Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Ellen Levine
Awards: Caldecott (2008)
Age Group: 7 to 9-year-olds
Teacher's Evaluation: I would use this book in a second or third-grade classroom. This book has cross-curriculum potential and is also beautifully illustrated. I think this book would help students visualize history or open them to something new to learn about.
Summary: This children's book is a true story about the underground railroad. The story begins by introducing Henry Brown, he is a young child who is a slave. Henry worked in his master's house with his siblings. The master was good to Henry and his family but his mother told him that like the leaves on trees things can change. One morning, Henry's ill masters called him to his bed to tell him that he is now the master's son's worker. Henry has to say goodbye to his family to go work for his new master. Years pass and Henry works hard and well in his master's factory. The master would beat anyone who wouldn't work well. As time goes on, Henry meets a woman named Nancy out one day as she shops for his mistress. Henry likes Nancy and later asks to marry her. Both their masters agree to their marriage. Henry felt so lucky that he could live in a home with Nancy even though they didn't have the same masters. Henry and Nancy began to have kids but one day Nancy shared with Henry that she feared that her master would sell their children to make money. The next morning at work someone tells Henry that his wife and children were sold. Henry runs to town during lunchtime only to see his family being carried away on a cart. A time full of sadness passes for Henry, then he goes to a doctor who believed slavery was wrong to help him escape. Henry had a plan to mail himself in a box to a place without slavery. Henry injures himself so he can miss work and the doctor mails him to Philadelphia. The story ends with men opening Henry's box and welcoming him to Philadelphia.
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