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Rating: 
Summary: Disgusted in Frederiksted, VI.
Review: A book for youngsters which mentions the n----- word nineteen times should not be in publication. It is insulting. I would resent a teacher who would even think of reading this book to any of my grandchildren. This book should not be a part of a child's education. That it has come to light in a school is horrific. There are too many wonderful books for children...why this one?
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Summary: Repeated use of the "n" word has no place in children's lit
Review: I am a parent of an eleven-year-old child who attends the fifth grade at a local school on the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. I was given a copy of War Comes to Willy Freeman as an example of appropriate children's literature that covers the American Revolutionary War period. I was looking forward to sharing with my son the pleasure of reading a "good story". However my delight came to a screeching halt when I came to page two of the story where the mother of the lead character referred to her husband and by implication herself and her own child as "niggers". Based on my own count, the word "nigger" appears nineteen times in the book. The authors concluded that had they not used this racist slur it "would have been a distortion of history". I, along with other parents and interested individuals take exception to this insensitive, irresponsible and unscholarly conclusion. As an African-American of Caribbean ancestry, I am very much aware of our history as a people. People of color did not refer to each other as "niggers". You would find no such language coming from the works of Phyllis Wheatley, Richard Allen, Prince Hall, or Benjamin Banneker. The nomenclature that was frequently utilized during the time of the American Revolution for people of color were: Negroes, colored, black, African, Ethiopian, slave, freeman or " three-fifths of all other persons". (See, From Slavery to Freedom, A History of Negro Americans,by John Hope Franklin). The contemporary use of the term in a children's book serves no useful "historical purpose" but only flows from the "fountain of purpose to injure" the "hearts and minds of young and old alike. (See generally, Nigger: The Strange Career of Troublesome Word by Randall Kennedy). Having read this book, I could not, in good conscience, allow my child or others to be stigmatized by this senseless, hateful and pejorative word that is imbued throughout the book. My son, along with other 10 and 11 year olds are in the process of building their own identify, self-esteem, and self-awareness. Their quest for learning is ill served by the oft-repeated use of the work "nigger" in the publication.
Rating: 
Summary: War Comes To Willy Freeman
Review: War Comes To Willy Freeman is a wonderful book if you like learning about the American Revolution. This book takes place in New York. Willy Freeman is the main character. Her father goes to fight the awful British. After reading this book I wouldn't want my dad going to war. Her mother was taken by the British and Willy doesn't know where she is. This book tells about the hardships Willy Freeman has to go through. The reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, was because I wanted to know what happened afterwards. I recommened this book to people who like adventure.
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Summary: historical fiction book
Review: War Comes to Willy Freeman, an amazing historical fiction story, is wriiten by James Lincoln and Christopher Collier, and it will tell you the real story about what happened in the time of the Civil War on the East Coast. The authors wrote an action story abot a young girl, Willy, who lives in Conneticut, where the Civil War is still going on. She and her family, her Ma and Pa, were just freed from slavery. Later on, Willy meets Mr. Fraunces and Horace who work at the Fraunces Tavern.
Willy, disguised as a boy, was taken by her pa to Fort Griswold, and her pa was kiled by the British Redcoats. When she returned home,her ma was not there; she was captured by the British! Then she traveled to New York, worked at Fraunces tavern, and stayed with Horace in the barn. She search for her ma even though she was black and female, and there were dangers everywhere. The reader will enjoy the suspense and action of Willy's adventures. If you read this book, you will think differently about the times of the 1700s.
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Summary: War comes to Willy freeman
Review: War comes to Willy freeman
Willy Freeman it is a great bookit has a lot of actionand alot of shocking parts and exciment. Willy is a boy name but Willy is a girl. There was a war going on in Gorton. Willy wasin it with her dad and her dad got killed. And the british took her mom dut you have to read it to find outthe rest. And Willy is a strong person and brave to fight her battles. How dose Willy find her mom? Read the book it will give you some more infomation about the war.
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