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Harriet Tubman: Fluchthelferin bei der Underground Railroad. Aus der Sklaverei in die Freiheit
Harriet Tubman wurde in der Sklaverei geboren und träumte davon, frei zu sein. Sie war bereit, alles zu riskieren – auch ihr eigenes Leben -, um diesen Traum wahr werden zu lassen. Nach ihrer waghalsigen Flucht war sie Teil der geheimen Organisation »Underground Railroad« und half anderen auf dem gefährlichen Weg in die Freiheit.
Die Organisation »Underground Railroad« war von von etwa 1849 bis zum Ende des Amerikanischen Bürgerkriegs aktiv, sie half geflüchteten Sklaven, aus den Südstaaten in die Nordstaaten der USA oder nach Kanada zu gelangen. Harriet Tubman war die bekannteste afroamerikanische Fluchthelferin dieser Organisation. Nachdem sie selbst im Jahr 1849 erfolgreich der Sklaverei entflohen war, kehrte sie unter dem Codenamen Moses mehrfach in die Südstaaten zurück, um anderen Sklaven auf ihrer Flucht behilflich zu sein. Im Amerikanischen Bürgerkrieg arbeitete sie als Kundschafterin für die Nordstaaten. In ihren späteren Lebensjahren engagierte sie sich in der Frauenbewegung. Heute zählt Harriet Tubman in den USA zu den bekanntesten historischen Persönlichkeiten des Abolitionismus.
Ann Petrys »Harriet Tubman« wurde vom New Yorker als »ein bewegendes Porträt« und von der Chicago Tribune als »großartig« gelobt. Es ist ein ergreifendes und zugängliches Porträt der heldenhaften Frau, die mehr als siebzig versklavte Menschen in die Freiheit führte.
Die Organisation »Underground Railroad« war von von etwa 1849 bis zum Ende des Amerikanischen Bürgerkriegs aktiv, sie half geflüchteten Sklaven, aus den Südstaaten in die Nordstaaten der USA oder nach Kanada zu gelangen. Harriet Tubman war die bekannteste afroamerikanische Fluchthelferin dieser Organisation. Nachdem sie selbst im Jahr 1849 erfolgreich der Sklaverei entflohen war, kehrte sie unter dem Codenamen Moses mehrfach in die Südstaaten zurück, um anderen Sklaven auf ihrer Flucht behilflich zu sein. Im Amerikanischen Bürgerkrieg arbeitete sie als Kundschafterin für die Nordstaaten. In ihren späteren Lebensjahren engagierte sie sich in der Frauenbewegung. Heute zählt Harriet Tubman in den USA zu den bekanntesten historischen Persönlichkeiten des Abolitionismus.
Ann Petrys »Harriet Tubman« wurde vom New Yorker als »ein bewegendes Porträt« und von der Chicago Tribune als »großartig« gelobt. Es ist ein ergreifendes und zugängliches Porträt der heldenhaften Frau, die mehr als siebzig versklavte Menschen in die Freiheit führte.
219 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1955
576 people are currently reading
1962 people want to read
About the author
Ann Petry
25 books416 followersAnn Petry (October 12, 1908 – April 28, 1997) was an American author who became the first black woman writer with book sales topping a million copies for her novel The Street.
The wish to become a professional writer was raised in Ann for the first time in high school when her English teacher read her essay to the class commenting on it with the words: “I honestly believe that you could be a writer if you wanted to.” The decision to become a pharmacist was her family’s. She turned up in college and graduated with a Ph.G. degree from Connecticut College of Pharmacy in New Haven in 1931 and worked in the family business for several years. She also began to write short stories while she was working at the pharmacy.
On February 22, 1938, she married George D. Petry of New Iberia, Louisiana, which brought Petry to New York. She not only wrote articles for newspapers such as The Amsterdam News, or The People's Voice, and published short stories in The Crisis, but also worked at an after-school program at P.S. 10 in Harlem. It was during this period of her life that she had realized and personally experienced what the majority of the black population of the United States had to go through in their everyday life.
Traversing the streets of Harlem, living for the first time among large numbers of poor black people, seeing neglected children up close – Petry's early years in New York inevitably made impressions on her. Impacted by her Harlem experiences, Ann Petry used her creative writing skills to bring this experience to paper. Her daughter Liz explained to the Washington Post that “her way of dealing with the problem was to write this book, which maybe was something that people who had grown up in Harlem couldn’t do.”
