wants to take good care of them. Frances is the daughter of Pierce Butler. Frances is mean and very demanding. In one part of the book Frances demanded Emma to brush her hair even though she already brushed her hair. Sarah is also one of the daughters of Pierce Butler. Sarah is very kind. Joe is one of Emma’s friends. He is also a slave.
Day of Tears is a great book.The climax of the book I thought was important was when Emma got sold off to a new slave owner. When Emma got sold off to a new slave owner she got to work with one of her very good friend Joe. The resolution was when Will found Reeva when they were split up. All of the slaves were let free and all of the families were scared and split up. They were trying to find each other but it was hard to find each other because there were a bunch of slaves trying to find their family.
The book Day of Tears was really good because it was well detailed on how slavery was like. I would recommend this book to readers who like to read about slavery and/or historical fiction. I thought the book was really good because the author Julius Lester well described how slavery was.
On chapter 6 page 80-81 showed all of the auctioning of the slaves of the cost. “CHARLES: I see it! There! We got to get out of here! That’s a ghost! Who else would be out on a night like this except a ghost and a bunch of fools like us!” page 146. I chose that quote because I thought it was funny how he thought it was a ghost but it was just Mr. Henry in a wagon with a lantern on the side. “EMMA: (She hugs her father tighter.) Tell Mama I won’t forget nothing she taught me. Tell her I’ll be all right. And I’ll be strong, Papa. I’ll be strong.” Page 93-94. It showed me how Emma didn't want to leave Frances and Sarah. “CHARLES: I see it! There! We got to get out of here! That’s a ghost! Who else would be out on a night like this except a ghost and a bunch of fools like us!” page 146. I chose that quote because I thought it was funny how he thought it was a ghost but it was just Mr. Henry in a wagon with a lantern on the side.
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slave. The book I read was Day of Tears written by Julius Lester. The genre was historical fiction. The book Day of Tears was really good because it was well detailed on how slavery was.Day of Tears was in many different settings, but it took place at Georgia. My book was written in dialog form. It was written when one person speaks/talks about what is happening. Then the next person speaks. (Ex. Emma: Hello.) The important/major characters were Emma, Will, Sarah, Frances and Mistress Fannie. Emma was important because she was one of the slaves. She was the property of Pierce Butler. She has to take care of Sarah and Frances. Sarah and Frances’s parents are divorced Emma wants to take good care of them. Frances is the daughter of Pierce Butler. Frances is mean and very demanding. In one part of the book Frances demanded Emma to brush her hair even though she already brushed her hair. Sarah is also one of the daughters of Pierce Butler. Sarah is very kind. Joe is one of Emma’s friends. He is also a slave.
Day of Tears is a great book.The climax of the book I thought was important was when Emma got sold off to a new slave owner. When Emma got sold off to a new slave owner she got to work with one of her very good friend Joe. The resolution was when Will found Reeva when they were split up. All of the slaves were let free and all of the families were scared and split up. They were trying to find each other but it was hard to find each other because there were a bunch of slaves trying to find their family.
The book Day of Tears was really good because it was well detailed on how slavery was like. I would recommend this book to readers who like to read about slavery and/or historical fiction. I thought the book was really good because the author Julius Lester well described how slavery was.
On chapter 6 page 80-81 showed all of the auctioning of the slaves of the cost. “CHARLES: I see it! There! We got to get out of here! That’s a ghost! Who else would be out on a night like this except a ghost and a bunch of fools like us!” page 146. I chose that quote because I thought it was funny how he thought it was a ghost but it was just Mr. Henry in a wagon with a lantern on the side. “EMMA: (She hugs her father tighter.) Tell Mama I won’t forget nothing she taught me. Tell her I’ll be all right. And I’ll be strong, Papa. I’ll be strong.” Page 93-94. It showed me how Emma didn't want to leave Frances and Sarah. “CHARLES: I see it! There! We got to get out of here! That’s a ghost! Who else would be out on a night like this except a ghost and a bunch of fools like us!” page 146. I chose that quote because I thought it was funny how he thought it was a ghost but it was just Mr. Henry in a wagon with a lantern on the side.
