Review Detail

They Call Me Teach is a historical fiction compiled from many real experiences of slaves and how they fought anti-literacy laws. This gorgeously illustrated story does a fantastic job of highlighting the efforts of enslaved people. This story effortlessly helps young people imagine this period in history and acknowledge the courage of those who resisted.
In a time with book bans on the rise, this story has additional relevance as it emphasizes the importance of literacy and the freedom that comes with knowledge. We have come far from members of our society having to meet in secret, practicing in the dirt, and passing knowledge from word of mouth. This perfectly illustrates how controlling access and suppressing the voices of minorities keep things unequal and we should not let it happen again.