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Twice Enslaved

Liberty and Justice for Henrietta Wood

Illustrated by Erin K. Robinson
Hardcover
$19.99 US
6"W x 9"H | 20 oz | 12 per carton
On sale Feb 03, 2026 | 72 Pages | 9781662680748
Age 9-12 years | Grades 4-7

Here is the story of Henrietta Wood who was enslaved twice—but demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement.

A nonfiction book for ages 9–12 that puts a human face on the current issue of reparations.


Henrietta Wood was born enslaved. As a teen she was ripped from her family and sold. Years later, a miracle happened, and she was given freedom papers. But Henrietta’s freedom was short-lived. She was tricked back into enslavement and sent to a Mississippi cotton plantation. 

On June 19, 1865—Juneteenth—she was emancipated. Finally free for good, Henrietta Wood sued the man who had kidnapped her back into enslavement—and she won! Henrietta was one of the few people in United States history to ever receive a reparation payment for slavery.

Twice Enslaved is a true story of cruelty, resilience, ultimately triumph, told lyrically for middle-grade readers by Selene Castrovilla and boldly captured by artist Erin Robinson.
George Washington’s extraordinary character caught Selene Castrovilla’s eye years ago, and she set her sights on penning Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis De Lafayette. Her enthusiasm for the Father of our Country has never weakened. See what this revolutionary writer, native New Yorker, and mother of two sons is all about at selenecastrovilla.com. View titles by Selene Castrovilla
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator in the News and Documentary category. Trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art, Erin's illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, among others. Erin has lived in Kenya and these days splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC. View titles by Erin K. Robinson

About

Here is the story of Henrietta Wood who was enslaved twice—but demanded justice and was awarded the largest reparations ever granted for enslavement.

A nonfiction book for ages 9–12 that puts a human face on the current issue of reparations.


Henrietta Wood was born enslaved. As a teen she was ripped from her family and sold. Years later, a miracle happened, and she was given freedom papers. But Henrietta’s freedom was short-lived. She was tricked back into enslavement and sent to a Mississippi cotton plantation. 

On June 19, 1865—Juneteenth—she was emancipated. Finally free for good, Henrietta Wood sued the man who had kidnapped her back into enslavement—and she won! Henrietta was one of the few people in United States history to ever receive a reparation payment for slavery.

Twice Enslaved is a true story of cruelty, resilience, ultimately triumph, told lyrically for middle-grade readers by Selene Castrovilla and boldly captured by artist Erin Robinson.

Author

George Washington’s extraordinary character caught Selene Castrovilla’s eye years ago, and she set her sights on penning Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis De Lafayette. Her enthusiasm for the Father of our Country has never weakened. See what this revolutionary writer, native New Yorker, and mother of two sons is all about at selenecastrovilla.com. View titles by Selene Castrovilla
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator in the News and Documentary category. Trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art, Erin's illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, among others. Erin has lived in Kenya and these days splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC. View titles by Erin K. Robinson