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Corey's Underground Railroad Diary #2
Flying Free
In this sequel to My Freedom's Wings, Corey Birdsong and his family have escaped slavery and the South and found refuge in Canada. This book is part of the re-launch of the My America series.
In Sharon Dennis Wyeth's sequel to My Freedom's Wings, Corey and his family have escaped from slavery and the South and are now living in Canada. They own their own land, have made new friends, and Corey gets ready to go to school. But danger still remains across the river in Ohio, where slavecatchers lurk, waiting to capture escaped slaves to bring them back to their former masters. Corey, however, outsmarts them, and brings his friend Mingo to safety in Canada.
In Sharon Dennis Wyeth's sequel to My Freedom's Wings, Corey and his family have escaped from slavery and the South and are now living in Canada. They own their own land, have made new friends, and Corey gets ready to go to school. But danger still remains across the river in Ohio, where slavecatchers lurk, waiting to capture escaped slaves to bring them back to their former masters. Corey, however, outsmarts them, and brings his friend Mingo to safety in Canada.
112 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 19, 2026
In the sequel to Freedom’s Wings, in Flying Free (2002) Sharon Dennis Wyeth and of course by extension equally so her main protagonist and first person narrator Corey Birdsong with and in his continuing journal show that the Birdsongs, that Corey, his parents and his baby sister Star have now finally reached the end station of the Underground Railroad so to speak, how they have arrived in what now Canada and as such also have achieved freedom.
And Corey’s words in Flying Free therefore relate his and his family’s feelings of total rapture and ecstasy upon setting foot in what is now Amherstburg, Ontario and the steps the Birdsongs can (and indeed freely, legally, with no threats of repercussion) take to forge a new, independent life, totally free from not only slavery but also from the constant threat and danger of being apprehended and kidnapped by “slave catchers” (as even in the northern areas of the USA where slavery is not or is no longer being accepted and tolerated, like for example in Ohio and in Michigan, there is still and always the ever-present danger of being recaptured with which to contend, something that across the border and where slavery is in face and indeed totally illegal just does not really exist) and how the Birdsongs are welcomed with proverbially open arms in a community made up largely of other former slaves (where they can not only dream of owning their own farm, of proper schooling etc., but where their dreams can in fact also become reality).
Now while Flying Free and its fictional journal entries readably and engagingly show how young and now almost ten year old diarist Corey is fascinated by the people around him and also makes special note of the many African Americans who have responsible, respected places in society, in his community, Corey Birdsong is also aware and writes in his journal that there are slave-catchers just over the water who are waiting for a chance to recapture the runaways and return them to slavery should any African Americans and former slaves dare to venture even slightly into the US, into American territory, how there are also friends and family left behind, who are still cruelly enslaved, such as Corey’s best friend Mingo. And while I can thus understand having in Flying Free Corey be shown as rescuing Mingo and that at the end of Flying Free, Mingo has also found freedom and has basically become part of the Birdsong family, well, exactly how Corey rescues Mingo feels and sounds a trifle unrealistic and fairy-tale like and thus also somewhat dilutes the delightful realism and slice of life depictions of the journal entries for Flying Free (not so much for my inner child, I guess, but adult I is kind of proverbially rolling her eyes at least somewhat).
Also, at least for me as a German Canadian, there are two points of textual bones of reading contention regarding the Canadian connection for and in Flying Free, not massive ones, but still necessary for me to point out. For one, in the 1850s and when Flying Free and the other two books of Dennis Wyeth’s trilogy take place. there was as yet not a Canada and no Ontario either (not until 1867), so that where Corey Birdsong and his family end up settling should really be called either Upper Canada or Canada West. But indeed (and in my humble opinion), albeit most American authors who write about the Underground Railroad seem to generally call where escaped slaves settled in what is now Canada as being Canada (and even the specific provinces according to what they are now called), both my inner child and even more so adult I find this frustratingly historically inaccurate and as such also more than a bit annoying. And for two (and much of an issue for me, or rather for us), sorry, but the rose coloured glasses attitude from Sharon Dennis Wyeth and as encountered in Corey’s diary for Flying Free about Canada somehow being the proverbial land of milk and honey for escaping slaves (and as though there is no racism, no discrimination, no dangers etc. for the latter), sorry, but this is problematic at best (since this is not and actually never has been the truth). However, and generally speaking, Dennis Wyeth’s featured text for Flying Free is verbally delightful, with Corey Birdsong’s journal entries and his narrative voice showing that he is loving, curious, intelligent, determined (and that the journal descriptions of what he sees and experiences in “Canada” and in Amherstburg are also replete with youthful and engagingly age appropriate enthusiasm). So yes, in Flying Free, Sharon Dennis Wyeth provides a nicely simple and age appropriate fictional journal, accompanied by an interesting, informative and also nicely simple but never simplistic non-fiction historical afterword, and which also includes period photographs (but no list of books for further reading).
