Just read "To Be a Slave" (Lester) and "Slave Dancer" (Fox) for a 5th grade teacher concerned with the use of the "N" word...both books were excellent, and although the pc-ness (political correctness) of the "N" word is up for discussion, I felt the accurate portrayal of history overpowered any reservations we may have had. I would recommend both books...they were different, in that "Slave Dancer" was historical fiction, and "To Be a Slave" was a compilation of accounts from prior slaves. But again, both exemplified the conditions of the era and were extremely well-written.