Frederick Douglass was born a slave. He had a dream to escape slavery. He wanted to be free. He spent most of his time working for his owners.

Frederick didn't see his mother a lot. She walked through the woods just to hold him. But that ended when she passed. Frederick remembered her face for the rest of his life. He promised her that he'd escape.

Frederick had to be raised by his grandmother. She never told him about his mother's death.She told him that she was moved to another plantation. It was hard for him to understand

On Saturdays, the children were allowed a few hours to play. Frederick was shy, so he didn't play. Instead, he thought about his mother.

Frederick had bad masters. The worst was a slave "breaker" named Covey. Frederick was seventeen when he came. Covey saw that Frederick wasn't like other slaves. He saw that Frederick liked being alone and reading. Covey had to break his spirit before it was too late.

After a few months, Frederick lost his spirit and dream to escape slavery. Whenever he tried to get it back, Covey broke it again. Frederick didn't have a spirit until a man named Sandy came.

Sandy had a free wife but he was a slave. He invited Douglass to sneak out to see her. On the way, Sandy gave Douglass a root to give him powers. Douglass didn't believe that but took it anyway.

Once Frederick ate and spake, he was on his way back. When he got back, Covey did nothing to him but later that day Covey tried to beat him. Frederick was tired of him, so he fought back.

They fought for hours and hours. Covey even tried to get someone to hold Frederick down, but he didn't do it. Finally, the fight ended. Frederick felt good. Until he was moved to another plantation, Covey never beat Frederick again.

After leaving Covey, Mrs. Auld became his new mistress. She taught other slaves and him how to read. She also taught them how to write. She was Frederick's favorite mistress.