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Eliza's Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary
Christopher Award–winning author Jerdine Nolen imagines a young woman’s journey from slavery to freedom in this intimate and powerful novel that was named an ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee.
It is 1854 in Alexandria, Virginia. Eliza’s mother has been sold away and Eliza is left as a slave on a Virginia farm. It is Abbey, the cook, who looks after Eliza, when she isn’t taking care of the Mistress. Eliza has only the quilt her mother left her and the stories her mother told to keep her mother’s memory close.
When the Mistress’s health begins to fail and Eliza overhears the Master talk of the Slave sale auction and of Eliza being traded, she takes to the night. She follows the path and the words of the farmhand Old “Travel the night. Sleep the day…Go east. Keep your back to the setting of the sun. Come to the safe house with a candlelight in the window…That gal, Harriet, she’ll take you.”
All the while, Eliza recites the stories her mother taught her as she travels along her freedom road from Mary’s Land to Pennsylvania to Freedom’s Gate in St. Catharines, Canada, where she finds not only her freedom but also more than she could have hoped for.
It is 1854 in Alexandria, Virginia. Eliza’s mother has been sold away and Eliza is left as a slave on a Virginia farm. It is Abbey, the cook, who looks after Eliza, when she isn’t taking care of the Mistress. Eliza has only the quilt her mother left her and the stories her mother told to keep her mother’s memory close.
When the Mistress’s health begins to fail and Eliza overhears the Master talk of the Slave sale auction and of Eliza being traded, she takes to the night. She follows the path and the words of the farmhand Old “Travel the night. Sleep the day…Go east. Keep your back to the setting of the sun. Come to the safe house with a candlelight in the window…That gal, Harriet, she’ll take you.”
All the while, Eliza recites the stories her mother taught her as she travels along her freedom road from Mary’s Land to Pennsylvania to Freedom’s Gate in St. Catharines, Canada, where she finds not only her freedom but also more than she could have hoped for.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 24, 2019
I know this is probably supposed to be a book for kids, but it's enlightening and meaningful for anyone to read. I think in my efforts to understand what it means to be Black in America today, I've lost sight of and interest in where that experience began. Growing up in America you know Black people were kidnapped, abused, and forced into slave labor in what is now our "great" country. The country that was built on the backs, history, and tragedies of the people whites tortured, murdered, and enslaved. But over time it becomes just another story of our past--one white people like to nod solemnly over and then dismiss in the name of progress.
Along this journey I'm on to enlighten myself as much as possible about the Black experience in America today, I needed to remind myself of what it was like to be Black in America "back then." The Black experience in America first.
I do think a lot of the raw emotion was left out of this book because it was meant for a younger audience (though I don't necessarily agree with leaving that out at all, because it was reality and must be remembered so it cannot be repeated), but something people of all ages can understand and feel deeply is Eliza's . Despite being mentioned briefly and mostly glossed over, it is a significant part of Eliza's story, and was a reality for many slaves.
Nolen did a lot of research to write such a simple book, wanting all of her details to be realistic and based on fact, not assumption. The way she tied in traditional folklore from various parts of Africa was a nice touch, and created a secondary purpose for reading the book.
I also loved the mysterious, near-magical appearance of ; as a result I am inspired to find and read something about her, as well.
Overall, a really enjoyable, educational, inspirational book that's a quick read and one you can safely use to introduce the concept of slavery to kids who may just be starting their journey of understanding the Black experience, and learning about the Underground Railroad.
Along this journey I'm on to enlighten myself as much as possible about the Black experience in America today, I needed to remind myself of what it was like to be Black in America "back then." The Black experience in America first.
I do think a lot of the raw emotion was left out of this book because it was meant for a younger audience (though I don't necessarily agree with leaving that out at all, because it was reality and must be remembered so it cannot be repeated), but something people of all ages can understand and feel deeply is Eliza's . Despite being mentioned briefly and mostly glossed over, it is a significant part of Eliza's story, and was a reality for many slaves.
Nolen did a lot of research to write such a simple book, wanting all of her details to be realistic and based on fact, not assumption. The way she tied in traditional folklore from various parts of Africa was a nice touch, and created a secondary purpose for reading the book.
I also loved the mysterious, near-magical appearance of ; as a result I am inspired to find and read something about her, as well.
Overall, a really enjoyable, educational, inspirational book that's a quick read and one you can safely use to introduce the concept of slavery to kids who may just be starting their journey of understanding the Black experience, and learning about the Underground Railroad.
July 8, 2011
Eliza, an eleven year old slave, details her road to freedom in her 1854 diary. The traditional folktales that Eliza and her mother retold added depth to the novel. (for example David and Goliath, Anansi ) The ways of the underground railroad are revealed complete with Harriet Tubman's heroic role. Well researched historical fiction with lots of curriculum potential.