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LibraryThing member discolite
A wonderful novel for children based on a little known event in history. I thought the structure of the novel was brilliant - weaving monologue and dialogue together to construct a passionate, intense story. I ran the gamut of emotions with this one: fear, anger, joy, hope, despair, sorrow. It’s
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a powerful story and an important story and executed so well. I’d recommend it to anyone! Show Less
LibraryThing member dee_kohler
Liked this book, day in the life of slave girl being auctioned off in one of the biggest slave auctions in the south right before Civil War. Shows the repracussions of slavery on down through the years.
LibraryThing member clik4
The story is told from the perspectives of the characters in the book, alternatively. It surrounds the happenings and circumstances around what is known as the world’s largest slave auction. It tells a story in a short form, and easily readable of the economic and social elements that come to
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past because of the auction. Show Less
LibraryThing member edspicer
In early March of 1859, the largest slave auction in our history took place in Georgia. Julius Lester, who won a Newbery Honor medal in 1969 for his nonfiction account of slavery, To Be a Slave, reveals the emotional truth of this auction in a series of fictionalized dialogues that could become an
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excellent readers’ theater script. Voices of the slaves, the auctioneer, the master, and especially Emma whisper, scream and shout out the horror of this ghastly event. Lester is especially to be commended for the way in which he allows historical details, such as the sparse listing of the slaves for sale, to make his point without feeling the need to add further, unnecessary dialogue. Day of Tears is a book that deserves to be shared; in a public format like readers theater it will affect students as no private reading ever could. Show Less
LibraryThing member kewpie
Written in the form of a play, this book is a fictional perspective on a real historical event; the largest slave auction in the history of the United States. Hundreds of families were torn apart. Slave owners and their families seemed to be disturbed and affected by it in a very negative way. This
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book beautifully demonstrates how the chains are heavy for both the slave and the slave owner. While many books focus on the physical abuse or hard labor of slavery, this book focuses on the emotional trauma and some of the more subtle ways slavery dehumanized both the master and the slave. Show Less
LibraryThing member Omrythea
The multiple points of view in this book paint a vivid picture of what many may have thought and done during the time of slavery. An excellent read for middle school and up. Emma is a strong character who shows much courage and wide ranges of emotion. You become so involved in the stories of the
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slaves and really feel for them as they struggle against an unjust system. Powerful lessons are contained in this book. Very sad. Wonderfully written. Show Less
LibraryThing member LibrarysCat
I must admit that I have no idea how I feel about this book. It was written as a play which made it a little different. The play tells the story of a pre-Civil War estate owner, his daughters, and his slaves. In an interesting twist, the wife divorces the estate owner because she is against
So far, so good. Having studied both the pre and post Civil War South, I found this book to contain every opinion or angle ever expressed about slavery. If one were to use this book as a stepping stone for a lesson on slavery (as it occured throughout the United States) perhaps that would be the greatest value. And perhaps that was the author's intent.
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slavery, while he is happy to be a slave owner. Unfortunately, he has gambling debts to pay and is forced to sell his slaves. Actually, this part of the story is based in a true auction. The author provides the historical background at the end of the book.So far, so good. Having studied both the pre and post Civil War South, I found this book to contain every opinion or angle ever expressed about slavery. If one were to use this book as a stepping stone for a lesson on slavery (as it occured throughout the United States) perhaps that would be the greatest value. And perhaps that was the author's intent.
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LibraryThing member goodnightmoon
Such believable and heartbreaking passages in this collection of stories. Such gasp-inducing, historically-accurate white viewpoints, and such tear-inducing slave insights. I haven't read Lester's other books, but now I feel I must. He has a real gift for dramatic storytelling, captured very well
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by this drama-based format. My only problem with this as an audiobook was the confusing switching between characters and voices. I hope the print version is clearly organized. Well worth some read-aloud time for older students in the classroom! Show Less
LibraryThing member MaryC22
Powerful and effective book depicting the largest slave sale in America.
LibraryThing member avincent
This novel reads like a play. Very realistic story set during slave times.
LibraryThing member ewyatt
A novel told in dialogue, Day of Tears starts with the events surrounding Pierce Butler's auction of his slaves to pay off his gambling debts. The novel includes the point of views from many of the people involved, both black and white. Rain is used throughout the book whenever more sadness is
I listened to the audio book. It was a really well done production with multiple voices.
