Elizabeth Yates Knihy

In Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates, she used her experiences from her early years of living on her father’s large farm and the hours spent with a News Hampshire shepherd in writing this fiction story. Wolves, weather, a black lamb, a trusty dog―all are part of Peter’s life on a mountain farm. His best friend is Benji, a wise old shepherd, and Benj teaches Peter to care for the sprightly lamb that becomes his special pet, his cosset. As Biddy grows into her place as leader of the flock, Peter grows too, learning the skills and joys of the shepherd’s life. Mountain Born is a Newbery Honor Book.

When Amos Fortune was only fifteen years old, he was captured by slave traders and brought to Massachusetts, where he was sold at auction. Although his freedom had been taken, Amos never lost his dignity and courage. For 45 years, Amos worked as a slave and dreamed of freedom. And, at age 60, he finally began to see those dreams come true.