Etched in Clay

The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet
By James Cheng
Paperback: $13.95

The acclaimed biography-in-verse about the life and times of Dave, an enslaved potter who inscribed his works with short poems during the years leading up to the Civil War.

Description

Sometime before 1818, an enslaved young man named Dave was brought to Edgefield, in the heart of South Carolina’s pottery-producing area. From the time he was first taught to turn a potter’s wheel, Dave showed exceptional natural talent. Soon he was creating pieces of great beauty and often massive size. He also learned to read and write, even though South Carolina had laws prohibiting slave literacy. And then Dave did something even more daring: he began to sign his jars and carve many of them with sayings and short poems that reflected his daily life and experiences. With these courageous acts, Dave quietly protested the brutality of slavery and asserted his humanity.

Here is an evocative portrait of Dave as memorable as one of his jars. Through simple yet powerful poetry, including some of Dave’s inscriptions, we learn his extraordinary story of perseverance, creative inspiration, and hope. Today Dave’s legacy lives on in the artistry of his pottery, in his intriguing words, and as a reminder of the dignity and resilience of the human spirit.


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About the Creators

James Cheng

Andrea Cheng was the author of several award-winning and critically acclaimed books for young readers. Her works range from picture books to young adult novels, and her stories often draw on the experiences of her Hungarian relatives or her husband’s Chinese family. Cheng was inspired here by Dave’s heroism, courage, and creative struggle. She taught English as a Second Language at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, and passed away in late 2015.

Awards

  • Best Children's Books of the Year

    Bank Street College of Education

  • Junior Library Guild Selection

    Junior Library Guild

  • Teachers' Choices

    International Literacy Association (ILA)

  • Notable Books in the Language Arts

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • CCBC Choices

    Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

  • Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award

    Pennsylvania Center for the Book

  • Notable Books in the Language Arts

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • Ohioana Book Awards

    Ohioana Library Association

Reviews

  • * "Cheng's spare free-verse poems masterfully highlight the repeated hardships Dave endured. . . . [It is] at once intimate and universal; the riveting story of an unforgettable life lived during an unbelievable time."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • * "A powerful and uplifting biography."

    - School Library Journal
  • "Cheng illustrates her stirring work with her own simple black-and-white woodcuts. Appended material adds additional information about Dave's life and the Edgefield Pottery, of which his work is an example."

    - Booklist
  • "Through her haunting, honed verse, Cheng has given readers a valuable thing indeed: the life of a quiet rebel."

    - The Washington Post

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781620148075
  • Publication Date Jan 20, 2013
  • Trim Size 8.25 × 5.25 in
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 160
  • Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781600604515
  • Publication Date Jan 20, 2013
  • Trim Size 8.25 × 5.25 in
  • Weight 0.4375 lbs
  • Page Count 144
  • Interests

  • Audience Middle Grade
  • BISAC Category 1 JUV / People & Places / United States / African American
  • BISAC Category 2 JUV / Historical / United States / 19th Century
  • BISAC Category 3 JUV / Historical / United States / 19th Century
  • Themes African / African American / Black, Art, Biography / Memoir, Discrimination, Empathy / Compassion, History & Civics, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Integrity / Honesty, Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Optimism / Enthusiasm, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Poetry, Realistic Fiction, Respect / Citizenship, Self Control / Self Regulation, Slavery, Social Justice & Activism, United States History
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 9 - 18
  • Grade Range Grades 4 - 12
  • Guided Reading T
  • ATOS Book Level 5
  • DRA 44
  • Interest Level Grades 4 - 8
  • Lexile Level 790
  • Reading Level Grades 4 - 5
  • SRC 5.2
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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