F Is for Freedom

by Roni Schotter

Although it is against the law to house runaway slaves, Hannah's family does so by allowing a family into their home and soon Hannah decides to take it one step further by teaching their daughter how to read to better prepare her for her future.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, American History, Read For School

Hardcover

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[The Radical Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Roni Schotter

Recommended Age: 8-11

Date Published: 2000

Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:
Until the fateful night Amanda heard a slave baby cry, she had no idea that her parents were conductors on the Underground Railroad. When Amanda herself is tasked with protecting and helping a slave family get to freedom, can she be strong enough to guide them through unknown territory and escape north to freedom?


Notes from The Radical Reader:

Noble Characters:
Amanda’s simple play-acting games were always in fun, until the night she used her acting to save the lives of a family of runaway slaves and lead the constable away from their home. From that moment on, this little girl was awakened to the horrors of slavery and the important role of the Underground Railroad.

Captivating Plots:
Runaway slaves. Suspicious constables. Can Amanda guide a family of runaway slaves to freedom before they are caught, or will she be the reason the family is sent back into slavery?

Elaborate Worlds:
Set in the years preceding the American Civil War, a slave’s escape led them along the Underground Railroad and north towards freedom. Conductors like Amanda’s family risked everything to bring fugitives to the northern states, and even as far north as Canada. Through one little girl’s eyes, we see the terrifying prospects and painful threats of this journey, and the heroic actions of brave men and women seeking freedom.


Noteworthy Elements: None.

https://theradicalreader.com/f-is-for...

[Melanie Tillman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to decide if I wanted to read it with my daughter for homeschool this year since we will be studying this time period. It is the perfect level for a younger child: short with short chapters and written from a child's point of view. The thing I liked most was that the slave family were fully developed, fleshed out characters, especially the little girl Hannah who becomes the main character's best friend. It touches on the injustices and evil of the times in a child appropriate way that never becomes too upsetting. I think Amanda, the main character, is a great narrator because like a modern day child, slavery is something beyond her comprehension. So as Amanda discovers this evil, so does the reader.

My only negative about this book is that Amanda NEVER listens to her parents. Her disobedience is downright life and death dangerous at times, yet it is portrayed as something to be applauded. I get that her parents themselves are disobeying the law, but there is a huge difference between civil disobedience and ignoring what your father said on a whim. Hannah could have been caught at one point because of Amanda ignoring her father's implicit instructions. You would think this would be taken more seriously when they are all in such a life or death situation, but no. Amanda continues to disobey, even to the point of being heroic because of it. This is definitely something I will have to discuss with my daughter when we read it.

[Courtney Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

F is For Freedom, by Roni Schotter, is an historical fiction novel about the underground railroad and an unexpected friendship. In the book the main characters names are Hannah and Amanda. Amanda and her family live on top of the Underground Railroad, while Hannah and her family are runaway slaves. Amanda befriends Hannah and teachers her some basic schooling information like learning about letters, numbers, and how to read and write. Amanda decides that Hannah needs to go outside instead of hiding and experiences the world around them. This mistake puts both families in a lot of trouble. Amanda has to own up to her mistake and find a solution for Hannah's family. Amanda helps the family to the Underground Railroad and Hannah’s family makes it to Canada to be free.
This book is great for older elementary children to read to understand what was happening back then. It’s not a hard read or an easy read but I would say that the book should be read with an adult. There are some words that could be defined and some scenarios that could be explained. There are very few pictures throughout the book and to a new reader this could become overwhelming because the words are small but the chapters are short.
A teacher could utilize this book by explaining the history and the importance of the Underground Railroad. A teacher could explain the danger of the young white girl befriending an African American girl. Even though back then it was considered wrong, Amanda did the right thing in protecting Hannah and her family and becoming their friend.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book, short and told from the point of view of a 10 year old, who discovers her parents have deep secrets. The time period is the 1800's and the Underground Railroad is running strong, bringing run-away slaves from America to Canada. This book is a good introduction for young readers who want to know some truths about our country.
One evening a young girl heard noises out of her window. TO her surprise, the cargo that had been unloaded began to wriggle and move, revealing people climbing out of gunny sacks. She discovers her parents have deep secrets, secrets that involve lies to the authorities, and families hidden in underground spaces. She befriends one little girl her age. This girl told stories of her slavery that were hard for anyone to comprehend. The young daughter of the helping family becomes the hero, in the end, leading the run-away slaves to safety and freedom.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still busy reading my way through children's lit on the Civil War to decide what my kids should read next year in our studies. This book would be better for 3-4th grade girls. I would have rated it higher for story elements but really don't like stories in which the kids rescue the adults out of difficult situations, especially in a case like this in which the young girl is repeatedly disobedient, but not punished, though there is a terrible consequence one time.

[Hugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good book.

About girls dreaming big and want an adventure. The one day bonding got deeper and fast friend. They teach each other what they know like Amanda teach Hannah alphabets while Hannah give storytelling about her experience.

Both are living thru slavery time and longing for freedom which Hannah and her family heading to Canada.

