Johnson uses short sentences and few words on each page to allow the illustration depict the emotions and the experiences of the slaves. Overall, it's a short, quiet story that has a powerful message and speaks to the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and the length of time the message took to spread out to the furthest reaches of the United States. And the celebration of the announcement at the seaside shows how the family hopes that the tide is turning and that their lives will be better from then on. The images of children waking to light streaming in through their window is so beautiful, which contrasts starkly with their terrible working and living conditions. Lewis complement the inspirational narrative by Angela Johnson in this story that depicts slaves in Texas learning of their freedom, inspiring the Juneteenth holiday. Realistic watercolor illustrations by E.B.
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