January 11, 2011
Name me all the films you can that involve slaves escaping via The Underground Railroad. No? Okay then, I'll make it easy on you. Name me a single film, just one, that involves slaves escaping via The Underground Railroad. No? Crazy, isn't it? Here we have what must be one of the most heroic and harrowing real life escape stories in the history of our country, and Hollywood can't be bothered to put a single such tale to celluloid. Now in the world of children's literature, The Underground Railroad is a common topic to write on. Books about it abound, though interestingly enough there isn't a single Underground Railroad novel that eclipses all the others. Maybe that's why folks keep writing them. The latest I've seen recently is Eliza's Freedom Road. It's penned by the former picture book author Jerdine Nolen and features a very basic, very straightforward story of one girl escaping to freedom in Canada with some help. If you are looking for a good introductory novel that introduces not just the concept of slavery but also the definition of what The Underground Railroad even was, this slim little book may prove your best chance to do so. It covers familiar ground but reaches a slightly younger audience.
Twelve-year-old Eliza is on her own. No mother. No father. Her mother, you see, was recently sold away to another state, so Eliza spends her days with Abby the cook. She has her mother's stories, sewn into patches on a special quilt, and that comforts her but it's not enough. Eliza's greatest fear is that she might get sent away too, a fear that is more than justified due to the nasty looks she gets from her master. Years ago her mistress taught Eliza to read and write and now relies on the girl to read to her from the newspaper and books. When the chance to accompany her mistress to Maryland comes up, Eliza leaps at the chance. Once there, she finds that there come opportunities in a person's life to escape into the unknown. Eliza is ready to take that chance, and she has a woman by the name of Harriet Tubman to help her out. Backmatter includes an Author's Note, Notes on the Stories, a Bibliography, and a long and detailed list of useful websites.
A couple months ago I was working in my children's room when I got a request to host a small group of Boy Scouts on one of our late nights. The boys were learning about tall tales so I was asked to read some aloud to them. I selected a variety of tall tale picture books, amongst them Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen. When I gave a quickie synopsis of the books I'd chosen and asked the boys which one I should read, they unanimously requested Nolen's book. And read it to them I did, though the book turned out to be surprisingly long. The author had packed in a lot of text and a lot of descriptions. Halfway through I couldn't help but think that clearly her heart was on writing something longer, like a novel. So I wasn't surprised to see Eliza's Freedom Road come out with the selfsame author's name on the cover not long after. What did surprise me was that she had decided to go with a diary format. This seemed like a bizarre choice. After all, this was an author who in the aforementioned Thunder Rose could whip out sentences like, "It's giving me a fortunate feeling rumbling deep in the pit of me. I'll register it here at the bull's-eye set in the center of my heart, and see what I can do with it one day!" I thought that with a novel she'd be able to put this descriptive habit to its proper full-length use. Instead, she feels almost hampered by the diary format. Her prose comes out in starts and stops. They're lovely starts and stops, don't get me wrong, but I have a feeling that when Ms. Nolen is good and ready she could deliver a full chapter of third person descriptions to make your head turn and spin. Journal entries aren't quite up to that kind of writing.
Though written to look like a diary of the time, Nolen's book contains a lot of little changes that make it appropriate reading for kids who are just getting into chapter books that don't have pictures. In spite of its historical conceit, the book doesn't seek to replicate the look and spellings of the 1850s, for which I was grateful. There were other aspects to it that make me think that this would make an ideal introductory title for kids just getting into historical fiction. For one thing, it offers a straightforward explanation of what The Underground Railroad actually was. When I was a kid, I remember being incredibly confused by this term. My teachers didn't really clarify, and I feel as if I spent most of third grade assuming, just as Eliza does at first in this story, that it involved a subterranean train of some sort. A book like this one would have been a godsend.
Of course the characters felt real. Eliza herself manages to sound cute in her youth without sounding precious. A line like "Why am I all the time so full up with thoughts and words in my head?" could easily be rendered intolerable if the author pushed their luck. Nolen doesn't. I watched with some interest the interactions between Eliza and her mistress, because it was here that Nolen had to walk the finest line of all. On the one hand, Eliza should not be emotionally attached to someone who holds her in bondage. By the same token, this is a woman who has taught her to read, and to not have any human feelings towards her might, to the kids reading anyway, strike them as heartless. That said, I realized partway through the novel that part of the lure of escaped slave tale for children is that the books not only should be but HAVE to be about the self. Children are very interested in their own selves, and Eliza's Freedom Road speaks to that part of them that looks out for number one. That said, you have to also show your character caring and helping other people or else you might end up with an Ayn Rand novel by mistake.
