A Strawbeater's Thanksgiving - Tapa dura

During the time of slavery, the men, women, and children who had worked so hard bringing in the harvest were sometimes allowed one night to celebrate the completion of their wearisome tasks. This story takes place during one of those nights. Jess has always wanted to be the special boy who is allowed to help the fiddler during the corn-shucking party. He wants to be the one who gets to keep time by beating on the old man's fiddle with a pair of sturdy straws. However, wishing is one thing and making sure your wish comes true is something else. Irene Smalls's story of one boy's determination to succeed has been glowingly illustrated by Melodye Rosales, and the combination of their talents creates a vivid vignette of a people's strength and spirit during the terrible days of slavery.