Book
Summary:
Henry’s master has given him to his own son to work in
a tobacco factory. He must leave his mother and the rest of his family on the
plantation. Henry went to work for his new master and worked very hard. He then
met Nancy, another slave, and they were married. They had three children and
were as happy as the slaves could be in this situation. One day Nancy and the
kids were sold in the slave market, disappearing from Henry’s life. He
continued to go to work and do his job but his joy was gone. He then asked a
doctor for help and mails himself in a wooden crate north to friends who don’t
like slavery. Henry endures a cart ride, a train ride, and a steamship ride
where he is carelessly tossed all around. He finally finds arrives in
Pennsylvania at the friends’ house and is welcomed to his first day of freedom.
Additional information is included at the back of
the book about Henry’s real life story and what happened to him after arriving
in Pennsylvania. The information also includes a bit of history about the Underground
Railroad and what slaves endured during this time in history.
APA
Reference of Book:
Levine, E. (2007). Henry’s
Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. New York, NY: Scholastic
Press.
Impressions:
This was a really good telling about the experiences
of a slave with the Underground Railroad. The pictures add so much emotion and
depth to the story. The book provided just enough information to pique the
readers’ interest which might cause them to want to know more about events from
this time period. Reading about Henry gave me some interesting insight into
somethings I didn’t know happened during this time in history. I had heard of
the Underground Railroad but wasn’t aware of things like what happened to
Henry. I had no idea that slaves shipped themselves north to freedom. I enjoyed
learning this new information and would like to know more about Henry and
others like him.
Professional
Review:
Levine (Freedom's
Children ) recounts the true story of Henry Brown, a slave who mailed
himself to freedom. Thanks to Nelson's (Ellington Was Not a Street )
penetrating portraits, readers will feel as if they can experience Henry's
thoughts and feelings as he matures through unthinkable adversity. As a boy,
separated from his mother, he goes to work in his new master's tobacco factory
and eventually meets and marries another slave, with whom he has three
children. In a heart wrenching scene depicted in a dramatically shaded pencil,
watercolor and oil illustration, Henry watches as his family—suddenly sold in
the slave market—disappears down the road. Henry then enlists the help of an
abolitionist doctor and mails himself in a wooden crate "to a place where
there are no slaves!" He travels by horse-drawn cart, steamboat and train
before his box is delivered to the Philadelphia address of the doctor's friends
on March 30, 1849. Alongside Henry's anguished thoughts en route, Nelson's
clever cutaway images reveal the man in his cramped quarters (at times
upside-down). A concluding note provides answers to questions that readers may
wish had been integrated into the story line, such as where did Henry begin his
journey? (Richmond, Va.); how long did it take? (27 hours). Readers never learn
about Henry's life as a free man—or, perhaps unavoidably, whether he was ever
reunited with his family. Still, these powerful illustrations will make readers
feel as if they have gained insight into a resourceful man and his
extraordinary story. Ages 4-8. (Jan.)
Publishers
Weekly. (2007). [Review of Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the
Underground Railroad]. Publishers Weekly.
Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-439-77733-9.
Library
Uses:
Henry’s
Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad can
be used when introducing the topic of slavery. A librarian can read this to tie
into the curriculum for 5th or 8th grade to add some
additional context to the information being learned in history.
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