Taking Liberty by Ann Rinaldi is a historical fiction novel set in the time during the Revolutionary War and George Washington's presidency. While it is considered historical fiction, most of the story is based on real people in history and the facts historians know to be true about George Washington and his plantation. The story is told from the point of view of a young slave girl. Oney Judge has grown up on George Washington's plantation in Mount Vernon and her mother has groomed her to be chosen as a household servant in order to have some of the privileges most slaves only dream about. Oney soon becomes Martha Washington's personal servant and considers herself to be a member of Washington's family, but her place in the household jeopardizes her relationship with her the person who fought so hard to get her there. As good as Oney has it, she begins to realize that she is and will always be a slave. She is torn between her loyalty to the Washingtons and her own desire to be free. Will she choose to run as her mama has told her to do when she gets a chance or will she stay knowing now that she is only someone's property? This is a great story that gives us a different picture of America during the Revolutionary War and gives us some insight into the system of slavery that was a way of life here, even for our first President.
"This memorable heroine and novel offer a thought-provoking exploration of the courage needed to grasp freedom." - Publishers Weekly
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