There's not a lot of conflict that falls in the path of Eliza and what she wants, so her escape is without much in the way of close calls. I assume that this was done so that the book could cover a lot of ground and tell a lot of stories without losing the younger readers. An Underground Railroad book for smaller children is a tricky choice, and it's interesting that Ms. Nolen chose to go this route with her first novel. Even here, though, you see her love of storytelling shine through whenever Eliza tells a tale. This is a fine and interesting debut that serves a distinct purpose in any library's collection. That said, I do hope we'll see more of Ms. Nolen's work in the future, and that she won't confine herself to journal entries and diary dabbles. The story will out.
For ages 8-11.
Twelve-year-old Eliza is on her own. No mother. No father. Her mother, you see, was recently sold away to another state, so Eliza spends her days with Abby the cook. She has her mother's stories, sewn into patches on a special quilt, and that comforts her but it's not enough. Eliza's greatest fear is that she might get sent away too, a fear that is more than justified due to the nasty looks she gets from her master. Years ago her mistress taught Eliza to read and write and now relies on the girl to read to her from the newspaper and books. When the chance to accompany her mistress to Maryland comes up, Eliza leaps at the chance. Once there, she finds that there come opportunities in a person's life to escape into the unknown. Eliza is ready to take that chance, and she has a woman by the name of Harriet Tubman to help her out. Backmatter includes an Author's Note, Notes on the Stories, a Bibliography, and a long and detailed list of useful websites.
A couple months ago I was working in my children's room when I got a request to host a small group of Boy Scouts on one of our late nights. The boys were learning about tall tales so I was asked to read some aloud to them. I selected a variety of tall tale picture books, amongst them Thunder Rose by Jerdine Nolen. When I gave a quickie synopsis of the books I'd chosen and asked the boys which one I should read, they unanimously requested Nolen's book. And read it to them I did, though the book turned out to be surprisingly long. The author had packed in a lot of text and a lot of descriptions. Halfway through I couldn't help but think that clearly her heart was on writing something longer, like a novel. So I wasn't surprised to see Eliza's Freedom Road come out with the selfsame author's name on the cover not long after. What did surprise me was that she had decided to go with a diary format. This seemed like a bizarre choice. After all, this was an author who in the aforementioned Thunder Rose could whip out sentences like, "It's giving me a fortunate feeling rumbling deep in the pit of me. I'll register it here at the bull's-eye set in the center of my heart, and see what I can do with it one day!" I thought that with a novel she'd be able to put this descriptive habit to its proper full-length use. Instead, she feels almost hampered by the diary format. Her prose comes out in starts and stops. They're lovely starts and stops, don't get me wrong, but I have a feeling that when Ms. Nolen is good and ready she could deliver a full chapter of third person descriptions to make your head turn and spin. Journal entries aren't quite up to that kind of writing.
Though written to look like a diary of the time, Nolen's book contains a lot of little changes that make it appropriate reading for kids who are just getting into chapter books that don't have pictures. In spite of its historical conceit, the book doesn't seek to replicate the look and spellings of the 1850s, for which I was grateful. There were other aspects to it that make me think that this would make an ideal introductory title for kids just getting into historical fiction. For one thing, it offers a straightforward explanation of what The Underground Railroad actually was. When I was a kid, I remember being incredibly confused by this term. My teachers didn't really clarify, and I feel as if I spent most of third grade assuming, just as Eliza does at first in this story, that it involved a subterranean train of some sort. A book like this one would have been a godsend.
Of course the characters felt real. Eliza herself manages to sound cute in her youth without sounding precious. A line like "Why am I all the time so full up with thoughts and words in my head?" could easily be rendered intolerable if the author pushed their luck. Nolen doesn't. I watched with some interest the interactions between Eliza and her mistress, because it was here that Nolen had to walk the finest line of all. On the one hand, Eliza should not be emotionally attached to someone who holds her in bondage. By the same token, this is a woman who has taught her to read, and to not have any human feelings towards her might, to the kids reading anyway, strike them as heartless. That said, I realized partway through the novel that part of the lure of escaped slave tale for children is that the books not only should be but HAVE to be about the self. Children are very interested in their own selves, and Eliza's Freedom Road speaks to that part of them that looks out for number one. That said, you have to also show your character caring and helping other people or else you might end up with an Ayn Rand novel by mistake.
There's not a lot of conflict that falls in the path of Eliza and what she wants, so her escape is without much in the way of close calls. I assume that this was done so that the book could cover a lot of ground and tell a lot of stories without losing the younger readers. An Underground Railroad book for smaller children is a tricky choice, and it's interesting that Ms. Nolen chose to go this route with her first novel. Even here, though, you see her love of storytelling shine through whenever Eliza tells a tale. This is a fine and interesting debut that serves a distinct purpose in any library's collection. That said, I do hope we'll see more of Ms. Nolen's work in the future, and that she won't confine herself to journal entries and diary dabbles. The story will out.
For ages 8-11.
