Do you think that the sailor Tom Perry actually intended to give Nat one tenth of his prize money for a shilling? How did this early experience likely influence Nat?

When Nat is no longer able to go to school, he teaches himself. Why do you think it was so important to him? What might inspire you to do something like that?

How would you feel about being indentured as Nat was at the age of twelve? What do you think were the scariest things about it for Nat?