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Ellen's Broom


Title: Ellen's Broom
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Kelly Starling Lyons
Major Awards: Coretta Scott King Honor
Age Group: 1st-3rd grade

 This is a story about a family overcoming slavery. During slavery, husband and wife were sometimes ripped away from each other, and were not allowed to even have a proper wedding ceremony. The husband and wife were only allowed to use a broom and jump over it, signifying that they were "jumping" into a new life together. One day at church, the preacher told the crowd that all former slaves living as husband and wife could now be married in the eyes of the law. Ellen's parents could now be married legally. On their way to the ceremony, Ellen's mother grabbed the broom that was hanging on the wall of the home and asked Ellen to carry it with them on their journey. She said that, since this is all they began with, it should come with them. When they arrived at the office, Ellen noticed that her mother could use something special to carry as she was becoming legally married. She went out to a flower bed and decorated the broom for her mother to carry. Her mother was elated. In the end, Ellen's parents become legally married and they all celebrate. 

 I would love this story in my classroom! It was such a sweet story about overcoming hardship and seeing the good that can come with it. It also shows the importance of sticking together as a family through the good times and the bad times. I think many students would enjoy this novel because of the lessons that can be learned through it.

 I believe that this would be the most appropriate for first through third graders. It has a simple plot, and is a very easy read. It is historical fiction, but told through the eyes of a young girl, so I think that many students would relate to it and enjoy reading it more than they would most other historical fiction stories. 

 In my classroom, we could discuss family traditions. I could have each student write down a tradition they have and we could discuss how their traditions are important to them, just like Ellen's broom tradition was important to her. I could also hand them a blank canvas of a broom and have them decorate it in a way that suits them and their family's values. 
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