Wolf by the Ears

Ann Rinaldi's "Wolf by the Ears" delves into the complex life of Harriet Hemings, a young enslaved woman at Monticello, who is rumored to be the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. The novel explores Harriet's internal conflict as she grapples with her identity, her family ties, and the profound choice between a life of relative comfort within slavery or the perilous path to true freedom. It's a poignant historical fiction that brings to life the moral dilemmas and human struggles of a pivotal era in American history, offering a nuanced look at the lives of enslaved people and the complicated legacy of historical figures.

Harriet Hemings, rumored to be the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, one of his black slaves, struggles with the problems facing her--to escape from the velvet cage that is Monticello, or to stay, and thus remain a slave.