Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Ellen Levine
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Major Awards: Caldecott Award
Age group: 4th-8th
Summary
This is a story about a boy named Henry. He is born into slavery and just as his master is uping in age Henry gains a little ounce of hope that he will be freed. Unfortunately his master gives Henry to his son because he is such a hardworking, loyal slave to the family. Henry then grows up still working as a slave for the family and he meets another slave that the family hires and they fall in love. His new master allows them to be married and have children. Unfortunately the plantation starts losing money and the owner has no choice but to sale Henry's family to other buyers. henry is heart broken after this takes place because he knows that he will never see his family again. Henry goes back to working on the plantation afterwards but he grows restless to the point where he needs to escape from this terrible life. he along with the help of his friend decide that they will mail Henry to the North where he will be a free man. Then the reader gets to follow Henry's journey in the box until he arrives through the safe haven from the underground railroad.
Evaluation
I think that this story accurately portrays the aspects of life as a slave way back when. I think that students could find value and make connections between this story and their history class. I might use this book in a middle school classroom in order to help formulate those connections between their classes as well as to introduce social injustices that have historically plagued our society.
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