When Harriet Met Sojourner: A Powerful Picture Book About Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth for Kids

by Catherine Clinton, Shane W. Evans (Illustrator)

The life stories of two pivotal figures in American history—Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth—are explored in this powerful text paired with spectacular artwork. "A beautiful, uplifting book that is sure to inspire interest in these strong, amazing women." (School Library Journal) This powerful picture book relates the lives of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth on alternating pages, leading up to the day they likely met in Boston in 1864. Share this book in the classroom or at home as an introduction to these two American heroes. A strong companion to such books as  When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and  Henry's Freedom A True Story from the Underground Railroad. "Compellingly told with a sure storyteller’s cadence. Both women renamed themselves, taking ownership of their lives and leading and inspiring others on the road to freedom." (School Library Journal) Shane W.  Evans's art in When Harriet Met Sojourner was praised as having a "strength of line and eloquence of expression that would suit a mural and that will carry well in a group showing." (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books) His books include We March and  28 Moments in Black History that Changed the World.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Biography, African American, Social Justice, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Professor of history at Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Specializes in American history, African-American history, the Civil War, and women's history. Previously taught at Brandeis and Harvard universities. Born in 1952, grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. Studied sociology and history at Harvard, earned a master's degree from Sussex and a doctorate from Princeton.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

literal perfection: 1) age-appropriate history, 2) substantial bios that are relatable to children and historically exciting, 3) strong resolution, 4) beautiful illustrations

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

a well-done introduction to the lives of both of these extraordinary women, with the unique illustrations of Shane Evans, which echo patchwork quilt motifs. It's amazing to try to imagine these two giant (one literally, one metaphorically) meeting in person and what they might have talked about. What a great writing prompt that would make after reading this book to a classroom! Recommended for ages 8-12.

[Cheryl]

LFL find. Deeply unsatisfying. Nothing is known of the meeting, so the title misleads. Back matter much too sparse, esp. because of no bibliography. I'd rather read (or teach) more complete biographies of each woman separately, then do compare & contrast of their lives and works, rather than read someone else's compressed and forced c&c.

[Rick Christiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

spoiler alert - there was npthing documented abput when they met but it was a nice idea for the book to have 2 short bios come together at a meeting point

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. The story for Harriet is accurate, so I assume that The facts for Sojourner are also true. Love the illustrations. The only issue I have with the story is that Sojourner asks "Aren't I a woman?" This is her most famous quote. Why change it? http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/so...

[Julia B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to lead with the fact that I'm so glad picture books like these are getting made for young children. I was raised on Frog and Toad and fairytales, which -- don't get me wrong -- is great, but I think actual history, especially this kind of history, should be introduced much earlier to children.

The only thing I think could have been done better is that the actual meeting of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth was unrecorded and assumedly not very long, so it's not exactly the most satisfying place to end a book on: the last page says that they were "sisters for the rest of their days," so if there are letters or some other kind of proof of the impact they made on each other, I think that may have been a good way to narratively build the significance of their meeting.

The illustrations were beautiful, no notes.

[Anna Kohanski · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Harriet met Sojourner is a good read for children, it gives a decent amount of accurate information on the lives of two very important women. However it did leave me with some questions, such as, their meeting was a very historic moment in time and there are no photographs or news articles about it. Although this was during the civil war, the meeting did take place in Massachusetts, and it seems someone would have some sort of documentation on it. Another note, is that book focuses primarily on each of their individual lives and not on their actual meeting, that part is only about one page of the book.

[Kayla Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Both Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman were the ultimate heroic women. They were born slaves, but both had a common goal which was to be free. They both faced hardships, but their bravery allowed them to seek their rights to be free. This book explains each woman's life and an imaginative scene of how it must have been when they met for the first time. There were no pictures or press to document this meeting; therefore, this book helps to create a median of some form of occurrence. It enables the reader to create their own imagination of the day Sojourner met Harriet.

