January's Sparrow

January's Sparrow

written and illustrated by Patricia Polacco, 2009, New York: Philomel. (0399250778).

Media: pentel acetone marker, acrylic paint, pencil and oil pastel

Awards and Honors: n/a

Author Website: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

Annotation: Sadie, a young girl in Kentucky, must follow the Underground Railroad to escape from slavery with her family and begin anew in the North.

Personal Reaction: January's Sparrow tells a powerful story about racial tolerance and acceptance but the importance of the message is marred by the shortcomings in the execution of the picture book. I'm conflicted about this title because I believe that the message of the story is great, but the presentation is clunky.

The bad: Polacco's depiction of the Crosswhite family edges toward caricature at times. The exaggerated features and heavy dialect of the family are overwrought to the point where they distract from the message. The text is awkward in places and the narrative is not particularly graceful. Polacco ends Sadie's story with this oversimplification: "... in 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected president, and in the middle of the war between the North and the South- the Civil War- he gave all the slaves their freedom".


The good: There are some particularly poignant moments within the story and the message of the entire community coming together to defend the Crosswhites from a band of slave catchers is inspiring. The ability of ordinary people to stand up for right and wrong in extraordinary circumstances is a powerful lesson. Children will no doubt have a strong emotional connection to the trials and tribulations of the family which may serve to deepen their understanding of a troubling period of American history. 


While hamfisted at times, January's Sparrow deserves a place in curricula about slavery and the Underground Railroad. Although it lacks Polacco's trademark sensitivity, it contains teachable moments and a message of acceptance and courage whose importance cannot be ignored.

Use of symbol: (throughout the text) Sadie's carved sparrow represents freedom. "Sadie... took a small wooden sparrow from the sill... She remembered January whisperin' to her when he put it into her hands. "It's fixin' to fly. And so is I." (p. 15-16)

Curricular Connection: Middle School, United States History, Slavery