Petry's most popular novel The Street was published in 1946 and won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship with book sales topping a million copies.
Back in Old Saybrook in 1947, the writer worked on Country Place (1947), The Narrows (1953), other stories, and books for children, but they have never achieved the same success as her first book. Until her death Petry lived in an 18th-century house in her hometown, Old Saybrook. She drew on her personal experiences of the hurricane in Old Saybrook in her 1947 novel, Country Place. Although the novel is set in the immediate aftermath of World War II, Petry identified the 1938 New England huricane as the source for the storm that is at the center of her narrative. Ann Lane Petry died at the age of 88 on April 28, 1997. She was outlived by her husband, George Petry, who died in 2000, and her only daughter, Liz Petry.
(from Wikipedia)
The wish to become a professional writer was raised in Ann for the first time in high school when her English teacher read her essay to the class commenting on it with the words: “I honestly believe that you could be a writer if you wanted to.” The decision to become a pharmacist was her family’s. She turned up in college and graduated with a Ph.G. degree from Connecticut College of Pharmacy in New Haven in 1931 and worked in the family business for several years. She also began to write short stories while she was working at the pharmacy.
On February 22, 1938, she married George D. Petry of New Iberia, Louisiana, which brought Petry to New York. She not only wrote articles for newspapers such as The Amsterdam News, or The People's Voice, and published short stories in The Crisis, but also worked at an after-school program at P.S. 10 in Harlem. It was during this period of her life that she had realized and personally experienced what the majority of the black population of the United States had to go through in their everyday life.
Traversing the streets of Harlem, living for the first time among large numbers of poor black people, seeing neglected children up close – Petry's early years in New York inevitably made impressions on her. Impacted by her Harlem experiences, Ann Petry used her creative writing skills to bring this experience to paper. Her daughter Liz explained to the Washington Post that “her way of dealing with the problem was to write this book, which maybe was something that people who had grown up in Harlem couldn’t do.”
Petry's most popular novel The Street was published in 1946 and won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship with book sales topping a million copies.
Back in Old Saybrook in 1947, the writer worked on Country Place (1947), The Narrows (1953), other stories, and books for children, but they have never achieved the same success as her first book. Until her death Petry lived in an 18th-century house in her hometown, Old Saybrook. She drew on her personal experiences of the hurricane in Old Saybrook in her 1947 novel, Country Place. Although the novel is set in the immediate aftermath of World War II, Petry identified the 1938 New England huricane as the source for the storm that is at the center of her narrative. Ann Lane Petry died at the age of 88 on April 28, 1997. She was outlived by her husband, George Petry, who died in 2000, and her only daughter, Liz Petry.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
March 1, 2020
Petry failed to provide reference information for this book, however, the book reads the same as many narratives I have read on Tubman.
Book is suitable for probably 4th grade - middle school.
Book is suitable for probably 4th grade - middle school.
October 21, 2020
Harlem is an essay by Ann Petry. It was written in 1949 at the invitation of the editors of the travel magazine, Holiday, for an issue in which Manhattan was to hold center stage. Petry wrote this essay to provide the text for a photo essay on Harlem. The photographs that showed Harlem in all its grime and glory were taken by George Leavens.
I wanted to hear more of Petry’s voice after I finished reading The Street, a powerful debut novel on the struggles of a single African American woman seeking a better life and future on 116th street in NY city in the 1940’s. I was delighted to stumble on this essay featured in Library of America. Once again, Petry’s vivid prose was a joy to read.
The essay showcased Harlem’s varied faces and the diverse teeming population that lived there during the Depression to the late 1940s. There were the smelly tenements in the Hollow, 'the most miserable shelter in the world', where the first influx of Black people lived. I was reminded of the ‘dingy, vermin-ridden rooms’ described in The Street. In contrast, there was also Sugar Hill where lived the moneyed class and the Hill Aristocrats. What I enjoyed most was Petry’s ability to capture the sights and sounds of Harlem. Despite it being thought of as a crime infested ghetto, there was an unmistakable vibrancy that seemed to defy the squalor and poverty. In the nightclubs were the entertainers (‘long-legged girls in the floor show’) and calypso singers; in the street corners were pushcart peddlers from whom a hungry Harlemite might buy a hot roasted yam on a cold winter’s night. Lest one thinks Harlem is just a dumping ground for losers, Petry had a few surprises for us.