[Ellice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is mildly misleading, as though Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman did meet during their lifetimes, there are no records on their discussion points, and the author doesn't much speculate. But it is an interesting conceit to present the two women's biographies in alternating pages, to show where their paths were similar and where they diverged. I really liked the texture-rich illustrations.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's actually very little in this book about Tubman meeting Truth, because, as Clinton mentions in the text, very little was recorded about the event at the time. The book instead mainly details Tubman and Truth's lives leading up to the day that they met. Clinton does a fantastic job interweaving the stories of the two women, highlighting their differences and similarities. Evans illustrations mimic quilt work, echoing the quilts used as coded messages on the Underground Railroad.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the illustrations.

The text was manageable for a read aloud, and offered alternating stories for both Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. Something about getting both their stories at once was very satisfying. My biggest disappointment was that the titular meeting was completely undocumented, so this episode in the book was completely underwhelming. As a lesson in how to interpret history, it could have been so great.

Read on the heels of watching “Harriet.”

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story about a non-event - or rather, an event we know nothing about. Late in both women's lives, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth bumped into each other at a speaking engagement. They met and talked but no one knows what was said or how the women reacted to each other's life stories. Shane Evans illustrations are amazing and explode the personalities of the women onto the page.

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story based on history; story goes back and forth between the two women's lives; most of it was just historical telling but the actual meeting was made up the idea of what might have occurred because there are no records; it is long and would not be suitable to read out loud; nice illustrations

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This over-sized picture book for middle readers has giant drawings of these two brave women of color and explains how they met in Boston in 1864 and became close friends.

Hope Irvin Marston, author the THE WALLS HAVE EARS: A BLACK SPY IN THE CONFEDERATE WHITE HOUSE...the Charlotte Award 2021 in the High School Division.

[Kathryn Mcilwraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

– Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth both fought against slavery in the years before and during the Civil War. At the beginning of this book, every spread switches between the biography of each woman, eventually reaching the day in 1864 when the two met in Boston.
– The storyline of this book is great, but as a a matter of preference, I do not personally like the style of the illustrations.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that it gives some context to when each was alive and active... but the reflection on what they might have talked about the one time they met, isn't that deep... is only interesting in that there is no record nor photographs of them together.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard to follow the two stories going back and forth, but the book is a nice idea.

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

History of the life of both women and an unrecorded potential meeting. I wish more historical evidence for the meeting had been provided, am also aware that was not the point of the book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of two incredible women, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. Born into slavery, both were fighters; hardship and cruelty could not stop the vision of freedom that held fast within each. The fictional meeting between the women occurs in Boston after a reader has been witness to two lives dedicated to the cause of justice and equality. The illustrations are done in rich Earth tones, setting a somber mood, and the eyes of each character vividly display emotions such as fear, sorrow, and anger. Yet, the final illustration is so joyful, one can almost hear singing. The epilogue features black and white photos of both women and a paragraph about their latter years. The text may be too graphic for preschool-grade 2, but it may be ideal for grades 3 and up.

CIP Summary:
None. From the Book Jacket: Two women with similar backgrounds. Both slaves, both fiercely independent. Both great in different ways.

From Kirkus:
A patchwork motif visually pieces together the stories of the two redoubtable abolitionists, who met only once—in Boston in 1864—but who shared a passionate mission. The images themselves are expressive—a monumental Truth cradles a baby, a confident-looking Tubman holds a Union courier bag against a Stars-and-Stripes backdrop—and are "stitched" to the text panels. The actual meeting takes up only three spreads and is of necessity imagined (there is no written account)

From Booklist:
Clinton imagines what might have been said during a meeting between Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, who both found themselves in Boston one day in October 1864. Their meeting is the climax of this picture book, which tells the stories of the two heroes in clear, simple words on alternating double-page spreads. Clinton notes that no one photographed the women together in Boston, and she provides no source notes, which may lead some to wonder if the meeting really happened. Even so, the compelling parallel narratives of two women joined by a kinship of spirit still add up to stirring history.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, with lots of information about two fascinating figures from American history, the famous Harriet Tubman, and the less well-known, though equally impressive Sojourner Truth.

Each of the women's lives are told about in a fair bit of detail, and this is a very good resource for young readers, that will interest them in reading into the subject further.