Nice story. Good for YA

[Taren Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with wonderful child perspective. We read aloud but this could be an independent read as well.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short chapter book imagines what it would be like to be a child living in a home that is a stop on the Underground Railroad. Helpful book for talking about slavery and injustice with kids.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 3-6 94 pgs

1850. location?. One night, 10 year old Amanda wakes up in the middle of the night and sees her father talking to strangers in the front yard. The strangers turn out to be a family of escaped slaves and they have a girl that is about Amanda's age named Hannah. Amanda has always loved to play pretend which her parents don't like. But now it is very important that Amanda pretend that she doesn't know anything about the family hiding in her house. Amanda learns that her parents are part of the Undgeround Railroad which, with her family's help, will bring Hannah and her family to Canada and freedom.

I recommend this quick read to readers who enjoy The American Girl stories.

[Heather Ledet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy beginning chapter book, good for approximately 3rd and fourth grade, some fifth graders may still enjoy it.
Amanda has a vivid imagination, but it is not her imagination when her Papa brings home a slave family to hide in secret places in their home. Amanda finds a quick friend in Hannah. Amanda's family works hard to make sure the former slave family finds the freedom they seek in Canada.
This book takes place 10 years before the civil war and makes a good discussion on the events that lead to the war.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book to my children (ages 6 and 3) and it was wonderful. An age appropriate tale of two families that meet on the underground railroad. It is suspenseful, but not frightening and the ending is beautiful. A great book to help children understand what slaves and abolitionists were willing to endure for freedom.

[Lynn Greenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This a very nice introduction to the underground railroad for 3rd grade. I read it along with my 3rd grader and she loved it and there was just enough excitement to make this a great read without scaring her. It had the right amount information on slavery and the underground railroad, similar to how Number the Star by Lois Lowry discusses the Holocaust. Great book!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a simple and sweet story that is perfectly leveled for teaching complex things to a very young audience. The most beautiful central message of the story is how reading is freedom, and that is why these slaves on the run were not permitted to learn.

It will give my 4th grade students a nice general knowledge of the Underground Railroad and the treatment of slaves.

[Acton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a book that people from 7-15 years old would like. It's about the Underground Railroad and how bad slavery was. There were signs that said black people could not vote or play with white people. (Bodhi)

[Victoria Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learne that freedom is a very important thing to have and to have all different colored friends.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. It is a very, very easy read, but it is very good. It only has a about 100 pages.

[Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manda is like Batman because she also has to hide in the shadows to protect Hannah and her family!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade level 3 chapter book; enjoyable even for an adult to read as it explores the friendship of a runaway slave child and a little white girl.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda discovers that her family is part of the Underground Railroad. Now it's up to her to help her family keep an African-American family safe.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

That note at the end touched my heart.
But on 2nd reading: it's a little white savior-ist, even though this is a valid perspective. And the MC was a bit annoying with her precocity at parts.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely for kids. Even in reading in Japanese was still mildly boring. Oops.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 44814 EN Fiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 4.8 - AR Pts: 3.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

[Sarah Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book for younger readers.

[Ashlyn Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

F is For Freedom, by Roni Schotter, is an historical fiction novel about a young girl whose home sits on top of a stopping point on the Underground Railroad. Throughout the book one of the main characters Amanda, is awaken at home one night by a scary sound. When she walks about stairs to see what is going on a man in a wagon is outside with her Mama and Papa. She couldn’t understand why someone would be making deliveries out this late at night until a family of runaways start revealing themselves from hiding places on the wagon. Amanda loves to play act and she always gets into trouble for it. However, now its encouraged because her family is protecting a family of runaway slaves by hiding them in a secret hiding place behind a closet. The slave catchers come to the house to look around for the runaway slaves but with Amanda’s play acting skills they leave empty handed. The next day an unexpected friendship blossoms between Amanda and the slave girl Hannah. Hannah tells Amanda all about what she has gone through as a slave and why they are running away to freedom. She also tells Amanda that once she gets to freedom she will get her freedom name Hannah Canada and her little sister “Girl” will finally get her name as well. Amanda then learns that Hannah cannot read or write so Amanda teachers her about letters, numbers, and how to read and write. Amanda really begins to imagine how sad of a life that Hannah has and how she needs to experience freedom because she gets to Canada. Amanda has the idea to go outside instead of hiding within the house like her father told her too. The girls sneak out the back window down the tree and creep into the forest where they think they are safe. Until, this mistake puts both families in a whole lot of trouble. Although, this bad decision got the girls into a lot of trouble Amanda has to realize what kind of trouble she has caused everyone. She owns up to her mistake and begs her father to let her help find a solution for Hannah and her family. Amanda helps the family to the Underground Railroad and Hannah’s family makes it to Canada to be free.
I would highly recommend this book or the classroom. It would be a great book for students in about the 3rd or 4th grade, because although, it’s a pretty easy read for kids it handles topics that really young grades may not be able to comprehend. For example, when Hannah is telling Amanda about being beaten, and her experiences within her Masters home that’s a serious topic that should be addressed either by a teacher, parent etc. This book would be great for a read aloud when doing a unit on the Underground Railroad because this book can really put it into perspective for the students. It can show the students the real harm and danger white families but themselves through to protect the lives of slaves. You could do a journal entry asking the students “What would you have done if you were in Amanda’s position?” That opens up that question about even if something is viewed as being wrong, was it right to help that family in need. This is a must read for students learning about the Underground Railroad!