Finally, and stylistically speaking, Corey Birdsong’s journal for Flying Free is pretty much the same as his diary in Freedom’s Wings (so sounding simple but at the same time totally natural and realistic for a boy who is still learning and being taught his letters), including having Sharon Dennis Wyeth featuring in the journal proper the spelling words Mr. Birdsong includes there for Corey to practice, to work on the spelling mistakes his now almost ten year old son has made in his journal entries (except that for and according to Corey, some of these spelling gaffes are not actual mistakes, and that in Flying Free, Corey Birdsong also occasionally points out in his diary that he will not spell according to what his father wants and desires, that for example, instead of potatoes, he will continue to call these taters and that he will also spell them as taters). Four stars for how much I have enjoyed reading Flying Free, but that in particular because of how all encompassingly positive Dennis Wyeth describes escaped Slaves’ lives and their opportunities in what is now Canada and that there are indeed no negatives at all, no racial tension etc. shown in Flying Free north of the border, this in particular bothers adult me enough to consider not four but three stars for Flying Free (although I still do recommend Flying Free and think that it is a very decent sequel for Freedom’s Wings).
And Corey’s words in Flying Free therefore relate his and his family’s feelings of total rapture and ecstasy upon setting foot in what is now Amherstburg, Ontario and the steps the Birdsongs can (and indeed freely, legally, with no threats of repercussion) take to forge a new, independent life, totally free from not only slavery but also from the constant threat and danger of being apprehended and kidnapped by “slave catchers” (as even in the northern areas of the USA where slavery is not or is no longer being accepted and tolerated, like for example in Ohio and in Michigan, there is still and always the ever-present danger of being recaptured with which to contend, something that across the border and where slavery is in face and indeed totally illegal just does not really exist) and how the Birdsongs are welcomed with proverbially open arms in a community made up largely of other former slaves (where they can not only dream of owning their own farm, of proper schooling etc., but where their dreams can in fact also become reality).
Now while Flying Free and its fictional journal entries readably and engagingly show how young and now almost ten year old diarist Corey is fascinated by the people around him and also makes special note of the many African Americans who have responsible, respected places in society, in his community, Corey Birdsong is also aware and writes in his journal that there are slave-catchers just over the water who are waiting for a chance to recapture the runaways and return them to slavery should any African Americans and former slaves dare to venture even slightly into the US, into American territory, how there are also friends and family left behind, who are still cruelly enslaved, such as Corey’s best friend Mingo. And while I can thus understand having in Flying Free Corey be shown as rescuing Mingo and that at the end of Flying Free, Mingo has also found freedom and has basically become part of the Birdsong family, well, exactly how Corey rescues Mingo feels and sounds a trifle unrealistic and fairy-tale like and thus also somewhat dilutes the delightful realism and slice of life depictions of the journal entries for Flying Free (not so much for my inner child, I guess, but adult I is kind of proverbially rolling her eyes at least somewhat).
