A beautiful picture book, recounting a little know, but important bit of American slavery history, this story tells the tale of the beginning of the end of slavery in Massachusetts.  During the days of the American Revolution, Mumbet worked as a “servant for life,” in the home of Colonel John Ashley of Berkshire County, Massachusetts.  In the course of her work, she was able to overhear the words of the declaration of independence and the new Massachusetts Constitution, and was able to turn the words of freedom and equality on her own situation, suing for and winning her freedom.  According to the author’s note in the back, two years after Mumbet won her freedom, slavery was declared unconstitutional throughout Massachusetts, and freedom was granted to all slaves in the state.