Philip Davis

Bertha Schwartz

Selected Readings

Immigration and Americanization

It’s the 1850s and Daisy, a slave girl from Alabama, is thrilled when her Mama is brought to her plantation to be the new cook. Six Oaks Plantation has been Daisy’s home for years, and the future looks bright now that she and her Mama have been reunited. The happiness doesn’t last, though, when a dangerous encounter with a notorious slave hunter endangers Daisy’s life. She has no choice but to run. Leaving behind everything she has ever known, Daisy strikes out alone on the Underground Railroad. Daisy’s search for freedom leads her deep into the woods. Along the way she is joined by Simon, a four-year-old boy and his pet kitten. Pursued by dogs, uncertainty, and a slave tracker determined to capture them by any means necessary, Daisy starts to wonder if she will ever be safe again. Does Jesus care about runaway slaves lost in the woods? Daisy's Search for Freedom contains thought-provoking discussion questions for young readers.

Daisy's Search for Freedom

Fourteen-year-old Billy Joe is suspicious the city buyers are cheating his people, the uneducated hill folks from Bear Claw Valley in Virginia. Mr. Grant from Three Pines Mercantile has been teaching Billy Joe some as he works for him. But most of the hill folks are against schooling, fearing the change it will bring to the valley. The long-standing feud between the O'Conners and the McKinleys is strong. But when Billy Joe proves the dog buyers are cheating both his pa, an O'Conner, and the McKinleys, Billy Joe is caught in the middle. When Uncle Ephraim O'Conner "accidently" steals a hog from hotheaded Jeb McKinley, Billy Joe fears his search for an education is doomed, as the feelings escalate all around.

Billy Joe's Search for Education

It’s 1849 and when Sarah’s papa and brother strike out for gold, she is stuck at home to help take care of the family and farm. This task quickly turns dangerous as the Gold Rush rises in frenzy around them. Neighbors abandon their livestock and the family must fend off half-started miners ready to steal everything they have. Sarah decides to turn her circumstances into a business—feeding the miners in exchange for gold and labor. Sarah’s ingenuity and leadership are tested as she faces thieves, mysteries, and violent miners. Trouble closes in on all sides, and Sarah must make tough decisions on her own. Soon Sarah learns that true treasure is not always gold, and that the greatest adventures can happen without even leaving home. Sarah’s Search for Treasure contains thought-provoking discussion questions for young readers.

Bertha Schwartz

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