Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill
Molly Bannaky
by Alice McGill
Illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet
Houghton Mifflin Company (1999)
Winner: Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
Keywords: indentured servant, slavery, colonial America, interracial marriage, Benjamin Banneker
A swift read, Molly Bannaky tells how a cow kicks over the milk that Molly has just collected, which inevitably leads to a conviction of stealing the Lord’s milk and seven years of indentured servitude in the New World. Molly is spared death because she can read and this ability enables her, when released, to purchase a slave named Bannaky. Bannaky helps Molly run the homestead she has claimed and the two eventually fall in love. Molly signs Bannaky’s freedom papers,then they are married, breaking colonial law. The story concludes showing Molly teaching her grandson, noted African American mathematician Benjamin Banneker, to read.
Soentpiet’s soft, light-filled paintings sometimes do not match well with the text but do provide depth in the way they inform the reader of the emotion of the moment. However, because the text is spare it would be useful to discuss with children the implications of the events in Molly and Bannaky’s lives. To help the reader along with this, the author includes a historical note that explains more about 17th century England, the ocean crossing, the changes in the spelling of Bannaky as well as a bit about Benjamin Banneker.
Using Molly Bannaky in the classroom, outside of enriching discussion about Benjamin Banneker, would mean that teachers would need to be ready to talk about the inconsistencies it presents. As an example, the book clearly states that Molly and Bannaky were breaking colonial law by marrying, but does not discuss why or how doing so effected their lives and their children’s lives. There are, however, several connections to be made throughout the curriculum that can stand alone. It can be used as a discussion point when talking about colonial life, indentured servants, slavery and race relations. I believe the book to stand out for the same reason that it won the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award; its focus on how Molly and Bannaky defy the social norms of the times to find love and build a family. Children will understand the message of being loved for who you are as a person, rather than being ignored because of your race.