This essay can be read here: Harlem
I wanted to hear more of Petry’s voice after I finished reading The Street, a powerful debut novel on the struggles of a single African American woman seeking a better life and future on 116th street in NY city in the 1940’s. I was delighted to stumble on this essay featured in Library of America. Once again, Petry’s vivid prose was a joy to read.
The essay showcased Harlem’s varied faces and the diverse teeming population that lived there during the Depression to the late 1940s. There were the smelly tenements in the Hollow, 'the most miserable shelter in the world', where the first influx of Black people lived. I was reminded of the ‘dingy, vermin-ridden rooms’ described in The Street. In contrast, there was also Sugar Hill where lived the moneyed class and the Hill Aristocrats. What I enjoyed most was Petry’s ability to capture the sights and sounds of Harlem. Despite it being thought of as a crime infested ghetto, there was an unmistakable vibrancy that seemed to defy the squalor and poverty. In the nightclubs were the entertainers (‘long-legged girls in the floor show’) and calypso singers; in the street corners were pushcart peddlers from whom a hungry Harlemite might buy a hot roasted yam on a cold winter’s night. Lest one thinks Harlem is just a dumping ground for losers, Petry had a few surprises for us.
This essay can be read here: Harlem
July 31, 2013
Two stars or less because this should not be categorized as nonfiction. While there might be value in reading this book to get a "feel" for Tubman's life, it should be considered historical fiction. It was written in 1955 and Petry's purpose was to provide readers with a viewpoint of slavery that was not being represented in textbooks of the time. What writers in the field have agreed on since then is that to be accurate, you cannot make up what was said during an event or in a person's life. You can use quotes from primary sources or from people you've interviewed during your research, but you cannot just make it up. Petry narrates a discussion that took place in Harriet's parents' cabin the night Harriet was born and continues to do so from there. There is no documentation of what was said specifically at events like the night Harriet was born. Petry is conjecturing. This is not be acceptable in 2013 informational texts - despite this book's continued publication.
Petry does end each chapter with clear facts about other events that were occurring during a particular period and at some points late in the book, she includes quotes by Harriet and a few others in the narrative, BUT the majority of the book is a narrative that includes what was happening, being said, and so forth.
I'm sure Petry did some research. She passed away in the 1990's and I haven't found any kind of description of her research on-line so it's hard to know what she did. I want to read Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman by Susan Bradford - who knew Harriet and interviewed her extensively for the book (to raise money to support Harriet). I'd also like to read two more authoritative books - Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Clinton and Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of a Hero. While the first book by Bradford was criticized for accuracy - it is based on the perceptions of Tubman (who did not know how to read and write). This might serve as a primary source - similar to Frederick Douglass' autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
If students do read Petry's book - there's room for teaching about an author's interpretation of historical events and documents and how that influences what is written.
Petry does end each chapter with clear facts about other events that were occurring during a particular period and at some points late in the book, she includes quotes by Harriet and a few others in the narrative, BUT the majority of the book is a narrative that includes what was happening, being said, and so forth.
I'm sure Petry did some research. She passed away in the 1990's and I haven't found any kind of description of her research on-line so it's hard to know what she did. I want to read Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman by Susan Bradford - who knew Harriet and interviewed her extensively for the book (to raise money to support Harriet). I'd also like to read two more authoritative books - Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Clinton and Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of a Hero. While the first book by Bradford was criticized for accuracy - it is based on the perceptions of Tubman (who did not know how to read and write). This might serve as a primary source - similar to Frederick Douglass' autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
If students do read Petry's book - there's room for teaching about an author's interpretation of historical events and documents and how that influences what is written.
March 9, 2022
Seit ich 2020 "The Street" von Ann Petry in die Finger bekam bin ich großer Fan dieser tollen und besonderen Autorin. In ihren Romanen beschäftigt sie sich mit der Frage, was es bedeutet, afroamerikanisch bzw. weiß zu sein sowie mit Rassismus in all seinen verschiedenen Daseinsformen. Mit "Harriet Tubman: Fluchthelferin bei der Underground Railroad. Aus der Sklaverei in die Freiheit" liegt nun erstmals eine von Ann Petry verfasste Biografie in deutscher Übersetzung von Hella Reese vor.