Also, at least for me as a German Canadian, there are two points of textual bones of reading contention regarding the Canadian connection for and in Flying Free, not massive ones, but still necessary for me to point out. For one, in the 1850s and when Flying Free and the other two books of Dennis Wyeth’s trilogy take place. there was as yet not a Canada and no Ontario either (not until 1867), so that where Corey Birdsong and his family end up settling should really be called either Upper Canada or Canada West. But indeed (and in my humble opinion), albeit most American authors who write about the Underground Railroad seem to generally call where escaped slaves settled in what is now Canada as being Canada (and even the specific provinces according to what they are now called), both my inner child and even more so adult I find this frustratingly historically inaccurate and as such also more than a bit annoying. And for two (and much of an issue for me, or rather for us), sorry, but the rose coloured glasses attitude from Sharon Dennis Wyeth and as encountered in Corey’s diary for Flying Free about Canada somehow being the proverbial land of milk and honey for escaping slaves (and as though there is no racism, no discrimination, no dangers etc. for the latter), sorry, but this is problematic at best (since this is not and actually never has been the truth). However, and generally speaking, Dennis Wyeth’s featured text for Flying Free is verbally delightful, with Corey Birdsong’s journal entries and his narrative voice showing that he is loving, curious, intelligent, determined (and that the journal descriptions of what he sees and experiences in “Canada” and in Amherstburg are also replete with youthful and engagingly age appropriate enthusiasm). So yes, in Flying Free, Sharon Dennis Wyeth provides a nicely simple and age appropriate fictional journal, accompanied by an interesting, informative and also nicely simple but never simplistic non-fiction historical afterword, and which also includes period photographs (but no list of books for further reading).
Finally, and stylistically speaking, Corey Birdsong’s journal for Flying Free is pretty much the same as his diary in Freedom’s Wings (so sounding simple but at the same time totally natural and realistic for a boy who is still learning and being taught his letters), including having Sharon Dennis Wyeth featuring in the journal proper the spelling words Mr. Birdsong includes there for Corey to practice, to work on the spelling mistakes his now almost ten year old son has made in his journal entries (except that for and according to Corey, some of these spelling gaffes are not actual mistakes, and that in Flying Free, Corey Birdsong also occasionally points out in his diary that he will not spell according to what his father wants and desires, that for example, instead of potatoes, he will continue to call these taters and that he will also spell them as taters). Four stars for how much I have enjoyed reading Flying Free, but that in particular because of how all encompassingly positive Dennis Wyeth describes escaped Slaves’ lives and their opportunities in what is now Canada and that there are indeed no negatives at all, no racial tension etc. shown in Flying Free north of the border, this in particular bothers adult me enough to consider not four but three stars for Flying Free (although I still do recommend Flying Free and think that it is a very decent sequel for Freedom’s Wings).
March 31, 2021
So much repetition and it reads younger than the target audience. Corey does a couple of unwise things with minimal consequence. The book would have you believe that Canada in the 1850s was completely free of racial inequality, which is not true. There is very little conflict and what there is resolves quickly.
September 23, 2018
Slavery, the Underground Railroad, and the Emancipation Proclamation were all incredibly influential and informational points during the 19th century. In this book, Flying Free: Corey's Underground Railroad Diary, we see the triumph of a small family from Kentucky who is looking to escape slavery. With the help of the townspeople in Amhertsburg, Canada, they establish a new life for themselves and have opportunities they never thought were possible. This story has characters and a plot line that are realistic for the time period. Many families, just like Corey’s, were attempting to escape during this horrible time in U.S. history, helping students learn about the rigors of escaping from slavery.
October 15, 2017
This book is the second book in Corey's Underground Railroad. This book is about the family's freedom as they had finally reached Canada. They begin to start a new life with a new baby as part of the family. Corey worries that the slave catchers are still going to get them as they lurk across the river in Ohio. This is a very subtle (boring) edition to the My America series and sequel to Corey's first diary. But I feel this was on purpose because now that they are free they have fewer worries. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of events that happen just not action-filled ones.
July 30, 2017
I don't feel like all that much happened in this book :/ and the life in America section was basically the same thing as the last book.
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September 30, 2022In book one of Corey's story he and his family escape slavery and the South. The family is in Canada in search of freedom. The book starts off with the family in Canada. Corey's first journal entry is about when he used to live in Kentucky and how the Underground Railroad helped his family ran away. He also wrote about how slave catchers chased them until Ohio. A bit later in the book Corey's dad read his writings... To say the least his dad gave him some words to practice spelling. Throughout the book his dad keeps giving him spelling words to work on. At the end of the book the Mr. Osborn is off to fight against slavery and Corey hopes for his safe return. Towards the middle of the book Corey decides he wants to become a teacher, and his ending statement is, "Someday I will be a teacher".
