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Title details for The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox - Available

The Slave Dancer

by Paula Fox
Peter MacNicol
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
Jessie Bollier often played his fife to earn a few pennies down by the New Orleans docks. One afternoon a sailor asked him to pipe a tune, and that evening Jessie was kidnapped and dumped aboard The Moonlight, a slave ship, where a hateful duty awaited him. He was to play music so the slaves could "dance" to keep their muscles strong, their bodies profitable. Jessie was sickened by the thought of taking part in the business of trading rum and tobacco for blacks and then selling the ones who survived the frightful sea voyage from Africa. But to the men of the ship a "slave dancer" was necessary to ensure their share of the profit. They did not heed the horrors that every day grew more vivid, more inescapable to Jessie. Yet , even after four months of fear, calculated torture, and hazardous sailing with a degraded crew, Jessie was to face a final horror that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 22, 2008

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780739364338
      • File size: 116309 KB
      • Duration: 04:02:18

  • Languages

    • English

  • Levels

    • ATOS Level: 6
    • Lexile® Measure: 910
    • Interest Level: 4-8(MG)
    • Text Difficulty: 4-5

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      In a tale at once fascinating and horrible, young Jessie suffers capture and indenture on a slave ship. His job is to "dance" the slaves by playing his fife while they're forced to engage in daily movement. Actor Peter MacNicol delivers a powerful reading of this horrific tale. His Captain Cawthorn, terrifying in volume and attitude, creates in the listener the same tension that Jessie feels throughout the journey. Masterfully, MacNicol allows Shipmate Stout's obsequiousness to creep slowly upon the listener while simultaneously revealing the affection behind Shipmate Pervis's defiant gruffness. Packed with emotion, MacNicol's first-person narration in Jessie's voice is moving and believable. Judiciously employed symphonic music and the notes of a lone fife heighten the tension throughout. T.B. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine
    • AudioFile Magazine
      Guidall delivers a compelling performance. Drawing the listener into the story so completely, he complements the full power of Fox's Newbery Award-winning drama. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:6
  • Lexile® Measure:910
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:4-5

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