Here is the story of Henrietta Wood, who was enslaved twice-but who demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement. This nonfiction book for ages 9-12 puts a human face on the current issue of reparations.
Henrietta Wood was born enslaved. As a teen she was ripped from her family and sold. Years later, a miracle happened, and she was given freedom papers. But Henrietta's freedom was short-lived. She was tricked back into enslavement and sent to a Mississippi cotton plantation.
On June 19, 1865-Juneteenth-she was emancipated. Finally free for good, Henrietta Wood sued the man who had kidnapped her back into enslavement-and she won! Henrietta was one of the few people in United States history to ever receive a reparation payment for slavery.
Twice Enslaved is a true story of cruelty, resilience, and ultimately triumph, told lyrically for middle-grade readers by Selene Castrovilla and illustrated in full color by artist Erin K. Robinson.