Loved this book. It was geared towards the ages of 8-11. I think it’s perfect for my nieces and nephews. I would also recommend this for someone to become introduced to the Clotilda story. It’s easily digestible. You follow a brief journey of the circumstances on how the ship got here and the present day impact.

This was a unique look at a shameful event that took place 5 years before the ending of slavery. The subject matter is dark and sometimes uncomfortable, but very important as a historical record. Africans were kidnapped and shipped illegally to the United States on the ship Clotilda. To hide the crime, the boat was taken upstream and burned. Where it sank was a mystery until researchers and divers began the hunt for this historical wreck. Illustrations and photographs were helpful to the story which covered the time the enslaved families were brought to the US to the descendants and existing settlement of the survivors.

This story was interesting. I have never heard of the Clotilda or Africatown. It was a short read and I noticed in the bibliography that a journalist also wrote a book about it so i am going to read that too.

In 1860, well after the trafficking of enslaved people ended, the Clotilda sailed into the Gulf of Mexico to Alabama. Her cargo was kidnapped Africans purchased by an American. These human beings were hidden (because it was illegal to import enslaved human beings) then sold again. Meanwhile, the Clotilda was taken upstream and set on fire to hide the crime. After five years of enslavement, these victims were freed whereupon they formed a community known as Africatown. This community still exists today and its residents have successfully advocated for a cleaner environment and the discovery of the sunken Clotilda.

“After the Clotilda” is an easy-to-understand history about the community of Africatown. It includes a glossary, explanation of environmental racism, and a list of selected resources. The visuals include contemporary and historical photographs, along with drawings and paintings.

The book is an important read to better understand the history of the United States and the State of Alabama. It speaks not only to crimes committed, but also to the resilience and commitment to justice of the people of the Africatown community.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Capstone Press, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I began learning about the Clotilda through Zora Neale Hurston's book "Barracoon." After reading that book and following Kossola's story, I read Ben Raines' book "The Last Slave Ship," but I still wanted to know more. "After the Clotilda" was my next stop.

"After the Clotilda" is a fantastic book to serve as an introduction to the Clotilda and Africatown, especially for young readers. Filled with pictures (both of the time and the present) and informational charts, this book will educate young readers about the passengers of the Clotilda before and after their forced journey. As a genealogist and amateur social historian, I was fascinated by the deep dive into the history of Africatown. I was also pleased to see "The Last Slave Ship" amongst the Bibliography, in addition to some other books I intend to check out.

This is a topic not generally covered in children's nonfiction books, so I am glad to see author Anitra Butler-Ngugi presenting this information in an easy to understand format for kids aged 8-11.

Structure/formatting 4.5/5
Thoroughness of research 4.5/5
Storytelling 5/5
Enjoyment 5/5
Prior Knowledge Needed 5/5

I had learned some of the history of the Clotilda before, however not to this depth. The text was informative, visual, and talked about the impacts slavery has had on the community (and, ultimately, the country). The author did a wonderful job highlighting acts of resistance and the idea of community in this book. My students are often asking to learn more about black history, and I think this book will make a good addition to the classroom book shelf.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

A great title to add to any children's library. I did not know anything about Clotilda until reading this book and I found that even as an adult the information was laid out in a simplistic way of understanding while gaining empathy for the community. It was very eye opening to read about environmental racism and I feel that a teacher could easily design research projects with this as an anchor text or source. There is a glossary, bibliography, and index provided.

How did I not already know about this important and unique historical community?? In the US, in Alabama, there is a town that was created by people who were kidnapped and brought over the sea in secret because it was no longer allowed. Even the sailors didn't know and demanded higher wages when they learned their true mission.
The author uses original sources and photographs to show the people who are part of this amazing story. The place is still there and its residents continue to fight for their safety and autonomy, which got a boost when their ship, the Clotilda, was found.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this