Liberty Letters: The Personal Correspondence of Hannah Brown and Sarah Smith

Liberty Lettters

by Nancy LeSourd

The Liberty Letters series explores the lives of teens that courageously lived out their faith and commitment to God in challenging times. Using letters between good friends to tell the story, the series reveals the power of friendship, courage, ingenuity, and faith to make a difference in the key events of U.S. history.In this book, two Quaker girls, Hannah Brown, granddaughter of the most active abolitionist in slave-holding Northern Virginia, corresponds with Sarah Smith, daughter of 'conductors' on the Underground Railroad in the free state of Pennsylvania. Together, the girls assist a runaway South Carolina slave family on their perilous trip from Virginia to Canada on the 'freedom train.'Liberty Letters is a tribute to America's foundation of faith and freedom. And now, a new generation can experience history as they discover how God works through ordinary people in extraordinary times.Through imaginative and innovative products, Zonderkidz is feeding young souls.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Young Adult, Historical, Christian Fiction, Juvenile

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Nancy LeSourd is an author, attorney, wife, and mother of two, who lives in the Washington D. C. area. She has a B.A. in political science from Agnes Scott College, a M.A. from Tufts University in secondary education with an emphasis on American History, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. A William Robertson Coe fellow in American history, she taught American history to middle and high school students. For more information, visit www.libertyletters.com

Reviews

[Emma Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book growing up and loved it and wanted to reread it. I just am in awe of all the people who sacrificed their lives to help in the underground railroad. It’s such a good book!

[H.S. Kylian]

Read this when I was a teenager; getting the urge to read it again.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting approach; the exchange of letters between two friends, whose families were committed to freedom, no matter what the cost! Quite inspiring for readers of any age!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book Is really good!!!!

They story is told by letters two best friends send to each other, It's really good!

[Chloe Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my introduction to the series, and I liked it so much that I ended up buying the book after borrowing it from the library. The story is very compelling, and the characters are very heartwarming. There is good analysis of the darker tones of slavery times while still remaining to be a uplifting story

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in the form of letters between Hannah Brown and Sarah Smith, two young teenaged Quaker girls, from 1857 to 1859. Both Hannah and Sarah come from strong abolitionist families, and became close friends while Sarah attended a Quaker school in Hannah's hometown of Goose Creek, Virginia. When Sarah returned to Philadelphia, the girls began a regular correspondence. Hannah's grandfather is an active abolitionist who has helped many slaves escape along the Underground Railroad, and now that Hannah is old enough, he wants her help. While Hannah believes slaves have the right to be free, she is at first reluctant to risk her safety and that of her family. However, her experiences and her faith lead her to become an active participant in the Underground Railroad, after she meets a young slave girl of her own age, Pearl, who is trying to reach freedom in Canada. Pearl has never known freedom, and after her brother was sold away and her mother died, she and her father escaped, but had to leave Pearl's little sister behind. Hannah becomes determined to help Pearl and her family reunite and reach freedom in Canada.

Young girls who enjoy historical fiction will most likely enjoy this book, especially if they enjoy series such as Dear America. However, this book did have some flaws, particularly that the characters were not all that developed. However, I enjoyed the unique letter format, and the historical details about life in the 1850s.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Things will never be the same again. Times are changing, Hannah. You can sit by and watch it all happen or you can be a part of it. You must search your heart and decide what YOU should do.”

Two Quaker girls, Hannah Brown and her dear friend Sarah exchange letters back and forth, sometimes through post...and other times by stitching their letters into quilt blocks secretly as to hide any information from slavers. It is 1858 and the Fugitive Slave Law has been passed, making it only more difficult for slaves to reach freedom. At first Hannah wants nothing to do with the danger that comes with helping slaves to freedom, that is, until she comes face to face with a young slave girl, Pearl.

While Sarah stitches and sews and makes items in the North in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to sell and make money for the Quaker's to buy Pearl's little sister, Hannah learns in the South of Virginia what it means to have liberty and life, and to have a compassionate heart for others in need. As she teaches Pearl to read and write, she must draw courage and strength from the Lord to do what is right, even in the face of fear and great danger.

“Never underestimate the power of a yielded heart...”

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book.A runaway father and little girl finds shelter in Hannah Browns home.Will the the slave catchers find the runaways,will they be able to reach Canada,And will Hannah be able to help free the runaway girls sister.You have to read the book.

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story in letter form, with lots of interesting historical tidbits.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! Not only can someone who likes history(like me) but someone who doesn't like it. It is more about the friendship of these two girls than about the underground railroad.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this story, it's themes, and how that was all woven together! This is a fabulous series.

[Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that it was adventurous and exciting. I liked learning about what they did and what happened in the 1800s.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this one better than the other one