{"product_id":"freedom-to-read-the-story-of-teacher-mary-peake-and-one-mighty-oak-tree-9781534463509","title":"Freedom to Read: The Story of Teacher Mary Peake and One Mighty Oak Tree","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A thoughtful double portrait that reaches forward and back.\" --\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom Newbery Honor author Lesa Cline-Ransome and ALA Children's Literature Legacy Award\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003erecipient James Ransome, this \"important picture book biography\" (\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003estarred review) tells the story of Mary Peake, a courageous teacher who started a secret school for Black children.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eSo many found sanctuary in Mary's secret schoolhouse. They found freedom in letters. In Mary's teaching, they found a refuge. \u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMary Peake was born free in 1823 in Norfolk, Virginia, and from a young age she hungered for learning. Mary attended a colored school in her youth, but when Virginia lawmakers outlawed education for colored students, both enslaved and free, the schools had to close their doors. Mary wanted nothing more than to share the gift of education, so she opened up her home as a secret school, risking punishment in order to teach. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen the Civil War broke out, Mary and her community found refuge in a Union camp, and Mary set up a new schoolhouse under the branches of a proud oak tree. Shoulder to shoulder, students of all ages gathered to hear Mary teach. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMary's crusade for education became a model for one of the first historically black colleges, Hampton University. Her story is a celebration of one woman's sacrifices for the freedom to read.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Lesa Cline-Ransome\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Paula Wiseman Book\/Beach Lane Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/25\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 48\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.10lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 11.20h x 9.20w x 0.60d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781534463509\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAudience:\u003c\/b\u003e Ages 4-8\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/18\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2026 pg. 104\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 08\/01\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLesa Cline-Ransome is the author of numerous nonfiction and historical fiction titles for picture book, chapter book, middle grade, and young adult readers. Her \u003ci\u003eOne Big Open Sky \u003c\/i\u003ewas both a Coretta Scott King Honor book and a Newbery Honor book. Her picture books include \u003ci\u003eFighting with Love: The Legacy\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eof John Lewis\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne. \u003c\/i\u003eHer verse biography of Harriet Tubman, \u003ci\u003eBefore She Was Harriet\u003c\/i\u003e, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and received a Jane Addams Children's Book Honor, Christopher Award, and Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration. Her debut middle grade novel, \u003ci\u003eFinding Langston\u003c\/i\u003e, won the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction and received the Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband and frequent collaborator, James Ransome, and their family. Visit her at LesaClineRansome.com. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJames E. Ransome's \u003ci\u003eFighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis \u003c\/i\u003ewas called \"a warm tribute\" by \u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e and \"highly recommended\" by \u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e, both in starred reviews. His highly acclaimed illustrations for \u003ci\u003eBefore She Was Harriet \u003c\/i\u003ereceived the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. His other award-winning titles include the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor Book \u003ci\u003eThe Bell Rang\u003c\/i\u003e, Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor Book \u003ci\u003eUncle Jed's Barbershop\u003c\/i\u003e, Reading Rainbow Book \u003ci\u003eSweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eLet My People Go\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the NAACP Image Award. James is also a recipient of the ALA Children's Literature Legacy Award. He is on the faculty at the School of Visual Arts in the MFA Illustration Visual Essay program. James frequently collaborates with his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome. They live in New York's Hudson Valley region with their family. Visit James at JamesRansome.com.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"booksdeli.com","offers":[{"title":"Lesa Cline-Ransome \/ Hardcover \/ English","offer_id":48867461464221,"sku":"9781534463509","price":23.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0619\/5648\/9373\/files\/img_4c250ba0-e882-4979-9e11-c4f5e70d9eb7.jpg?v=1788335172","url":"https:\/\/booksdeli.com\/products\/freedom-to-read-the-story-of-teacher-mary-peake-and-one-mighty-oak-tree-9781534463509","provider":"booksdeli.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}