Skip to main content

Overground Railroad


Written by: Lesa Cline-Ransome 
Illustrated by: James Ransome
New York: Holiday House, 2020. Picture Book.

Many of us have heard of the Underground Railroad that happened in the 1800's around the time of the Civil war but have you ever heard of the Overground Railroad or the Great Migration? This story is based on the Great Migration of people leaving behind what was familiar and heading towards new possibilities.  Slavery may have been a thing of the past but many African Americans were still chained to the sharecropper system in the south in the 1900's. This system kept many African Americans shackled to the land and its owners by keeping them in debt year after year and making it illegal for them to leave without the landowners permission. As a result many escaped this form of bondage by leaving on trains bound for the north where they would be free from oppression. 

In the Overground Railroad, Ruth Ellen tells the story of how she and her parents boarded a train in the early morning, and headed for New York. Each stop along the way brings new passengers who are heading north. As she stares out the window she see's the cotton fields, the working fields, the crooked shacks and the blue ridge mountains fading away as the Delaware River comes into view. The north offers freedom, education and hope. In the words of the author, Lesa Cline-Ransome "Overground Railroad is inspired by just one of the many stories of people running from and running to at the same time." 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

If You Like...Ladybugs

Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by NinĢ‹a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

I was a kid myself when  The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out  is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...