Race For Freedom

Freedom Seekers #2

by Lois Walfrid Johnson

In 1857, while helping to conceal a runaway slave on her father's Mississippi River steamboat, twelve-year-old Libby looks to God for support and hopes that her friend Caleb will let her join the Underground Railroad.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Childrens, Christian Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade

188 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1996

Reviews

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
really enjoyed this sequel!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Riverboat Adventures series. This series is about a young girl who becomes involved in the Underground Railroad while living on her father's Mississippi River steamboat in the 1850s.

It's the spring of 1857, and twelve-year-old Libby Norstad has been living on her father's steamboat, the Christina, for several weeks. Even though she has helped a group of runaway slaves escape, the cabin boy, Caleb, still doesn't trust Libby to help him with his work on the Underground Railroad. Libby has seen the horrors of slavery, and is determined to convince him that she can be trusted. Jordan, the runaway slave boy, is still living on the Christina, unwilling to go on to Canada until he can help the rest of his family escape, and Libby fears the cruel slave trader Riggs has boarded the Christina, looking for him. She is also worried about Elsa, a young German immigrant girl traveling on the Christina that Libby has befriended. Elsa's family doesn't have enough to eat, and Libby fears she is sick. Soon, Libby, Caleb, and Jordan are caught up in another dangerous adventure as they must travel through the woods with slave catchers on their trail.

Readers who enjoyed the first book in the Riverboat Adventures are sure to like this one as well. I really like the setting of this series, a Mississippi River steamboat in the 1850s, and I enjoy the characters and the many historical details the author includes. The Riverboat Adventures is a good historical fiction series and I look forward to reading the next four books.

[Sarah TheAromaofBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

While these are definitely MG reading and a bit simplistic for adults, I do appreciate the way that readers are given Libby's character as a way to learn about different themes/topics/concepts. We also see things like - when Libby is too proud/embarrassed to ask about something she doesn't understand, this frequently leads to problems. When she is willing to ask for more information/help, she makes progress.

Some of the adventures are bit over the top, but overall I think the author does a good job of showing the evils/dangers/complications of slavery without just using it to be dramatic.

I also love Libby's father and his loving wisdom, but appreciate that not every adult in Libby's life can be trusted. Many books for readers this age seem to struggle with finding a balance between "all adults are stupid/mean/don't understand you" and "all adults are wonderful and you should trust them 100% no questions asked." Here, we see Libby learning discernment.

There is more in this book about Libby asking questions about faith/belief in God/depending on God, but it feels natural and not heavy-handed. Libby has genuine questions and reasons for not trusting God, and I feel like the author is addressing those in a way that takes them seriously instead of just giving generic band-aid answers, without getting bogged down in complicated theology.

All in all, these aren't for everyone, but I've been a bit surprised to find out how well they've held up from my childhood reading.

[Joyeux Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure with Libby, Caleb, and Jordan! Libby’s awareness of the larger world outside her sheltered, Chicago socialite bubble grows and she gets more involved in the Underground Railroad and she also developed her own relationship with the Lord after watching the faith of her father, Caleb, and Jordan. My 11 year-old was quite intrigued and enjoyed getting to know the characters better. I appreciate Ms. Johnson’s attention to historical detail and how she lets their characters grow as the series continues. My only quibble is that some of the review of info from the previous book takes awhile for the plot to really get moving. Once it does, the payoff is very nice!
One random comment…compared to the Adventures of the NorthWoods which I also love, I appreciate that Captain Norstad gets a larger part in this series than Kate and Anders’ parents do in the NorthWoods. He’s the perfect book father who is wise, patient, and quite the silver fox!

[Светлана · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad this author made it to Kindle. YA, Americana, very readable.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really liked this book. It was adventurist and exciting. You all should really do a book REVIEW not just the stars.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one is my favorite in the series so far. Do the hard times and adventures in life lead us to Jesus? My prayer is that they would in my life. Very well done!!!

[Taren Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in the series. We are invested in these characters journey!

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Synopsis:

“A shadowy figure lurks on the dark riverfront near the Christina. Libby is sure that it must be the cruel slave driver Riggs, who has vowed that no slave of his will ever escape alive. Does Riggs suspect that the runaway Jordan is hiding on her pa’s steamboat?

Track Libby, Caleb, and Jordan in the second book of the Freedom Seekers series as they race to keep Jordan free from the clutches of slavery.”

My Review:

I have always liked books about the Underground Railroad, and this book was an excellent story. Race for Freedom is book 2 in the Freedom Seekers series and I would suggest reading them in order, I say this because this is the first book I have read in the series and I seriously wish I would have read book 1!

However, just looking at the storyline, Race for Freedom has very good, realistic characters. The story was full of Christian morals and a little girl even comes to know the Lord as her personal Lord and Savior. There is some tense action, but nothing real graphic or bloody.

There are lessons throughout the book as well. Like not jumping to conclusions before you are sure of the facts. And not to just trust everyone you see because they look friendly.

I think Freedom Seekers would make a pretty good read-aloud series for the whole family. And again, I recommend reading them in order! I look forward to getting the rest of the series and finding out what happens next with Libby, Caleb, and Jordan.

“I received this book from Moody Publishers for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own.”

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the first book in this series but I still felt like I understood the story line. This is a young adult novel- ages ten and up. I think the age is good because slavery is a difficult subject for children and should at least be discussed with a parent.

I liked the story line and the characters were enjoyable to read and age appropriate. There is a lot of action within the pages and youngsters will enjoy the suspense as the kids are worried about Riggs and keeping Jordan safe.

I am not sure I will continue with the series but I think others will enjoy the story.



"I received this book from MP Newsroom for free in exchange for an honest review."

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Libby Norstad and her friend Caleb try to help fugitive slave Jordan escape to the free northern states before Jordan's former master can find him and claim him under the recent Dred Scott ruling."

I did not read the first book in the series, maybe that is why I had a hard time really getting into this book. I like the geographical setting for the story, it reminded me a little of Tom Sawyer/Life on the Mississippi.
This is a cute and touching story for middle school aged children with enough adventure to keep even rambunctious boys reading.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

One more addition!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how protective Caleb is of Libby in this book!!