Flying Free

Corey's Underground Railroad Diary #2

by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Historical, Diary, Fiction

112 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Ari]

In 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".

[Conner Klostermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jaden]

Historical 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!

[Jasmine Stocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Savannah Domeyer]

Corey 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.

[Tara Dryml]

This 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.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Janis · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Collin Duax]

I think the overall message of this book was expressed very well. Corey encounters the underground railroad and overcomes it.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Ashley Lahr]

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. 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.

[Kimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Emma]

My 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.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book!

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's fascinating to see the underground railroad through a child's eyes.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked reading the continuing story of Corey and his family.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!! I love the whole series!! I've read all of the books and I would recomend them to any young reader!

[Ashten Wolff]

A great second book with a happy ending to the first.

[Dalton Dettbarn]

This book would be a good one to have the students read when we are talking about slavery. It talks about a runaway slaves journey.

[Memomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of of many surprises it feels like you're right in the 1800's a very good book.