Harriet Tubman wurde in der Sklaverei geboren. Vom Beginn ihres Lebens an träumt sie von der Freiheit, doch von der Farm, auf der sie lebt und arbeitet, scheint es kein Entkommen zu geben. Sie erfährt viel Leid durch ihre Sklavenhalter*innen und wird auch immer wieder Zeugin brutalster Übergriffe auf ihre Familienmitglieder. Erst im Erwachsenenalter gelingt ihr die Flucht. Sie nutzt die »Underground Railroad«, eine von etwa 1849 bis zum Ende des Amerikanischen Bürgerkriegs aktive Organisation, die geflüchteten Sklav*innen half, aus den Südstaaten in die Nordstaaten der USA oder nach Kanada zu gelangen. Doch mit ihrer eigenen Flucht gab sich Harriet Tubman nicht zufrieden: Sie schloss sich der Organisation an und zeigte mehr als 70 Sklav*innen den Weg in die Freiheit. Später, im Amerikanischen Bürgerkrieg, arbeitete sie als Kundschafterin für die Nordstaaten und in ihren nachfolgenden Lebensjahren engagierte sie sich in der Frauenbewegung.
Ann Petry gelingt es in ihrem Buch, Harriet Tubman vor dem inneren Auge der Lesenden wieder auferstehen zu lassen. Mit größter (An-)Spannung habe ich den Lebensweg dieser bedeutenden Persönlichkeit verfolgt und war ergriffen von ihrem Mut und ihrer selbstlosen Courage. Ich bin sehr froh darüber, dass Ann Petry das Leben von Harriet Tubman auf Papier festgehalten hat und so uns allen zugänglich macht. Die Biografie wurde zwar nicht ganz exakt mit Quellenangaben belegt, trotzdem denke ich, dass sie sich vor allem für den Englischunterricht in der Mittel- oder Oberstufe sehr gut eignen würde - gegen das Vergessen und für das Erinnern, vor allem an eine so inspirierende Frauenfigur. Außerdem wurde die Biografie sehr gekonnt in den historischen Kontext eingebunden: Am Ende eines jeden Kapitels finden sich wichtige Daten und Fakten, außerdem gibt es im Anhang ein Glossar zu Begrifflichkeiten und Persönlichkeiten.
Zum Schluss möchte ich noch anmerken, wie gelungen ich die Übersetzung von Hella Reese fand. Sie geht höchst sensibel mit den sprachlichen Feinheiten der Biografie um, ordnet historische Ungenauigkeiten ein und behält den Stil der Autorin sehr gut bei. So konnte ich mich ganz auf das Buch einlassen - eine große Empfehlung meinerseits!
Harriet Tubman wurde in der Sklaverei geboren. Vom Beginn ihres Lebens an träumt sie von der Freiheit, doch von der Farm, auf der sie lebt und arbeitet, scheint es kein Entkommen zu geben. Sie erfährt viel Leid durch ihre Sklavenhalter*innen und wird auch immer wieder Zeugin brutalster Übergriffe auf ihre Familienmitglieder. Erst im Erwachsenenalter gelingt ihr die Flucht. Sie nutzt die »Underground Railroad«, eine von etwa 1849 bis zum Ende des Amerikanischen Bürgerkriegs aktive Organisation, die geflüchteten Sklav*innen half, aus den Südstaaten in die Nordstaaten der USA oder nach Kanada zu gelangen. Doch mit ihrer eigenen Flucht gab sich Harriet Tubman nicht zufrieden: Sie schloss sich der Organisation an und zeigte mehr als 70 Sklav*innen den Weg in die Freiheit. Später, im Amerikanischen Bürgerkrieg, arbeitete sie als Kundschafterin für die Nordstaaten und in ihren nachfolgenden Lebensjahren engagierte sie sich in der Frauenbewegung.
Ann Petry gelingt es in ihrem Buch, Harriet Tubman vor dem inneren Auge der Lesenden wieder auferstehen zu lassen. Mit größter (An-)Spannung habe ich den Lebensweg dieser bedeutenden Persönlichkeit verfolgt und war ergriffen von ihrem Mut und ihrer selbstlosen Courage. Ich bin sehr froh darüber, dass Ann Petry das Leben von Harriet Tubman auf Papier festgehalten hat und so uns allen zugänglich macht. Die Biografie wurde zwar nicht ganz exakt mit Quellenangaben belegt, trotzdem denke ich, dass sie sich vor allem für den Englischunterricht in der Mittel- oder Oberstufe sehr gut eignen würde - gegen das Vergessen und für das Erinnern, vor allem an eine so inspirierende Frauenfigur. Außerdem wurde die Biografie sehr gekonnt in den historischen Kontext eingebunden: Am Ende eines jeden Kapitels finden sich wichtige Daten und Fakten, außerdem gibt es im Anhang ein Glossar zu Begrifflichkeiten und Persönlichkeiten.
