A very good friend, whom I respect very much, commented on the use of slave dialect in the book.  I explained that I deliberated long and hard.  I finally decided to submit the book as written because it depicted the reality the of the time period.  I had the chance to discuss "slave dialect" with a group of 10 and 11 year olds.  They were amazed to learn that the slaves were not permitted to learn how to read, write and speak properly.  After a lengthy discussion, the children realized how difficult it was for a group of people from different parts of the Mother Land, who spoke many dialects, to learn the English language and how to communicate with each other.  In hindsight, I should have explained to my readers the use of slave dialect and added a legend page.  However, teachers and parents have an excellent opportunity to explain the challenges and hardships the slaves faced.  It is important that children understand the slaves were unwilling and uprooted from their homeland and sent to a land that became their home.  This has been so noted and will definitely be included in the next book of the series.