Such a beautiful picture book.
Telling the story of Mary Walker, from her enslaved childhood through to her passing at 121 years old, it shows the journey of her determination through racial prejudice, and economic adversity.

The over-arching focus is of Mary's determination learning to read in the last few years of her life, after not having the time or access to learn.

I can see so many children relating to this for different reasons; whether the familiarity of the economic/family situation, the struggle to read and write, or whether of a cultural/racial representation (I try to stay away from books with a slavery focus when seeking this - they see enough of that - but of course I put this aside when it is a retelling of a real figure's story).

I especially love the way that the background text in the illustrations changes from squiggles to words once Mary gains her 'freedom' of language, completing the picture of her surroundings, and the ways that the collage pieces used in her clothing contain text and symbols from then on also.