Henry's Freedom Box

Henry’s Freedom Box: a true story from the Underground Railroad	Scholastic Press
Written by Ellen Levine	2002
Nonficiton	64 pages
Reading Level ages 5-8	Caldecott Award

Summary

Henry was a slave on a plantation. All his brothers and sisters worked there. His mother talked about how things changed and about the tree leafs falling away from the tree. His master was dying and called Henry to his beside. Henry hoped he would be set free, but he was given to the master’s son to work in his tobacco factory. Henry had to leave all his brothers and sisters to work in the factory. All day he twisted tobacco leaves. He was whipped if he didn’t follow directions or moved too slow. One day, he was walking through the town and met a woman, Nancy. She was shopping for her mistress. They soon married and had two children. Nancy’s master had lost money in an investment and Nancy was worried their children would be sold to pay his debt. One day Henry heard that his family was sold. They were taken away to a new master and he never saw his family after that. He was dead inside. He still worked and twisted the tobacco plants, but he did nothing else. After a time, he became aware of the birds again and thought of being free. He talked to a friend and Dr. Smith who agreed to go along with his plan. They created a box that he would be shipped to freedom. He was sent by wagon, ship and train to arrive finally in Philadelphia. He was a free man at last.

Reaction

I liked this book .The pictures are amazing with detail and a good portrayal of emotions. I didn’t realize he was older when he was freed. The cover makes it seem like he was very small when he was shipped to freedom.

Potential Problems

It would be difficult for young children to understand the concept of selling human beings and the slave trade.

Recommendations

This would be a good introduction to the slave era in our history and the Underground Railroad movement that helped runaway slaves arrive safely to the north.