Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School

During the 1800s, the southern United States was full of slaves who were not allowed to learn to read and write. But one woman wanted to change that. Lilly Ann Granderson was born a slave and lived in Kentucky. Her master’s children taught her the basics of reading when she was young, and she kept teaching herself as she grew. She was eventually sold to a master in Mississippi, where it was illegal for slaves to read. Lilly Ann wanted to teach others to read so that they could someday find freedom. Lilly Ann started a midnight school in an old cabin where her students would come and spend the night learning letters, sounds, writing. Lilly Ann taught hundreds of slaves until after the Civil War, when they were given freedom.

I had never heard of Lilly Ann Granderson before reading Midnight Teacher. I love reading stories about real people and the things they have done in their lives. I think Lilly Ann Granderson was a very brave woman to risk being whipped in order to teach other slaves to read. She knew education was that important. It is important to learn about people in history who stood up for what they believe in. There is a lot of writing in this book, but I didn’t seem to notice because the story was so interesting. Midnight Teacher would be a perfect book for students who are learning about the lives of slaves and the Civil War.