Frederick Douglass was born into slavery and died an advocate, activist, and civil servant, an educated man known for his rhetorical gifts, determination, and integrity. This account of Douglass’s life takes teen readers on a journey into the world of slavery and then beyond after Douglass made his escape and set about defying limits and expectations. But Douglass’s mission was never to impress, it was to live his life on his own terms, and that meant fighting against injustice and for his beliefs. He worked to end slavery—and protect runaway slaves—before the Civil War, supported women’s suffrage throughout his adult life, and spoke out against lynching in the decades after the end of the Civil War. He became respected among Blacks and whites alike—a welcome guest at Abraham Lincoln’s White House, and later a presidential appointee to posts in and beyond Washington. He demanded respect but offered forgiveness, too—when he thought it was deserved. David A. Adler’s thoroughly researched, well-documented, and illuminating biography includes ample source notes. (Age 13 and older)

"Adler, a prolific children's book author, has done a good job describing the trajectory of Douglass's life as he moved from being a slave himself to being a freer of slaves and a tireless civil rights activist. Narrator Charles Turner, who has a deep and resonant voice, uses just the right matter-of-fact yet serious tones that won't overwhelm young listeners but will make an impression on them." -AudioFile