December 14, 2023
We liked this account of a young girl who escapes on the Underground Railroad. As a plus, she has a rich imagination and gift for words, making her more than a cutout "enslaved girl" character. I couldn't help comparing this to Amos Fortune, which was so bad I stopped reading it to my daughter and grabbed this, instead. Where that book clumsily deals on stereotypes, in this book, the complexity of the white characters is handled deftly. (Mistress is not always cruel like her horrible husband, but while she usually seems affectionate to Eliza, she still clearly sees her as "less than." No mythological Good Slave Owners like in Amos Fortune here!). Eliza's trauma at losing her mother is poignant and quite accessible for a middle grade audience. The addition of folk tales throughout the book celebrates the richness of black storytelling culture under bondage.
My daughter actually liked this quite well. My quibbles are more artistic. Making this a diary instead of a direct first person account seemed unbelievable as Eliza is fleeing through the countryside to meet up with Harriet Tubman. Would she really stop and write in her diary every night? While we loved the happy ending of reuniting with her mother, who had been sold down the river before the book started, it felt quite unrealistic.
The prose was fine, but it wasn't award-winningly great or anything. (I tend to be pickier about the prose when I'm doing a read-aloud than when we're just reading on our own.) While this was a 4.5 star read for my 10 year old, I don't think I will read it again until I read it to my youngest next time around this history cycle, so it's just a 3.5 star read for me. Glad to have it as part of our family library, and would recommend it for middle grade 19th century US history studies.
My daughter actually liked this quite well. My quibbles are more artistic. Making this a diary instead of a direct first person account seemed unbelievable as Eliza is fleeing through the countryside to meet up with Harriet Tubman. Would she really stop and write in her diary every night? While we loved the happy ending of reuniting with her mother, who had been sold down the river before the book started, it felt quite unrealistic.
The prose was fine, but it wasn't award-winningly great or anything. (I tend to be pickier about the prose when I'm doing a read-aloud than when we're just reading on our own.) While this was a 4.5 star read for my 10 year old, I don't think I will read it again until I read it to my youngest next time around this history cycle, so it's just a 3.5 star read for me. Glad to have it as part of our family library, and would recommend it for middle grade 19th century US history studies.
March 16, 2025
Read this book to my third grade class and they LOVED it. This book is great resource for introducing young readers to the injustices of slavery and the bravery of those who resisted it in a way that is accessible to children. Through this story, my students gained a deeper understanding of the harsh realities of slavery, the incredibly bravery required to escape, and the risks faced by those who helped enslaved people seek freedom. This blend of history, storytelling, and emotion results in a memorable and impactful narrative.
Eliza portrays remarkable strength, intelligence, and determination. Rather than presenting enslaved individuals solely as victims, Nolen emphasizes their agency and courage. Eliza’s complex emotions (fear, anger, hope, and compassion) make her a relatable and memorable protagonist. Additionally, Nolen incorporates cultural traditions, language patterns, and historical details to bring authenticity to the story. Dialogue that mirrors the language of the time period and social class, along with descriptions of food, clothing, and daily life, further grounds Eliza’s story in historical and cultural accuracy.
Eliza portrays remarkable strength, intelligence, and determination. Rather than presenting enslaved individuals solely as victims, Nolen emphasizes their agency and courage. Eliza’s complex emotions (fear, anger, hope, and compassion) make her a relatable and memorable protagonist. Additionally, Nolen incorporates cultural traditions, language patterns, and historical details to bring authenticity to the story. Dialogue that mirrors the language of the time period and social class, along with descriptions of food, clothing, and daily life, further grounds Eliza’s story in historical and cultural accuracy.
March 22, 2021
I read this book at the request of my kids. They were reading it in school, and sometimes they like to discuss the books they read. They haven't finished it yet, so I can't provide their final thoughts, but they have complained that it is boring. I think they are used to more action and adventure in their books. I admit that the beginning dragged a bit and I did debate whether it was worth my time to continue. Once Eliza got to the Eastern shore of Maryland, I found that the pace picked up a bit, and it kept my interest. As an adult reading this, I was somewhat disappointed in the lack of detail. That may be just because I am used to reading longer novels that have more space for detail and for richer characters and settings to be developed. I do think it was a good story for middle grade children to learn more about slavery, Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railroad though.
February 23, 2019
Language - G, Sexual Content - G; Violence - G
Eliza's mom was sold when she was eleven and Eliza fears she will be sold too. Mistress likes Eliza, though, so when Mistress goes to see her sister, Eliza goes along. While in Mary's Land, Eliza meets Harriet Tubbs and learns that she is free and now leas other to freedom. Does Eliza have the courage to run form everything she knows?
