Skip to main content

5000 Miles to Freedom


5000 Miles to Freedom
by, Judith Bloom Fradin
National Geographic, 2006. 96 pages. Juvenile Biography

This is the true and inspiring story of Ellen and William Craft.  The Crafts were a married couple who were also slaves, in Macon, Georgia in the year 1848.   As slaves any children they bore would become the property of their owners.  This was something they could not stand for.  Being a very courageous couple, they came up with a plan to escape Georgia, the South, and slavery.  Mrs. Craft wore a disguise that protected both her and her husband, as they embarked on their journey to freedom.  Their road to freedom was not easy, there were many times where they were required to use their creativity and quick thinking to get out of dangerous situations.  Once they did reach freedom in Boston, Massachusetts, their troubles were not over.  Slave hunters came all the way to Boston from Georgia to retrieve the Crafts and return them to their owners.  The people of Boston became their protectors, refusing to let the slave hunters take their friends.  The Crafts eventually moved to England to find true safety and peace.  Many years later, the Crafts brought their family back to America and to the South to help educate former slaves and their children.

A wonderful story of strength and perseverance.  Suitable, for young adults.  Some descriptions of the brutality of slavery and punishments inflicted. 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...

Five Faves: Witchy Intermediates

Hee hee hee! Hello, my pretties! Here are five short, illustrated chapter books for the season of the witch - some sweet, some spooky, all magical.  The Knitting Witch Written by Norma Kassirer Illustrated by Mark Richardson. Oakland, California : The Collective Book Studio, 2024. Intermediate. 88 pages. Outrageously spoiled Ivy Lou meets her match when a witch appears and tries to trick her into becoming her child. Ivy Lou must unravel the witch's dark magic and save her parents. A modern classic in the register of Roald Dahl, with mischief, humor and spookiness. Witchycakes: Sweet Magic  Written by Kara LaReau Illustrated by Ariane Moreira. New York : Random House Children's Books, 2025. Intermediate. 76 pages. Witchycakes  owes a lot to  Kiki's Delivery Service : a cute newbie witch making and delivering baked goods to the residents of their dreamy seaside town. It's cozy and sweet with lots of glowy illustrations. New Girl: Diary of an Accidental Witch Written by...

If You Like... Spooky Season Informational Books

It's that eerie time of year, and you may have started wondering about all the whys and hows behind our spookiest traditions. Well then, non-fiction readers, celebrate—because this is the list for you! Here are some of the latest publications covering everything from ghoulicious cooking to haunting locales to spooky global celebrations and stories for this bone-chilling season! Spooky Celebrations Around the World Written by Matt Ralphs Illustrated by Veronika Kotyk  New York; London: Phaidon, 2024. Informational. 47 pages.  Dive into a global tour of fascinating festivals in Spooky Celebrations Around the World . Beyond familiar favorites like Halloween and DĆ­a de Muertos, this vibrant book introduces young readers to 21 unique celebrations honoring spirits across every continent. With playful, yet respectful text and stunning artwork, it's a brilliant, year-round read that will spark curiosity about cultural traditions and the world. Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious ...