Susie King Taylor: Nurse, Teacher & Freedom Fighter

by Erica Armstrong Dunbar, Candace Buford

Overview

From the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Never Caught and She Came to Slay comes a vibrant middle grade biography of Susie King Taylor, one of the first Black Civil War nurses, in a new series spotlighting Black women who left their mark on history.

A groundbreaking figure in every sense of the word, Susie King Taylor (1848–1912) was one of the first Black nurses during the Civil War, tending to the wounded soldiers of the 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Afterward, she was a key figure in establishing a postbellum educational system for formerly bonded Black people, opening several dedicated schools in Georgia. Taylor was also one of the first Black women to publish her memoirs.

Even as her country was at war with itself, Taylor valiantly fought for the rights of her people and demonstrated true heroism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665919937
Publisher:	Aladdin
Publication date:	09/26/2023
Series:	Rise. Risk. Remember. Incredible Stories of Courageous Black Women
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	410,076
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.60(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	10 - 18 Years

About the Author

Erica Armstrong Dunbar is the Charles and Mary Beard Professor of History at Rutgers University. Her first book, A Fragile Freedom: African American Women and Emancipation in the Antebellum City, was published by Yale University Press in 2008. Her second book, Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge was a 2017 finalist for the National Book Award in nonfiction and a winner of the 2018 Frederick Douglass Book Award. She is also the author of She Came to Slay, an illustrated tribute to Harriet Tubman, and Susie King Taylor and is the co-executive producer of the HBO series The Gilded Age.

Candace Buford has always been drawn to stories with strong and complex people of color. She graduated from Duke University with a degree in German literature and holds a law degree from Penn State Law, as well as a business degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Kneel and Good as Gold. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @CandaceBuford.

Editorial Reviews

10/02/2023

Dunbar (Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge) and Buford (Good as Gold) pull inspiration from the 1902 autobiography of Susie King Taylor (1848–1912) to spotlight one of the first Black nurses during the Civil War. Based on the creators’ “informed speculation,” as referenced in an author’s note, this biographical work endeavors “to estimate what Taylor would have experienced—even though she may not have told us about her feelings” via an intimately rendered first-person voice. Though Susie was born to an enslaved woman in Savannah, Ga., she and her siblings lived with their formerly enslaved grandmother Dolly, who owned a laundry business. Because of her grandmother’s influence, Taylor was able to secretly gain an education that would later provide her with opportunities to teach, nurse, and support the 33rd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment, one of the very first Union Colored Regiments, while a teenager. Following the war and emancipation, she went on to become one of the key figures in establishing an educational system for formerly enslaved children in Georgia. This captivating work concludes with Taylor’s original manuscript, which highlights her personal experiences and provides contextualizing information. Ages 10–up. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ 09/29/2023

Gr 4–8—Presented in first person, this unique biography details the life of Black Civil War nurse Susie King Taylor. Born into slavery in Georgia in 1848, she was able to be educated by a family friend in secret while living with her grandmother. She used her educational skills to help write passes for fellow slaves, which enabled them to move about the city after hours. When the Civil War began, she and some family members escaped to live with members of the Union Army on St. Simon's Island, GA. While living there, she worked washing Union soldiers' clothing and educating over 40 children who also lived on the island. There she met her husband, soldier Russell Taylor, who was one of 200,000 Black men serving during the Civil War. This true account is rife with adventure, near misses with death, and brushes with the Confederate army and slave owners alike. Students will be amazed at the bravery and strength displayed by this amazing woman; her story is gripping from start to finish. Back matter includes Susie King Taylor's 1902 memoir in full. VERDICT A fabulous addition to all libraries and an important part of history not to be missed. Highly recommended.—Tracy Cronce

School Library Journal

2023-07-13
A work of historical fiction inspired by—and presented alongside—a Black woman’s firsthand account of her experiences as a Civil War nurse.

The story opens in Savannah, Georgia, where Susie Baker lives with her grandmother Dolly, who was born enslaved but now manages her own laundry business. Susie’s mother is enslaved on the Grest Farm, but Dolly persuaded Mr. Grest to let Susie and two younger siblings live in the city with her. Susie dreams of freedom and secretly attends a school run by a free Black woman; later she’s tutored by Mrs. Beasley, who teaches her about history, civics, and current events, including the debate over abolition. After Susie and her siblings are sent back to the Grest plantation, her uncle and his family decide to run away to join the Union Army. Susie, now 14, joins them. She works with the Union Army, organizing a laundry business and school and becoming one of the first Black nurses. An epilogue touches upon Susie’s life after the war, including her move to Boston and her work as an advocate for Black children’s education. The confident voice of the first-person narration brings history to life in a thrilling way and will resonate with readers. Taylor’s original memoir, published in 1902, is included in full, allowing readers to juxtapose the two texts.

A remarkable true story about harnessing one’s inherent dignity in a hostile world. (authors’ note, list of troops, list of battles) (Nonfiction. 11-16)

Kirkus Reviews