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Day Of Tears Book Report

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The historical fiction novel Day of Tears by Julius Lester is a very significant book. This novel illustrates the one of the greatest slave auctions at the time. Day of Tears has scenes of heartbreaking and emotional times. The book shows high interest level and is a very captivating book to students. The novel emphasizes the struggle of living as slaves and the experiences they deal with. The novel Day of Tears has the greatest educational value because it shows the reality of slave experiences and the desperation families had to stay together. The Day of Tears shows the reality of slaves experiences in two main ways. This novel clearly demonstrates the hardships slaves felt and the emotions that went through their mind. One of the most …show more content…

During the auctions there were slaves who shouted to examine their physical qualities and proposed that they would work until sundown. They were shouting in order to find a slave owner who would purchase them as a couple. One couple in particular who were on a quest to stay together were a couple named Jeffrey and Dorcas. These two lovers begged a man known as Master Ellington to buy them together. However the outcome of the couple staying united was not successful. Although Jeffrey and Dorcas were separated, Jeffrey did not give up being with Dorcas. Jeffrey tried to escape every chance he got but he was caught all the times he attempted. The story of Jeffrey and Dorcas remind readers that slaves went through lots of struggle to stay together. The outcome however could sometimes lead to success or to failure. However one of the most traumatizing events in the book that displays a family being separated is when Emma must leave her family and be sent to the Henfield Plantation. When Master Butler brought Emma to the auction, Emma was responsible to watch the master’s children. However Emma did not realize that she would be sold to a plantation. When Emma’s father realizes that her daughter would be sold, Emma's’ father ,Will ,spoke very powerful words. As stated on page 87, Will says “ How could you do this? We grew up together. We was like brothers! How could you do

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