Freedom's Gifts

Wesley does an excellent job of creating the setting for this story that takes place in Texas in 1943. She juxtaposes the experiences of two young girls; one growing up in the Jim Crow south and her cousin, growing up in the north where "we can do what we want to do and go where we want to go." Lillie reads in disbelief the sign that forbids blacks from drinking at a certain water fountain. Her cousin, June, had accepted the "Whites Only" signs as a part of "the way things were." Now she's ashamed. Young girls will be able to relate to the tension between the two girls; neither of whom looks forward to this annual visit. Their relationship offers an excellent backdrop to the important historical information that is provided by the author. The illustrations in the book beautifully express the emotions of the girls as they spend the day moving from tolerating one another to finally coming together to sit at the feet of Aunt Marshall, the elder and "griot" of the family, who unites them with her stories of family and history.