A retelling of a tale of bravery against seemingly insurmountable odds and a community working together to overcome adversity, reminding us that no challenge is too great, and that even the smallest of us can make a world of difference. Includes the origins of the folktale and facts about hummingbirds.

In Charleston, South Carolina, in 1865, ten-year-old Eli and other newly freed slaves gather to honor the memory of fallen Union soldiers, an event considered to be one of the first celebrations of what is now called Memorial Day. Includes author's note.