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September 26, 2019Historical Fiction
This was a historical fiction book about the Underground Railroad. A young boy named Corey writes a diary about his experience leaving the south and finding his freedom in Canada. He writes about how his family finds work and how he earns money to help his family build their own house and how he writes to his best friend who is trying to escape. Towards the end of the book, during the winter, he receives a package that is on the other side of the river. He walks all the way to find his friend in a box who had finally escaped. The young boy lost a few toes but he finally made his way to a safe place with his best friend!
This was a historical fiction book about the Underground Railroad. A young boy named Corey writes a diary about his experience leaving the south and finding his freedom in Canada. He writes about how his family finds work and how he earns money to help his family build their own house and how he writes to his best friend who is trying to escape. Towards the end of the book, during the winter, he receives a package that is on the other side of the river. He walks all the way to find his friend in a box who had finally escaped. The young boy lost a few toes but he finally made his way to a safe place with his best friend!
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September 27, 2019Corey and his family take the underground railroad to Canada to escape slavery. They all find work there to help find a place to live. Corey helps a friend escape. Corey and the journals are fiction, but some events are historical.
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October 15, 2019This story follows Corey and his family's escape on the underground railroad to Canada. While in Canada they find work and a place to live. However, Corey goes back and helps a friend escape back to Canada, so he too can live a better life.
January 6, 2018
This was a good book, but it was a bit slow compared to the other one. It did show how much better life was and had some good parts. Again, it is a good one for younger kids.
October 13, 2020
I liked that the book is set in Canada. I haven’t read other books that dealt with how people lived after escaping to Canada.
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October 14, 2022I think the overall message of this book was expressed very well. Corey encounters the underground railroad and overcomes it.
February 23, 2026
Not much to this one, but a nice continuation of the story.
March 25, 2026
Book two has Corey and his family safe in Canada. They have land, friends, and Corey is excited about going to school. However, Corey wants his friend Mingo to experience freedom as well and the process is of course not easily done. While some people find this book repetitive, I really enjoyed it and the journey that his family was going through. Though they were safe in Canada, they still had to deal with issues they hadn't expected.
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May 2, 2016This book is the second book in Corey's Underground Railroad. This book is about the family's freedom as they had finally reached Canada. They begin to start a new life with a new baby as part of the family. Corey worries that the slave catchers are still going to get them as they lurk across the river in Ohio. Even if a free black person has papers the hunter don't care they just want the reward. In the story corey is reunited with his friend Mingo who was shipped in a box and almost froze to death. Corey gets really sick so his mom writes in his diary for him.
February 29, 2008
I am reading this book for Black History month and I have read it before and I find it just amazing. It is the second in the series, The fist one is about Cory journey escaping from slavery, This one is about when he has arrived in Canada and what he does while he is there. It is a story about slavery , but it is still great and not educational, but a very believable story.
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May 1, 2013My America flying free is about a boy named Corey getting used to being free. The book a quick read and written in an interesting style. It is Corey's (age 9) diary. I recommend this book to someone looking for a quick read or wanting to learn more about slave history. I would also be interested in reading the book that comes before in the series called Freedom's Wings.
December 10, 2015
On one hand, this nook was pretty boring. On the other, they spent the entire last book running away from slavery, so it was really nice to see them be happy and settled. So it's a real so-so book for me.
October 19, 2016
Junior fiction. Great book for young youth to give them a basic idea of some of the struggles of a 9/10 year old and his family as they try to get settled in Canada after escaping from slavery in the US.
February 28, 2009
good book!
December 26, 2011
It's fascinating to see the underground railroad through a child's eyes.
January 9, 2013
I liked reading the continuing story of Corey and his family.
June 13, 2013
Great book!! I love the whole series!! I've read all of the books and I would recomend them to any young reader!
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September 16, 2016A great second book with a happy ending to the first.
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September 18, 2016This book would be a good one to have the students read when we are talking about slavery. It talks about a runaway slaves journey.
April 4, 2012
A book of of many surprises it feels like you're right in the 1800's a very good book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews