Freedom River

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Freedom River Cover Book

This is a children's storybook based on a true slave escape story, this picture book for older children combines an exciting, heartrending narrative with dramatic collage and watercolor pictures. This storybook is written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Bryan Collier. It also got nominations for Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators [1]

Plot

Kentucky was a slave state, but Ohio -- just across the Ohio River -- was free. Time and again, Parker sails across the river in the dark of night and brings slaves to Ohio. One night in November, Parker tries to free a family from the Shrofe plantation. But one man will not leave, fearful for his wife and child. Parker has to go back empty-handed, and the onset of winter prevents him from crossing the river for many weeks; in April, he tries again but is informed that Master Shrofe knows of the family's near escape and now keeps careful eye on all that they do -- even keeping their baby at the foot of his bed at night. Parker promises to help them. The next night he tells them to wait in the woods while he enters the master's house. Risking life and limb, he retrieves the infant, as Shrofe's angry shouts echo in the distance. [2]

Pros

This would be a wonderful read aloud story during a lesson plan dealing with history of the civil war, or black history month. The story is engaging and teaches children about the fight African Americans went through in order to receive freedom. The story could also be used as an independent read while discussing culture, diversity or history in class. If I had a lesson plan about culture, I would suggest this book to African American students that wanted to learn about there history. I would also recommend this story to students who were interested in the civil war or the civil rights movement. As a teacher you could use the book to teach culture, diversity, history and theme. [3]

Controversy

Though this book got so many good reviews, there is a reader who gives a critique to this book, they gave 3/5 stars for this book with a comment that it might be too difficult for younger students to process. The content of slavery and the Civil War is very intense, and may not be age-appropriate for some students. [4]

References

  1. Freedom River. Google Play. Retrieved January 26 2021.
  2. Freedom River. Goodreads. Retrieved January 26 2021.
  3. Freedom River. Goodreads. Retrieved January 26 2021.
  4. Freedom River. Goodreads. Retrieved January 26 2021.