Come Juneteenth

Sis Goose has spent her life as a cherished part of Luli's family on a Texas plantation, even though she was born into slavery. Beneath that warmth lies a secret the household has kept from her. When Union soldiers arrive to announce that the enslaved people there were declared free almost two years earlier, Sis Goose discovers that the family she trusted has deceived her for years.

Shattered by this betrayal, she runs away, but the freedom she finds comes at a painful cost. The story asks how Texas could keep news of the Emancipation Proclamation from the people it affected. Rinaldi uses the novel to trace the events that led to Juneteenth, the celebration of freedom that is still observed today.

Part of the Great Episodes series, this historical drama is written for young readers and ends with an author's note.