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    A Most Perilous World

    The True Story of the Young Abolitionists and Their Crusade Against Slavery

    Author Kristina R. Gaddy
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    Hardcover
    $19.99 US
    Penguin Young Readers | Dutton Books for Young Readers
    6.25"W x 9.38"H x 1.11"D  
    On sale Jun 10, 2025 | 352 Pages | 9780593855522
    Grade 9 & Up
    Reading Level: Lexile 1120L
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    The stories of the four teenage children of prominent abolitionists before and during the Civil War combine to form a surprisingly familiar tapestry of struggle, disappointment, and ultimately hope.

    "Impeccable research and incredible details bring the stories of these four young people to life as they come of age in the years leading up to and during the Civil War."—Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose

    Flowers in the Gutter author Kristina R. Gaddy tells the story of America’s tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War and of the war itself from the viewpoints of four children of famous abolitionists, including those of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Gaddy crafts a surprisingly contemporary coming-of-age narrative, supported by meticulous research and featuring dozens of primary documents. Each of these four young people—two white, two Black—was strongly committed to the anti-slavery cause but felt just as keenly a need to make their own names, away from the often over-protective or disapproving shadows of the famous adults in their lives. This is a true story of how a torch of resistance is passed and how a new generation makes its mark.
    K. R. Gaddy is a freelance writer and historian. Her previous work includes Flowers in the Gutter, which Kirkus praised as "an eye-opening account of tenacity that brings the efforts of young anti-Nazi activists vividly to life" in a starred review, and Well of Souls, which the Economist called "beguiling…Gaddy successfully blends archival skills with imagination." She received a Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Rubys Artist Grant for her writing and research. She lives in Baltimore. View titles by Kristina R. Gaddy
    ★"This fascinating, well-researched work looks at young people who were not only coming of age in tumultuous times but whose communities were important forces shaping these events. The rich use of primary sources provides a compelling immediacy that will draw readers in. Engaging and original narrative nonfiction offering insights into how historical lives resonate today."—Kirkus, starred review

    ★ "Gaddy’s thought-provoking take on what abolition means today concludes this distinct, well-researched view of American history."—Booklist, starred review

    ★ "Readers will feel like they are visiting old friends as the pages fly by in this captivating narrative nonfiction that pulls at the heartstrings.... An intriguing offering that shines a light into a lesser-known aspect of the American abolitionist movement. Highly recommended."—SLJ, starred review

    "An absorbing portrait of young adults trying to do good in a divided nation."—Publishers Weekly

    "A powerful, engrossing, and important look at the generations of resistance that were necessary to invoke widespread change in the country."—BCCB

    "Impeccable research and incredible details bring the stories of these four young people (two white and two Black) to life as they come of age in the years leading up to and during the Civil War. The inclusion of surprisingly relevant primary source materials will draw readers in, allowing them to connect the dots from this nation's dark past to today and furthermore to arm themselves with information to work toward a brighter future." —Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose

    About

    The stories of the four teenage children of prominent abolitionists before and during the Civil War combine to form a surprisingly familiar tapestry of struggle, disappointment, and ultimately hope.

    "Impeccable research and incredible details bring the stories of these four young people to life as they come of age in the years leading up to and during the Civil War."—Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose

    Flowers in the Gutter author Kristina R. Gaddy tells the story of America’s tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War and of the war itself from the viewpoints of four children of famous abolitionists, including those of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Gaddy crafts a surprisingly contemporary coming-of-age narrative, supported by meticulous research and featuring dozens of primary documents. Each of these four young people—two white, two Black—was strongly committed to the anti-slavery cause but felt just as keenly a need to make their own names, away from the often over-protective or disapproving shadows of the famous adults in their lives. This is a true story of how a torch of resistance is passed and how a new generation makes its mark.

    Author

    K. R. Gaddy is a freelance writer and historian. Her previous work includes Flowers in the Gutter, which Kirkus praised as "an eye-opening account of tenacity that brings the efforts of young anti-Nazi activists vividly to life" in a starred review, and Well of Souls, which the Economist called "beguiling…Gaddy successfully blends archival skills with imagination." She received a Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Rubys Artist Grant for her writing and research. She lives in Baltimore. View titles by Kristina R. Gaddy

    Praise

    ★"This fascinating, well-researched work looks at young people who were not only coming of age in tumultuous times but whose communities were important forces shaping these events. The rich use of primary sources provides a compelling immediacy that will draw readers in. Engaging and original narrative nonfiction offering insights into how historical lives resonate today."—Kirkus, starred review

    ★ "Gaddy’s thought-provoking take on what abolition means today concludes this distinct, well-researched view of American history."—Booklist, starred review

    ★ "Readers will feel like they are visiting old friends as the pages fly by in this captivating narrative nonfiction that pulls at the heartstrings.... An intriguing offering that shines a light into a lesser-known aspect of the American abolitionist movement. Highly recommended."—SLJ, starred review

    "An absorbing portrait of young adults trying to do good in a divided nation."—Publishers Weekly

    "A powerful, engrossing, and important look at the generations of resistance that were necessary to invoke widespread change in the country."—BCCB

    "Impeccable research and incredible details bring the stories of these four young people (two white and two Black) to life as they come of age in the years leading up to and during the Civil War. The inclusion of surprisingly relevant primary source materials will draw readers in, allowing them to connect the dots from this nation's dark past to today and furthermore to arm themselves with information to work toward a brighter future." —Kip Wilson, award-winning author of White Rose

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