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going to happen. A complex look at slavery and freedom and the relationships between black and white. Emma, a young teen slave, who takes care of the Butler's children, is a pivotal character. There are interludes that have the characters speak as old women and men reflecting on the events in their lives. The Butler girls couldn't have been more different in their outlooks. I really appreciated the variety of perspectives on slavery that were presented, and it gave me much food for thought and sadness at what the people involved endured.I listened to the audio book. It was a really well done production with multiple voices.
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LibraryThing member juliemobley
This book tells the story of the largest slave trade in American history. Very powerful.
LibraryThing member TeddyR
Wonderful book on the biggest Slave auction in United States history. Written as a play, it explore the point of view of the auction from the eyes of every major character, from the master to his daughters to the people being sold away from their families. Especially poignant is the story of Emma
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and Sarah, the master's daughter and her nanny. The complexity and strength of their bond survives the auction and develops them as an adult. Show Less
LibraryThing member korjon1905
Gambling debts and greed have forced the Butler household to host the biggest slave auction in American history. When Pierce decides to sell his most valued slave, the beloved caretaker of his children, a decision must be made among the family, a decision that will pit one member against another.
LibraryThing member Ariadna-thalia
This narrative is well and forcefully told in the voices of the characters involved. I think it could take some discipline for young readers to get into the story, and if too young, they would need some context, a framework. I like how Lester "shows" rather than telling, and how he tells a huge
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story briefly, i.e., powerfully. Show Less
LibraryThing member kristi17
"Day of Tears" is one of my favorite YA books. I love early American history and reading historical fiction so that helps. I found this story to be very touching and the fact that the auction actually happened and the author actually based some of the events on documented evidence (such as the
I enjoyed the play format because I could truly "see" the events unfolding in my mind as I read through the narrative. It is easy to picture the events being acted out and then the characters reflecting in a lone spotlight on the side stage. It would even work on TV or as a movie I think, in the documentary style where interview clips are interspersed throughout the storyline.
All of the characters exhibit loads of integrity in this book. As I was reading, it occurred to me that some 150+ years later it is easy enough to be genuinely appalled by the whole idea of slavery and such auctions that occur in this story. But Lester's writing really examines every different point of view very distinctly. While it is often difficult to agree with some ways of thinking, the different perspectives are presented in a way that at least make some sense for that time in history: socially, economically, and culturally. Before reading this, I never could imagine how or why some slaves actually preferred their lot over freedom. Or that it was illegal to teach a slave to read, and that anyone who dared to do so was risking so much.
I think this would be a great read for teens learning about the Civil War, and how the issues at hand were not so cut and dry as they might appear to be to us today. And how the politics and ethics of that war often split families apart, just as it did the Butlers.
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names and prices paid for some of the slaves) makes it truly amazing.I enjoyed the play format because I could truly "see" the events unfolding in my mind as I read through the narrative. It is easy to picture the events being acted out and then the characters reflecting in a lone spotlight on the side stage. It would even work on TV or as a movie I think, in the documentary style where interview clips are interspersed throughout the storyline.
All of the characters exhibit loads of integrity in this book. As I was reading, it occurred to me that some 150+ years later it is easy enough to be genuinely appalled by the whole idea of slavery and such auctions that occur in this story. But Lester's writing really examines every different point of view very distinctly. While it is often difficult to agree with some ways of thinking, the different perspectives are presented in a way that at least make some sense for that time in history: socially, economically, and culturally. Before reading this, I never could imagine how or why some slaves actually preferred their lot over freedom. Or that it was illegal to teach a slave to read, and that anyone who dared to do so was risking so much.
I think this would be a great read for teens learning about the Civil War, and how the issues at hand were not so cut and dry as they might appear to be to us today. And how the politics and ethics of that war often split families apart, just as it did the Butlers.
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LibraryThing member rkat
I found this to be well written and interesting historical fiction. The story is told from many, many different sides which gives it a different feel that is engaging and thoughtful. The dialog form to the book cut the story to the bone and made it that much more gripping to me.
