  | Twice enslaved : liberty and justice for Henrietta Wood Author: Castrovilla, Selene | |
| Price: $23.98 | ||
Summary:
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!
| Illustrator: | Robinson, Erin K. |
Reviews:
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/12/25)
Full Text Reviews:
Other - 11/24/2025 In this concise biography rendered via narrative poetry, Castrovilla (Freedom’s Cost) centers Henrietta Wood (1818-1912), a Black woman who-following her emancipation, abduction, and re-enslavement-obtained the largest restitution payment ever given to a formerly enslaved person in the United States. The author employs metaphor, repetition, and other literary devices across seven straight-forward, chronological parts ("Stolen," "Hope," "Hopeless") to transport readers to "the Ohio River/ along the line between free and slave." When her enslaver loses his fortune, 14-year-old Wood believes she might finally return to her family, whom she hasn’t seen in two years. Instead, she’s taken from Louisville "down to where there was no freedom/... to Louisiana," and enslaved once more. Evocative illustrations by Robinson (Ayo’s Adventure) capture pivotal moments throughout the subject’s life, while rhythmic language describes the physical abuse Wood suffered during her enslavement. Back matter includes additional details about the abduction, Wood’s life after receiving reparations, and the significance of Juneteenth. Ages 9-12. (Feb.) - Copyright 2025
