My Name Is Sally Little Song

Set in 1802, the story follows Sally, an enslaved girl whose life is upended when the plantation owner plans to sell her brother. To keep the family together, they flee into the dangerous wilderness of Georgia and Florida, aiming to find sanctuary with the Seminole people. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals directly with the trauma of slavery, the threat of family separation, and the physical dangers of escape. The approach is realistic and historical rather than metaphorical. While it depicts the cruelty of the era, the resolution is hopeful, focusing on the possibility of a new life and the strength of the Black-Indigenous alliance. EMOTIONAL ARC: The book begins with high tension and the heavy weight of oppression. As the family travels, the tone shifts into a survival adventure marked by fear and bravery. It concludes on a note of hard-won hope and relief. IDEAL READER: A middle-schooler who enjoys historical fiction and is starting to recognize social hierarchies. It is perfect for a child who values family loyalty and is curious about the hidden corners of American history, specifically the Black Seminoles. PARENT TRIGGER: The catalyst for the plot is the imminent sale of a child, which may be emotionally difficult for both parents and children to process. PARENT PREP: Parents should be prepared to discuss the Fugitive Slave Acts and the historical relationship between escaped slaves and Indigenous tribes. Reading the first few chapters together can help ground the child in the historical context. AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers (age 9-10) will focus on the 'adventure' and the 'scary' parts of the escape. Older readers (11-13) will better grasp the psychological toll of being 'owned' and the political nuances of seeking refuge in Spanish Florida. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many slave narratives that focus solely on the North and the Underground Railroad, this highlights the Southern escape route to Florida and the specific cultural intersection of African American and Seminole histories.