LibraryThing member Betty70
This book really touched my heart. I especially loved the use of the rain to portray the feelings throughout the book. It made me realize just how much weather can reflect emotion and how much it can add to a story. "This ain't rain. This is God's Tears." (pg 3). "Then down came the rain, hard as
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sorrow." (pg 4). Show Less
LibraryThing member ktcallon
This book was well-written and focused on a true historical event. It was sad, but hopeful and inspiring. The characters are well-developed, which, to me, was unusal considering that it's written in monologue and dialogue. I enjoyed it, but I don't know that teens would pick it up on their own
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without it being on display or required for school. Show Less
LibraryThing member dibiboi
What I appreciated most about this book was its empathy for the characters and its affirmation of humanity. It would have been easy to portray the slave owners as evil people who freely chose to oppress their slaves and benefit from slavery. Instead, Lester does a fine job of showing the reader not
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only the psychological torment of slaves, and also the how whites were affected. For instance, Pierce Butler is not seen as happy man. Before the start of the story, Pierce has gambled his family fortune away and his wife has left him. This forces him to auction off his slaves, including Emma, his daughters' caretaker. His daughter Sarah despises him for what he has done and Pierce carries guilt to his early grave. His life was not worse life than the life of a slave, but the point of the novel is not to see who has a worse life. Rather, the point is to show how slavery poisoned society and humanity as a whole, and therefore could not be sustained. This book is an exceptional read. Show Less
LibraryThing member iheartlit
I loved the way Lester presented a full historical perspective by letting all the characters that were involved in The Weeping Time tell their side of the story in their own voice. That was the best part of the dialog for me. I could picture the characters siting in their kitchen chatting about
I also loved that Day of Tears didn't just focus on the slave auction as an isolated historical event. It gave a panorama of events leading up to and following two fateful days. I appreciated the historical note and author interview following the story too. The most poignant part for me was when two of the slaves being sold who were deeply in love, were separated. I had to pause in my reading to consider how harrowing it would be to be separated from my loved ones. Mister Butler also considers this and says ironically that he would kill the person who tried to separate him from his own daughters. It was heart-wrenching to read in the historical notes that this particular story was true. This theme is considered a number of times in the work.
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life changing events. There is no description (other than stage directions) filling in the gaps for the reader. You simply take the speaker at their word and are left to come to your own conclusions about who is wrong or right, or any of the other ethical issues surrounding events. I also loved that Day of Tears didn't just focus on the slave auction as an isolated historical event. It gave a panorama of events leading up to and following two fateful days. I appreciated the historical note and author interview following the story too. The most poignant part for me was when two of the slaves being sold who were deeply in love, were separated. I had to pause in my reading to consider how harrowing it would be to be separated from my loved ones. Mister Butler also considers this and says ironically that he would kill the person who tried to separate him from his own daughters. It was heart-wrenching to read in the historical notes that this particular story was true. This theme is considered a number of times in the work.
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LibraryThing member pinkargyle
Day of Tears, a book written in dialogue, is a fantastic format to provide multiple perspectives and narratives of a dark day in American history—the largest slave auction in Savannah, Georgia. Readers absorb perspectives from all sides of the story from different periods of time, giving a full
I think Day of Tears is a powerful book that breathes life and insight into the slave era. It’s well written, suspenseful, moving, and would make a wonderful companion book to a history lesson. Highly recommended!
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picture of everyone’s point of view, and the effects that characters’ choices made in their futures.I think Day of Tears is a powerful book that breathes life and insight into the slave era. It’s well written, suspenseful, moving, and would make a wonderful companion book to a history lesson. Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member fuchsia.fox
Day of Tears is marvelous! I listened to the audiobook version and loved that the dialogue shifts were indicated by narrator shifts. The emotions are raw and the flash-forwards gave a satisfying whole story appeal.
Subjects
Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2009)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Young Adult — 2009)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Teen — 2009)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 2007)
South Dakota Teen Choice Book Awards (Nominee — 2008)
Coretta Scott King Award (Winner — 2006)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2008)
Virginia Readers' Choice (Nominee — Middle School — 2008)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee — 2009)
Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers (Nominee — 2007)
South Carolina Book Awards (Nominee — Junior Book Award — 2008)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2006)
CCBC Choices (2006)
Notable Children's Book (2006)
Original publication date
2005
Physical description
192 p.; 8.2 inches
ISBN
1423104099 / 9781423104094
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