Although I find reading books written in a diary or journal fashion annoying because I don't know everything that goes on, I found this one fun to read. The suspense of not knowing how a journey will work out, but almost tasting freedom is very exciting to read and I enjoyed it despite the age level.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Eliza's mom was sold when she was eleven and Eliza fears she will be sold too. Mistress likes Eliza, though, so when Mistress goes to see her sister, Eliza goes along. While in Mary's Land, Eliza meets Harriet Tubbs and learns that she is free and now leas other to freedom. Does Eliza have the courage to run form everything she knows?
Although I find reading books written in a diary or journal fashion annoying because I don't know everything that goes on, I found this one fun to read. The suspense of not knowing how a journey will work out, but almost tasting freedom is very exciting to read and I enjoyed it despite the age level.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
October 11, 2022
I think this is a good book for early (3rd - 5th grade) readers. It's an excellent, positive introduction to The Underground Railroad and Harriet Tubman. I love the diary structure, the weaving in of stories, the emphasis on the power of literacy, the inclusion of religion and prayer, and the resources in the back. While I sort of appreciate that Mr. Edward and Mistress are not all cruelty and hatred like Sir, Nolen may give them a bit of a pass. They remain racist slave owners. Eliza is reunited with her mother. I'm not sure this and what seemed to me a relatively easy passage on the underground RR are realistic. Also, education doesn't make you bigger if bigger equals better. It gives you more options.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2021
Told through her journal entries is the story of young Eliza, separated from her mother, who was sold away by the man who owned them both. As she embarks on a dangerous journey of her own, Eliza keeps both her memory of her mother and her hope for the future alive by remembering and sharing stories that her mother used to tell her. Eliza's mother is vivid even in her absence thanks to to stories Eliza tells.
July 4, 2019
This is a very basic, very straightforward story of one girl escaping to freedom in Canada with the help of the enslaved, the emancipated and those running the Underground Railroad. It is a good introduction to slavery in the South, escape from slavery, and how folktales teach social mores and courage.
February 26, 2021
A gripping depiction of one slave's journey to freedom. Eliza's voice is beautiful and compelling, and the stories she tells via her mother's "story quilt" are a vivid detail of Eliza's culture. And the glimpse we see of "that gal, Harriet" is a treasure. Highly recommend for any reader of YA and/or historical fiction.
September 27, 2017
The quest for books for low- literate adults continues. Anyone have suggestions?
June 13, 2019
Great book for my fourth graders plus the ending is perfect for kids
August 5, 2020
For the younger reader, but it was interesting to read of the path to freedom as well as folklore
July 5, 2021
Solid HF choice for book clubs, grades 4-6.
January 25, 2022
An inspiring book about a girl who wants freedom. I really enjoyed reading this. Their are surprises almost every time! This is definitely one of my new favorites
May 6, 2022
I think that this book felt like it was a little lame, but I did like the writing style! Let me know what you think!
May 18, 2022
I love tihs book! I feel it's a little bit sad, though
August 26, 2024
Solid, but the diary format does not work well as a read aloud.
February 7, 2011
In her first novel for middle grade readers, author Jerdine Nolen presents a fictional diary of a 12-year old slave in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1854, as she escapes to freedom in Canada through the help of the Underground Railroad. Much like Scholastic's Dear America series, the story is told in diary entries that take place over the course of a year.
Eliza is not an ordinary slave; at a time when it was against the law for slaves to learn to read and write, she was taught by her mistress to do so. But it is not her mistress but fellow house slave Abbey who gives Eliza the unused diary Mistress had thrown away, along with two lead pencils. But she knows she must write in it in secret, far from the eyes of Sir, the plantation's cruel owner. Eliza's mother has been sold away, leaving her with only her memories and a beloved story quilt to remember her by. This quilt has twelve panels, each symbolizing a different story her mother loved to tell, including two blank squares, for Eliza to quilt her own stories on. Eliza's own narrative is peppered with her mother's stories, some of which have African roots, others coming from the Bible.
Because she reads the newspaper to her nearly-blind Mistress, Eliza is more aware than most slaves of the unrest in the country over slavery, and learns through the paper about the underground railroad. She wonders what that could be. "Do they mean departure by an underground railroad train? Is there a way they escaped on a train that runs under the ground? I want to know how to find that train station. I want to know how to get three tickets: one for Abbey, one for Mama, one for me."
When Eliza is sent with her mistress to "Mary's Land," she meets Harriet Tubman, who one of the other slaves tells Eliza is the Moses of their people, coming back to show others the way to freedom. Be ready in the spring, they tell her, when Miss Harriet will be back. But when she finds out Sir is coming to take them back home, she knows she can't delay any longer; she must go north to freedom.
The diary chronicles Eliza's journey on the Underground Railroad, and how she used markers and the North Star to find her way from safe house to safe house. Although the happy ending that awaits Eliza in Canada seems a bit forced, the book is likely to be popular with young readers looking for historical titles. There is plenty of suspense as Eliza makes her way north, and the author does an excellent job capturing Eliza's voice and her everyday life as a slave before she runs away.