Unfortunately I found the title is somewhat misleading - while the two women did meet, in the book and (apparently) in real life, no one knows much about what went on at this meeting, or what was discussed, and the actual meeting only takes a page or two, with not much happening. It works as a way to tie them together, but pales in comparison to the women's biographies.

A very good book, and I'll definitely have to look up more detailed biographies on the two women (and their own writings if any are available). I'd say it's worth seeing what else the author has to offer as well.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book biography follows the similar lives of two women well known for their courage and determination to be free. Through example and their own words and deeds, Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth became leaders in the abolitionist movement. The text and the colorful illustrations alternate the stories of each woman, even describing their name changes, from Araminta to Harriet and Isabella to Sojourner. Readers will enjoy tracing their separate journeys to freedom and wondering about what they must have discussed when they finally met in the fall of 1864. I wish there had been more about that particular encounter, but the author tells the story in a way that allows readers to imagine all that they must have discussed. This is a useful title for a civil rights text set.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a look into what may have happened on the day that Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth met briefly in 1864. There were no photographers or journalist there to capture this historic moment when two of the most outspoken/active woman in the fight for equality had their paths momentarily cross. O my goodness to be a fly on the wall! More than focusing on the what ifs, Catherine Clinton did a beautiful summary for young readers and listeners of the lives of these two remarkable women. A fantastic book to share with elementary age students who need to know about these individuals and their invaluable work.

[Jelly Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very basic outline of Harriet Tubman's and Sojourner Truth's biographies, beginning with their childhoods -- as Elizabeth and Araminta. The story relates that they were both born into slavery, how they overcame slavery, and how they helped others to be free. I did not know that they had met each other, until I read this book. Harriet -- Araminta -- tried to save people even as early as age 7, when she was nearly killed while defending a little boy who was trying to escape the slave overseer. They were very strong, brave people who risked their lives to make the world a better and freer place.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an appealing picture book with good information about two strong black women born as slaves -- Harriet Tubman, whose given name was "Araminta," and Sojourner Truth, whose given name was Isabella Bomefree (in Dutch, bomefree means "tall tree," and she was very tall! 6 feet!) The two have an imagined meeting in Boston in 1864 where they each say, "I've heard of you."

The illustrations in the book are very colorful, and the character's faces show much. I found it a little confusing, however, that I'd read about Harriet on one page, and then about Sojourner on the next, etc. Perhaps children would take this all in stride.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A shared picture book bio of two women who worked tirelessly for freedom. Two page spreads trade off between Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth's lives leading up to their fateful meeting.

I really wanted to love this book, but the fateful meeting fell a little flat for me because the whole story builds to that one moment, though virtually nothing is known about their meeting.

I found the artwork to be a bit stronger than the text, especially the approach the artist took to his subjects by piecing their stories together like a quilt.

Recommended for grades 4-6.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful picture book biography of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. The text is simple enough for a younger reader to understand, but doesn't talk down, and offers a lot of solid biographical information. The illustrations, by Shane W. Evans, are what really makes the book, though; Tubman, Truth, and the other people around them come to life in these drawings, which evoke wonderful expression in very simple lines.

[Phobean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the artistry of language in this book, and the attention to detail. Otherwise, this is a broad-strokes story about two of history's greats that is essentially missing the most enticing details (through no fault of its own; those details are unknown.) I did learn that Harriet was a small woman at 5 feet tall and that Sojourner spoke Dutch. If I'd learned those fact earlier in life, I certainly hadn't remembered them.

[Anjanette Barr]

Suggested for 9 year olds in What to Read When: The Books and Stories to Read with Your Child--and All the Best Times to Read Them

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wonderfully summarizes the life of Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, highlighting commonalities between them as well as differences in their life experience. Then it culminates in reflecting on what they might have done and felt when they were able to meet in 1864 in Boston. Great glimpse into these two remarkable women's lives. The illustrations are wonderful, as well.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and a great story. My 6yo loves to read about both Tubman and Truth, and somehow this book describing when they met one another made her realize that they really were real women.