Zum Schluss möchte ich noch anmerken, wie gelungen ich die Übersetzung von Hella Reese fand. Sie geht höchst sensibel mit den sprachlichen Feinheiten der Biografie um, ordnet historische Ungenauigkeiten ein und behält den Stil der Autorin sehr gut bei. So konnte ich mich ganz auf das Buch einlassen - eine große Empfehlung meinerseits!
March 4, 2020
Three I Liked It Stars
To be clear, three stars is not a bad rating. It means I liked the book; I just didn't love it. I enjoyed this; I would recommend it, but I probably won't ever re-read it.
The life of Harriet Tubman here is narrated by Petry in a very factual manner, so I didn't feel my emotions moved much, but when looking at the facts of Tubman's life, I am utterly astonished. She is truly inspirational. There are so many times she should have died and didn't, been injured and wasn't. If a person's life can truly be touched by God, then Tubman's surely was.
To be clear, three stars is not a bad rating. It means I liked the book; I just didn't love it. I enjoyed this; I would recommend it, but I probably won't ever re-read it.
The life of Harriet Tubman here is narrated by Petry in a very factual manner, so I didn't feel my emotions moved much, but when looking at the facts of Tubman's life, I am utterly astonished. She is truly inspirational. There are so many times she should have died and didn't, been injured and wasn't. If a person's life can truly be touched by God, then Tubman's surely was.
March 9, 2018
This book was originally published in 1955 but has been updated with a forward by Jason Reynolds and fabulous cover art by Caldecott honor award and NAACP Image Award winner Kadir Nelson. Petry wrote this book from conversations she personally had with Harriet Tubman, however there appears to be some descriptions and narrative that are not actually factual. I did appreciate the chronological facts and quotes at the end of each chapter that helped put everything in context to give a more detailed history. It is an interesting and very readable biography. Harriet’s dream of freedom is documented through her life of slavery in Maryland and the abuse she witnessed and experienced. Reading about her marriage to a free man who didn’t support her desire to flee, her courageous act as a child that caused health problems throughout her life, and how she developed other skills that led to her incredible legacy are remarkable. It was enlightening to get this more in-depth picture of her life. I highly recommend this book to Middle Schoolers all the way up to adults.
September 12, 2023
Jason Reynold's forward assuredly sets the tone for this autobiography of Harriet Tubman. Originally, published in 1955, Ann Petry has detailed the best Historical read of Tubman's entire life beginning from birth as Araminta. With this Author's narrative talents, this is an exceptionally engaging story for middle school age readers. One to never be forgotten.
September 10, 2019
A stirring biography of Harriet Tubman for readers 10 and up. Contains many details of her life, especially right up through the civil war. There were many that I wasn’t aware of and found interesting. Good book.
March 23, 2024
Es ist zwar offiziell ein Jugendbuch, ich finde aber, dass es sich auch sehr gut für alle Erwachsene eignet, die sich mit dem Abolitionismus des 19. Jahrhundert und der Underground Railroad beschäftigen wollen, denen andere Bücher aber zu detailliert Grausamkeiten beschreiben. Gewalt wird hier zwar an einigen Stellen benannt, aber nicht ausführlich in ganzen Szenen beschrieben. Außerdem ist es eine wirklich gute Mischung aus biographischem Roman und historischen Hintergründen. Es gibt auch ein Glossar und einige Übersetzungshinweise v.a. zu Fremd-/Selbstbezeichnungen und aus welchen Gründen diese aus dem amerikanischen Englisch (nicht) übernommen wurden. Informationen und Zitate, die historisch nicht belegt sind oder von der Realität abweichen, sind auch häufig markiert. Insgesamt hatte ich den Eindruck, dass hier eine Biographie von Autorin und Übersetzerin wahnsinnig gut aufgearbeitet wurde und trotzdem eine gut zu lesende, zusammenhängende Erzählung bleibt.
