Taking Liberty

Reach for this book when your teenager begins to question the complexities of American history or feels a growing sense of injustice regarding how people are treated. Taking Liberty provides a sophisticated look at the life of Oney Judge, a young woman enslaved by George and Martha Washington. It explores the painful friction between the birth of a nation founded on liberty and the reality of those denied that very right within the President's own household. This story is ideal for readers aged 12 and up who are developing their own sense of identity and moral agency. By following Oney's journey from a favored servant to a woman seeking her own soul, parents can open deep conversations about the difference between being treated well and being free, and the courage it takes to claim one's own life.