An author's note explains that the book started as a collection of her favorite stories and folktales, and she was subsequently inspired to add the voice of young Eliza, the storyteller. She also mentions Canterbury Tales as a source of inspiration as well.
The book includes a bibliography of related books and websites.
Eliza is not an ordinary slave; at a time when it was against the law for slaves to learn to read and write, she was taught by her mistress to do so. But it is not her mistress but fellow house slave Abbey who gives Eliza the unused diary Mistress had thrown away, along with two lead pencils. But she knows she must write in it in secret, far from the eyes of Sir, the plantation's cruel owner. Eliza's mother has been sold away, leaving her with only her memories and a beloved story quilt to remember her by. This quilt has twelve panels, each symbolizing a different story her mother loved to tell, including two blank squares, for Eliza to quilt her own stories on. Eliza's own narrative is peppered with her mother's stories, some of which have African roots, others coming from the Bible.
Because she reads the newspaper to her nearly-blind Mistress, Eliza is more aware than most slaves of the unrest in the country over slavery, and learns through the paper about the underground railroad. She wonders what that could be. "Do they mean departure by an underground railroad train? Is there a way they escaped on a train that runs under the ground? I want to know how to find that train station. I want to know how to get three tickets: one for Abbey, one for Mama, one for me."
When Eliza is sent with her mistress to "Mary's Land," she meets Harriet Tubman, who one of the other slaves tells Eliza is the Moses of their people, coming back to show others the way to freedom. Be ready in the spring, they tell her, when Miss Harriet will be back. But when she finds out Sir is coming to take them back home, she knows she can't delay any longer; she must go north to freedom.
The diary chronicles Eliza's journey on the Underground Railroad, and how she used markers and the North Star to find her way from safe house to safe house. Although the happy ending that awaits Eliza in Canada seems a bit forced, the book is likely to be popular with young readers looking for historical titles. There is plenty of suspense as Eliza makes her way north, and the author does an excellent job capturing Eliza's voice and her everyday life as a slave before she runs away.
An author's note explains that the book started as a collection of her favorite stories and folktales, and she was subsequently inspired to add the voice of young Eliza, the storyteller. She also mentions Canterbury Tales as a source of inspiration as well.
The book includes a bibliography of related books and websites.
January 16, 2012
12 year-old Eliza lives as a slave in the 1850's in Alexandria, Virginia. Her life is not horrific, but readers will see right away a few of the injustices she is forced to endure. She is friends with the house cook, and therefore eats well. Her half-blind mistress has taught her how to read (an unusual advantage for a slave) so that Eliza can read her letters and newspapers. Eliza even has a small diary that she is able to keep. Her mother has sewn her a beautiful quilt, with each quilt square representing a traditional folktale. But Eliza's mother has recently been sent away, and there is talk that Eliza may be sold next. She decides to make a break for it, and the bulk of the story is about her year-long journey northward to Canada by night. Alternating between stories of Eliza's escape and traditionally-inspired folktales, this book reminded me just a little bit of The Wanderer by Sharon Creech.
Eliza is an oddly formal little girl - her tone is a bit stilted, and she never uses contractions, but that may be a reflection of the proper speech of the 1850's. As a "house slave" with a bit of education, she doesn't employ colloquial slave speech. The book culminates in a meeting with the legendary leader of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman. True to history, Tubman is a gruff, no-nonsense figure.
An impressive amount of backmatter helps young readers put everything in perspective. There is an author's note, as well as some information about the background of the folktales within the tale. There's also a bibliography of other resources and a list of websites, which I always think will date a book quickly, but certainly have plenty of use at the moment.
The book wraps up very quickly, with a few amazing coincidences that leave our heroine safely reunited with her mother, who has also escaped by the story's end. I'll recommend this to anyone who has exhausted the Dear America series or for those readers who might appreciate the formal prose that takes you to another century.
Eliza is an oddly formal little girl - her tone is a bit stilted, and she never uses contractions, but that may be a reflection of the proper speech of the 1850's. As a "house slave" with a bit of education, she doesn't employ colloquial slave speech. The book culminates in a meeting with the legendary leader of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman. True to history, Tubman is a gruff, no-nonsense figure.
An impressive amount of backmatter helps young readers put everything in perspective. There is an author's note, as well as some information about the background of the folktales within the tale. There's also a bibliography of other resources and a list of websites, which I always think will date a book quickly, but certainly have plenty of use at the moment.
The book wraps up very quickly, with a few amazing coincidences that leave our heroine safely reunited with her mother, who has also escaped by the story's end. I'll recommend this to anyone who has exhausted the Dear America series or for those readers who might appreciate the formal prose that takes you to another century.
August 17, 2012
Eliza is a 12 year old slave girl on a tobacco plantation in Virginia in 1854. Her mother has been sold away, and her master, Sir, is a cruel man. Inspired by the story "Uncle Tom's Cabin" that she reads in the newspaper, she decides to run away with the aid of Harriet Tubman.