August 27, 2019
I only knew the barest outlines of Harriet Tubman's life before I read this book. Now I feel like I've met her. The focus is on her work with the Underground Railroad, as indicated by the title, and her work for the Union Army during the Civil War is glossed over, by comparison. I would have liked to learn more about those exploits, but that's a story that would probably fill another book. This is a riveting tale of a true American hero, and author Ann Petry tells it well. I especially like the way she framed each chapter with events taking place in Congress and elsewhere that place Tubman's story on the stage of American history.
March 25, 2018
Ever since I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with Harriet Tubman. I remember the first book I read about her as a little girl. I remember how in awe I was over Harriet's braveness. I also remember that the book was too short. I wish I had known about this book then because I surely would have read it.
I do think that this book should be classified as historical fiction, though. Yes, it is based on Harriet's life, but it is told as a story and the author has included what she no doubt thought were Harriet's feelings, which no person could know except Harriet herself.
However, if you want to get a small feel for what it was like to be Harriet, or to be a slave, or daring the perils of the Underground Railroad to freedom, you should read this book.
I do think that this book should be classified as historical fiction, though. Yes, it is based on Harriet's life, but it is told as a story and the author has included what she no doubt thought were Harriet's feelings, which no person could know except Harriet herself.
However, if you want to get a small feel for what it was like to be Harriet, or to be a slave, or daring the perils of the Underground Railroad to freedom, you should read this book.
May 3, 2008
One of my top ten books. Harriet was an amazing woman, an inspiration for all. Her story brings tears to your eyes when you learn of her life in slavery. My 7 year old is reading all about her and she has become a heroine in our home.
March 6, 2020
The Podlings, who had only ever read a few sentences in history books about Harriet Tubman, were shocked by the details of her life and how little help or recognition she received toward the end of her lifetime. This is a solid kid-level starting place for those of you seeking one.
September 11, 2019
A remarkable book about a remarkable woman!
August 27, 2020
Ann Petry's, "Harriet Tubman, Conductor of The Underground Railroad," is written in simple prose. In fact, it was originally written for children. But, don't let the simplicity of the style fool you. This novel, about this extraordinary, courageous woman, is quite powerful and educational and important.
Ms. Tubman helped free over 300 slaves from Maryland plantations during the 1850's, traveling mostly at night, silently drudging through forests, wading rivers, and stopping at safe houses set up to shelter and feed the runaways on their way to freedom in Delaware, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and eventually Canada when the Courts in the United States and the government passed "The Fugitive Slave Law" which made it a crime, even in the free states, to help and hide escaped slaves.
The Safe Houses, were run by Quakers, free slaves, and white men and women of conscience who understood that slavery was wrong and sacrilegious. During the Civil War Ms. Tubman served as a scout, a nurse, and gave speeches on the subject of slavery, and after the war fought for the right of women to vote. She was never able to read and write, as a slave the plantation owners did not want their free labor educated. It could only cause problems, which makes Ms. Tubman's accomplishment the more remarkable.
In our current time of social unrest, with movements like Black Lives Matter and the ME TOO movement, it is important to remember the sacrifices made by such individuals because without their courage and foresight such movements might not exist. Social Justice in America has been a slow process, but if things seem bad now, they were a million times worse back two hundred years ago when Ms. Tubman's was born, property of a plantation owner.
Knowing one's history is very important, and Ann Petry's book is a guide and an education and shines a light on a part of American history that is quite ugly and that children and adults would benefit greatly from knowing as much as possible about.
Ms. Tubman helped free over 300 slaves from Maryland plantations during the 1850's, traveling mostly at night, silently drudging through forests, wading rivers, and stopping at safe houses set up to shelter and feed the runaways on their way to freedom in Delaware, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and eventually Canada when the Courts in the United States and the government passed "The Fugitive Slave Law" which made it a crime, even in the free states, to help and hide escaped slaves.
The Safe Houses, were run by Quakers, free slaves, and white men and women of conscience who understood that slavery was wrong and sacrilegious. During the Civil War Ms. Tubman served as a scout, a nurse, and gave speeches on the subject of slavery, and after the war fought for the right of women to vote. She was never able to read and write, as a slave the plantation owners did not want their free labor educated. It could only cause problems, which makes Ms. Tubman's accomplishment the more remarkable.
