Historical Fiction: "Nightjohn"

Bibliography

Paulsen, Gary. Nightjohn. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young

     Readers, 1995.

Plot Summary

Sarny, a twelve year old slave girl narrates this story of bravery and hardship.  It takes place on a plantation in the 1850’s.  Sarny’s life changes course when the slave master brings home a new slave, Nightjohn.  He quickly befriends the young Sarny and begins to teach her how to read, even though it is strictly forbidden.  Sarny learns that Nightjohn had once escaped to freedom.  After learning the value of literacy and education, he gives it all up to share with other slaves what he has learned.  The reader is left with a hopeful glimpse of Sarny’s future.

Critical Analysis

The style of this book is consistent with the nineteenth century historical perspective.  The language is written as if an uneducated southern slave girl wrote it.  The reader gets a full-scale view of the abuse and the horrors that slaves faced from plantation owners.  While the story reveals Sarny’s child like nature, it is also apparent the ways she was forced to grow up quickly in this horrific environment.  Sarny becomes a heroine and the reader cannot help but to get behind her effort to learn.  “Nightjohn” is well researched and authentic to the mid-nineteenth century. 

Review Excerpts

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY: “Convincingly written in dialect, this graphic depiction of slavery evokes shame for this country's forefathers and sorrow for the victims of their inhumanity. Ages 12-up.”

BOOKLIST: “What gives the story transcendence is the character Nightjohn, who fires Sarny with hope.”

Connections

Students can read slave biographies and compare their experiences with Sarny and Nightjohn’s. 

Students can read James Lincoln Collier’s “Jump Ship to Freedom” and discuss the horrors and triumphs of the characters portrayed.