.... Really? Sigh. This book seems historically inaccurate, or at the very least, implausible. The author cited a bunch of references at the end of the book- but it just seemed over the top to me. Call me old fashioned but I'd much prefer the Dear America series of books to this one.
First of all, the author's inspiration for the story came from her own tweaked fable stories. Then, just because, she made a book out of it and made the narrator a slave girl. It seemed more like an ego boost than anything else. I don't want to read a historical fiction narrative that came out of your own self-absorption, I want to read a historical fiction narrative from an author who is passionate about that time in the past and has researched it extensively.
Next, did Jerdine, the author, really have to add Harriet Tubman and Uncle Tom's Cabin in there? Really? It seemed like either A) This is all she knows about the time period or B) She's using cheap tricks to try to make her story more interesting. It didn't work.
I understand that for elementary age fiction, you want to put the history in the book that the kids will have learned- hopefully they will know and be able to better understand the text because of the reference to Harriet Tubman and Uncle Tom's Cabin- but I doubt it.
All in all, I guess it was an OK book. But it certainly won't get my vote for the 2012-2013 Black Eyed Susan Award.
.... Really? Sigh. This book seems historically inaccurate, or at the very least, implausible. The author cited a bunch of references at the end of the book- but it just seemed over the top to me. Call me old fashioned but I'd much prefer the Dear America series of books to this one.
First of all, the author's inspiration for the story came from her own tweaked fable stories. Then, just because, she made a book out of it and made the narrator a slave girl. It seemed more like an ego boost than anything else. I don't want to read a historical fiction narrative that came out of your own self-absorption, I want to read a historical fiction narrative from an author who is passionate about that time in the past and has researched it extensively.
Next, did Jerdine, the author, really have to add Harriet Tubman and Uncle Tom's Cabin in there? Really? It seemed like either A) This is all she knows about the time period or B) She's using cheap tricks to try to make her story more interesting. It didn't work.
I understand that for elementary age fiction, you want to put the history in the book that the kids will have learned- hopefully they will know and be able to better understand the text because of the reference to Harriet Tubman and Uncle Tom's Cabin- but I doubt it.
All in all, I guess it was an OK book. But it certainly won't get my vote for the 2012-2013 Black Eyed Susan Award.
October 22, 2019
This epistolary novel has a nice list of resources at the end. I appreciate the folk tales woven in as though Eliza, the main character, is writing them in her journal, or telling them to her companions. The act of reading and writing is central in this book, as an act of both defiance and power -- it was against the law for slaves to read and write, but those who could had the power to make a way for themselves to freedom. Mistress may have taught Eliza to read so she could read to her as her own eyesight continued to fail, and maybe as an act of defiance against her husband who strictly followed all laws regarding slaves -- and the act of teaching Eliza to read and write could also have been born out of a desire to own a trained pet. Writing for Eliza serves her memory, and keep her company during her arduous journey north. I can see why other readers complained about the appearance of Uncle Tom's Cabin (in serial form), and perhaps the reunion between Eliza and her mother Jane Mae at the end is too unbelievable; however, the complaint about Tubman showing up in the novel seems unnecessary. Why not have Tubman make an appearance? Especially if this book is meant to introduce young readers to the Underground Railroad? To be fair, what alerted me to the existence of this book was not the author or the reviews, but Shadra Strickland's cover illustration. Overall, I think this would be a fine suggestion for students learning about this time in our dreadful history.
June 4, 2011
Covering a year and a half in the life of young Eliza who is a slave on a Virginia tobacco farm, this diary takes readers on her treacherous journey once she escapes and heads north. Eliza is a storyteller, and she keeps up her spirits and those of the companions on part of her journey by sharing stories passed down to her by her mother who had been sold from the plantation earlier. The weaving in of these stories and Eliza's own ruminations before and while escaping are engaging. I liked how she carried along a story quilt tied to these stories. My enjoyment of this book was marred by some of the clunky dialogue and several of the somewhat unlikely coincidences once Eliza, 11 when the story begins, starts her journey on the Underground Railroad. Still, this book provides a detailed introduction to that particular time in history. Useful back matter such as an Author's Note, Notes on the Stories, and a Bibliograpy containing print references and websites will satisfy those who want to know more.
