American Literature ~Civil War Unit

A Taste of Freedom by Tommie Thompson. I am rather disappointed in the book. To me the reading level is 4th grade, but due to the content I wouldn't introduce it until at least Junior High. I have been in two mind about using it as the reading level is way below what Lord Epa is use too. I have decided to go ahead and use the book mainly because I want to introduce the topic. These are the questions I want Lord Epa to answer when he reads the book.

1. How believable is the book?
2. Do you think a slave would be able to make an informed decision about fighting for the South? Escaping North?
3. Do you think a slave and his Master could be friends? Do you think Bill was right to teach Bubba to read?
4. Since Bill disapproved of slavery why didn't he free his slaves? Do you think he was right in believing that they needed to be freed gradually? How big a part did peer pressure play in the decisions Bill made?