Twice Enslaved - by Selene Castrovilla (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Here is the story of Henrietta Wood, who was enslaved twice--but who demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement.

A nonfiction book for ages 9-12 that puts a human face on the current issue of reparations.

Henrietta Wood was born enslaved. As a teen she was ripped from her family and sold. Years later, a miracle happened, and she was given freedom papers. But Henrietta's freedom was short-lived. She was tricked back into enslavement and sent to a Mississippi cotton plantation.

On June 19, 1865--Juneteenth--she was emancipated. Finally free for good, Henrietta Wood sued the man who had kidnapped her back into enslavement--and she won! Henrietta was one of the few people in United States history to ever receive a reparation payment for slavery.

Twice Enslaved is a true story of cruelty, resilience, and ultimately triumph, told lyrically for middle-grade readers by Selene Castrovilla and illustrated in full color by artist Erin Robinson.

About the Author

Selene Castrovilla fell in love with the humanity in America's history when she discovered the young Marquis de Lafayette's passionate quest to help our nation. She is devoted to bringing hidden stories to life for young readers, revealing the real people behind our past. Visit selenecastrovilla.com.

Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design. Erin's illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post and in many books, including Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World and A Library. She also designed the 2022 US postage stamp for Kwanzaa.