A book review of The Forbidden Schoolhouse: The True and Dramatic Story of Prudence Crandall and Her Students by Suzanna Jurmain
Stars: *****
Houghton Mifflin (2005)
Children’s Nonfiction
150 pages
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Summary: They threw rocks at the school windows. Villagers refused to sell Miss Crandall groceries or let her students attend the town church. Her schoolhouse was mysteriously set on fire. The town authorities dragged her to jail and put her on trial for breaking the law. Her crime? Trying to teach African American girls geography, history, reading, philosophy, and chemistry. Exciting and eye-opening, this account of the heroine of Canterbury, Connecticut, and her elegant white schoolhouse at the center of town will give readers a glimpse of what it is like to try to change the world when few agree with you.
The Forbidden Schoolhouse
This is the true story of a brave white woman, Prudence Crandall, who dared to open a school for black girls in 1833 Connecticut. She just wanted to educate African-American girls but most people were against educated black people and didn’t believe they were even considered US citizens.
The black girls themselves were brave too, learning while putting up with dangerous situations from those who opposed the idea.
The story was interesting and a part of history I hadn’t heard before. Although it’s designed for children it’s a long book with lots of text and so it’s definitely for older children and teens. It absolutely still works for adults too. I think I might grab this book from the library again in February to read to my homeschooled kids for Black History Month. It will take at least the week though if we read a lot, or possibly 2 weeks.
The book includes some photographs throughout of the people and places talked about in the book. There are also a few sketches for when they didn’t have photographs. These really help tell the story.
Overall an interesting read and a blast from the past that teaches the history of Black Education.
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