Show Way

Show Way

By Jacqueline Woodson

Illustrated by Hudson Talbott

A Newberry Honor book, Show Way is like Alex Haley’s Roots for children. It tells the story of the author’s family through generations of women, dating back well into the time of slavery in the United States. Tying the generations of women together, even when children were sold onto other plantations when they were seven, were Show Way quilts. Show Ways told the route for slaves to take to escape to freedom.

Each woman passes the skill of quilting Show Ways to her daughter. Eventually, when slavery is abolished and Show Ways are no longer needed, the women learn to tell their stories in different ways. The author of this book tells her stories with words. She ends the book with:

And I grew up,

tall and straight-boned,

writing every day.

And the words became books

that told the stories of

many people’s Show Ways.

The author repeats phrases throughout the book in such a way that clearly demonstrates the bloodline through the generations. The rhythmic poetic chant in which the story is told also helps the reader to more clearly hear and picture the story as it unfolds.

I thought this was a beautiful story, one that I will remember and share with my children someday. Some of the ideas in the story may be hard for younger children to grasp, but I think it’s a book that families can come back to again and again!