In our current time of social unrest, with movements like Black Lives Matter and the ME TOO movement, it is important to remember the sacrifices made by such individuals because without their courage and foresight such movements might not exist. Social Justice in America has been a slow process, but if things seem bad now, they were a million times worse back two hundred years ago when Ms. Tubman's was born, property of a plantation owner.
Knowing one's history is very important, and Ann Petry's book is a guide and an education and shines a light on a part of American history that is quite ugly and that children and adults would benefit greatly from knowing as much as possible about.
February 2, 2025
Sydney’s third novel for school. Very well told account of Harriet Tubman’s fight for freedom.
March 28, 2022
Harriet Tubman has become one of my favourite women from history. I’m impressed by her strength, courage and determination to free over 300 enslaved African Americans from her home state of Maryland and bring them to safely to the North. She took many risks and never lost faith in God and herself.
I recommend this book because it’s immersive, poetic and it also daws a clear picture of the historical context in which Harriet lived. “Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad” by Ann Petry is a book I won’t forget anytime soon.
I recommend this book because it’s immersive, poetic and it also daws a clear picture of the historical context in which Harriet lived. “Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad” by Ann Petry is a book I won’t forget anytime soon.
June 14, 2025
I liked this book bc it was really interesting and had a lot of information, but if im being honest it was just too much for me. Like it was painful reading it in school. But other than that I found it really cool!
November 23, 2008
This is a very readable biography of the remarkable slave liberator. Harriet was born a slave in Maryland's eastern shore, and dreamed of freedom "in the north" all her life. The book documents some of the brutal treatment of slaves including some of Harriet's abuse during her upbringing, which contributed to lasting health problems. But once she escaped to freedom, she realized that she had skills and knowledge that could also free her family and others. She made repeated trips back to the south, serving as a "conductor" on the "Underground Railroad" and helping hundreds of slaves to escape to freedom. She was known as "Moses" because of her skills; she was never captured and never lost one of her "passengers." In her later life she continued to work for rights and for women's suffrage.
January 4, 2013
i thought it was boring at first but when i kept reading the book i kept getting into it and i finished the book in 22 days because i read chapter by chapter each day so i recommend this book for every one to read but when i finished the book i ended up reading it for class with my teacher and we will write summaries of the book and now i and writing about every part of the story i hope you guys like it and love it because sure enough did have a great day and enjoy yourself
April 16, 2008
Great book. I had no idea she did so much. It is from the junior section, so there wasn't the gore of slavery, just the explanation of the horrible wrong it is. It talked very simply about what she went through, but the vocabulary was still pretty advanced (I learned some words). I really appreciated the picture she painted.
December 7, 2016
I listened to the audio edition of this book. The narrator read slowly (which I like) and articulated well. The story of Harriet Tubman is fascinating, but I thought this telling was not great. It was somewhat repetitive (annoying). I would always recommend learning more about Harriet Tubman, but probably not this particular biography.
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January 9, 2010Awesome book for younger readers, combines historical content with some fictional parts in order to keep readers interested. Excellent way to teach young readers about the impact of this amazing woman on the history of our country and our world.
January 24, 2011
Just read Harriet Tubman ~ Conductor on the Underground Railroad by Ann Petry. We've all heard the stories, but WOW, what a woman - she is truly a Founding Mother of our Nation; the influence she had on policy makers, abolitionists, and our Nation's struggle with Civil Rights is unfathomable.
August 25, 2015
I read this book in a day out of necessity caused by procrastination, so my view of the book is admittedly a little warped. I enjoyed the information given, but the way it was presented made it more tedious to read in one day than other biographies I've read.
August 4, 2020
The book my teacher Mrs. Reid read to my class in 6th-grade. She did what she could to give some breadth of understanding to a class of suburban white kids. I loved her voice reading aloud to us in th darkened classroom. I carried this book in my head prominently for all these years.
February 20, 2019
must read
March 2, 2017
The story of Harriet Tubman is inspirational! Her compassion for others was astounding.
December 28, 2019
I am amazed that Harriet Tubman lived into the 20th century for some reason I had thought she died shortly after the civil war.
October 11, 2020
Book review
What an awesome courageous woman's could all learn from. Factual history well written. I feel honored & humbled to have a been able to read this.
What an awesome courageous woman's could all learn from. Factual history well written. I feel honored & humbled to have a been able to read this.
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