My Name Is Not Friday
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9781338160642 Paperback
400 Pages | 5.27" x 8.01" | Ages 12 & Up
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545855228 Hardcover
384 Pages | 5.85" x 8.56" | Ages 12 & Up
Scholastic Inc | ISBN 9780545863711 Ebook
384 Pages | Ages 12 & Up
A gorgeously written account of a freeborn black boy sold into slavery during the Civil War, which earned three starred reviews and was called "unforgettable" by Kirkus Reviews
Well-mannered Samuel and his mischievous younger brother Joshua are free black boys living in an orphanage during the end of the Civil War. Samuel takes the blame for Joshua's latest prank, and the consequence is worse than he could ever imagine. He's taken from the orphanage to the South, given a new name — Friday — and sold into slavery. What follows is a heartbreaking but hopeful account of Samuel's journey from freedom, to captivity, and back again.
Raves & reviews:
Praise for My Name Is Not Friday:
* "Samuel's endearing, immersive narration makes the novel a fascinating and unforgettable account of a brutal and shameful chapter in America's history. A heartbreaking story about family, justice, and the resilience of the human spirit." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
* "Walter masterfully constructs the world of the plantation and presents a large population of complex and distinctive characters, resulting in a rich, thought-provoking, and deeply satisfying book." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
* "Compelling. . . . Lyrically written." —School Library Journal, starred review
"A multi-faceted view of slavery and its personal, economic, and national impact." —Voice of Youth Advocates
Praise for Close to the Wind:
A Summer 2015 Kids' Indie Next List pick
"Malik's story is simultaneously worldly and gentle, reminding readers that though life is sometimes breathtakingly disappointing and war can certainly bring out the worst in people, bad guys don't always win in the end." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Walter's debut novel is a profile of innocence maintained in the face of war . . . The roller-coaster ride of experiences and emotions, taking Malik and readers from fear, despair, loss, and grief to love and hope, is accurately drawn." —Kirkus Reviews
"Walter does not name the country that Malik is escaping from or the details of the source of the conflict, allowing readers to concentrate on Malik's tender-hearted character and his responses with the attention and respect that he and others like him deserve." —Shelf Awareness
"Walter turns the heart-rending emotional toll of war on the civilian population into a very personal, poignant story that the reader will remember." —Voice of Youth Advocates