July 10, 2012
Eliza's Freedom Road is a good read for fourth graders but maybe too slow for fifth and sixth graders. I found the book slow even though it is written in journal format with very short entries. Overall it is a very light treatment of slavery in America around 1855 and includes a very happy ending. But the ending is so happy that it, unfortunately, is unbelievable. What I liked most about the book is how the story highlights the importance of oral traditions and storytelling among slaves. Although Eliza was taught to read and write by her Mistress, she has a knack for oral story-telling and is asked to recount stories from time to time for groups of her comrades. Eliza must also commit to memory the directions for finding a safe house. The directions become life saving poetry for those who succeed, like Eliza, at escaping to freedom. I don't consider this book a must-read for my daughter who is going into fifth grade this fall. But I certainly wouldn't advise her not to read it either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2013
gr 4-7 139pgs
1854 Virginia. 12 year old Eliza has always worked as a slave alongside and her mother (before she was sold) in the kitchen. When Eliza travels with her mistress to Maryland, she takes along the special storytelling quilt (all that she has left of her mother) and her journal (which she can write in since her mistress taught her to read and write) with her. When her mistress' illness worsens, Eliza realizes she must escape. Without her mistress' protection, the master is sure to sell her. Eliza is led, along with other slaves on the Underground railroad, by Harriet Tubman. Along the way, Eliza keeps up her spirit by writing in her journal and sharing the stories her mother taught her with her fellow travelers.
I would recommend this story to readers who liked the American Girl series or liked Grace Lin's "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" (in which the story alternates between the main character's story and folktales).
1854 Virginia. 12 year old Eliza has always worked as a slave alongside and her mother (before she was sold) in the kitchen. When Eliza travels with her mistress to Maryland, she takes along the special storytelling quilt (all that she has left of her mother) and her journal (which she can write in since her mistress taught her to read and write) with her. When her mistress' illness worsens, Eliza realizes she must escape. Without her mistress' protection, the master is sure to sell her. Eliza is led, along with other slaves on the Underground railroad, by Harriet Tubman. Along the way, Eliza keeps up her spirit by writing in her journal and sharing the stories her mother taught her with her fellow travelers.
I would recommend this story to readers who liked the American Girl series or liked Grace Lin's "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" (in which the story alternates between the main character's story and folktales).
February 3, 2016
Eliza is a slave. She helps Abbey in the kitchen. Eliza now helps Mistress since Master sold her mother Jane Mae. Mistress taught Eliza how to read and write which is illegal for slaves to know. Abbey says it's a precious gift and to write everything in the journal that was thrown in the trash. Abbey tells Eliza she's full of words and the keeper of her momma's stories. One day Eliza learns she's going to leave Abbey and travel to Maryland with Mistress who is very sick. Eliza doesn't know yet that she'll never see Abbey again, but will find someone else.
Eliza's Freedom Road is a beautiful story about hope and love and courage. I am a huge Harriet Tubman fan and was thrilled to see her cameo in the story. I think the journal format is perfect for this book and love the idea that it came from a child. This book was short on words, but long on inspiration.
Eliza's Freedom Road is a beautiful story about hope and love and courage. I am a huge Harriet Tubman fan and was thrilled to see her cameo in the story. I think the journal format is perfect for this book and love the idea that it came from a child. This book was short on words, but long on inspiration.
January 23, 2011
A kind of Intro to the Underground Railroad for kids who may not have known about it before. Eliza lives on a plantation without her mother, spending much of her days reading to her dying mistress. When a doctor recommends that her mistress see her sister in Maryland, Eliza is taken along. Suddenly freedom seems that much closer, and with the introduction of Harriet Tubman she at long last has a chance to fulfill her dreams and the dreams of her mother as well. The story is dotted with the stories Eliza and her mother tell, each one stitched as a square onto a quilt she carries with her. It's not a particularly complex story but there's a lot of like about the writing here. In the end, it's a strong introduction to the subject with a rewarding ending. - B
Want to read
February 11, 2016Standard: Grade 3. RL.3.6. Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters. Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style of a text.
Description: It is 1852 in Alexandria, Virginia. Eliza 19s mother has been sent away and it is Abbey, the cook, who looks after Eliza, when Eliza isn 19t taking care of the Mistress. Eliza has the quilt her mother left her and the memory of the stories she told to keep her close. When her Mistress 19s health begins to fail and Eliza overhears the Master talk of Eliza being traded, Eliza takes to the night.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: n/a
Description: It is 1852 in Alexandria, Virginia. Eliza 19s mother has been sent away and it is Abbey, the cook, who looks after Eliza, when Eliza isn 19t taking care of the Mistress. Eliza has the quilt her mother left her and the memory of the stories she told to keep her close. When her Mistress 19s health begins to fail and Eliza overhears the Master talk of Eliza being traded, Eliza takes to the night.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Awards: n/a
July 24, 2011
I would give this 4.5 stars if it was a choice. It wasn't a life-changing amazing, but I really loved it. I think it's a very accessible (to young readers) story about one slave's journey along the Underground Railroad to freedom. Eliza's story is told through journal entries, and the fictional account is set accurately in historical context without being too horrific. Her tale is sweetly woven in with folk tales from her mother. I would recommend this book to 4th and 5th grade teachers for classroom reading.
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