Emancipated by Cheryl Wills – Family History Memoir

Emancipated by Cheryl Wills | YA Family History Memoir

YA memoir tracing one family's journey from slavery to the Civil War. By journalist Cheryl Wills. Grades 7-12, Common Core aligned. New.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

One Family's Multigenerational Fight for Freedom

In Emancipated: My Family's Fight for Freedom, New York television journalist Cheryl Wills shares a deeply personal account of loss, discovery, and perseverance.

Wills recounts the tragic death of her father and the profound effect it had on her during her teenage years in New York City. Years later, her search for answers led her deep into her family history—and to the extraordinary story of her great-great-great-grandfather, Sandy Wills.

From Enslavement to Civil War Service

Through extensive genealogical and historical research, Wills discovered that Sandy escaped slavery in Tennessee and fought for his freedom as a soldier during the American Civil War. Connecting this courageous family history to her own experience of grief, Wills presents an accessible young adult memoir about identity, resilience, social justice, and the importance of preserving family stories.

Educational Features

• A true multigenerational family history
• Primary sources connecting personal experience with U.S. history
• Strategies for researching family roots
• Depth of Knowledge discussion questions
• Group and classroom activities
• Content aligned with Common Core ELA standards
• Lessons involving leadership, perseverance, and social justice
• Suitable for students in grades 7–12
• Lexile measure of 1040

Perfect For
Young adult nonfiction readers · Middle school and high school students · Black history and Civil War studies · Family-history and genealogy projects · Social justice and diversity education · Teachers, classrooms, and school libraries · Readers interested in stories of resilience and freedom

About the Author

Cheryl Wills is an award-winning New York television journalist and author. Inspired by her family's history, she encourages young people to explore their ancestry, understand their cultural roots, and develop the confidence needed to confront injustice. She is also the author of other works inspired by her family's Civil War history, including The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills.

Book Details

• Publisher: Lightswitch Learning
• Publication Date: January 1, 2017
• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 156 pages
• Recommended Grades: 7–12
• Lexile Measure: 1040
• Genres: Young Adult Memoir, Black History, Family History, Civil War History
• Condition: New

Condition Statement

New: This is a new, unread paperback. Please review the product images for the exact condition of the cover, spine, and edges.