Which Way Freedom?

Obi and Easter Trilogy #1

by Joyce Hansen

In this classic Coretta Scott King Honor Book, a young enslaved man makes a daring run for freedom, then battles to free his people.  "Authenticity rings throughout this outstanding novel depicting events and places in rural South Carolina in the 1860s and representing the diversity of persons, experiences, and opinions during the Civil War. The double-edged title refers to trust and decisions as well as to the escapes of African Americans from bondage. This historical novel accurately documents the military participation of blacks in the Civil War."  (Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books) Obi had never forgotten the sounds of his mother's screams on the day he was sold away from her. Making plans to run away to find her was a secret game he played with his friend Buka, an old African who lived at the edge of the farm. When the Civil War began, Obi knew it was time to run—or be sold again. If he was caught, he'd be killed...or worse. But if he stayed, he might never know freedom. This classic historical fiction for ages 9 to 12 is a strong choice for sharing in the classroom or at home, especially for students studying topics including the Civil War, African American participation in the war, and the history of slavery in the United States.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Fiction, War

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Joyce Hansen has been writing books and stories for children and young adults for over twenty years. Joyce was born and raised in New York City, the setting of her early contemporary novels. She grew up with two younger brothers and her parents in an extended family that included aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, all living nearby in the Morrisania section of the Bronx.

Attending Bronx public schools, she graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1960. While working secretarial jobs during the day, Joyce attended Pace University in New York City at night, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then began her teaching career in the New York City public schools and earned a Master of Arts degree from New York University. She also taught writing and literature at Empire State College (State University of New York).

Joyce’s first children’s book, The Gift-Giver, published in 1980, was inspired by her own Bronx childhood and by her students. She continued to teach and write until retiring from teaching in 1995. Joyce Hansen presently lives in South Carolina with her husband and writes full-time.

Reviews

[Krystie Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I can see why this is an award-winning book. The characters' voices rang true, and the story was both hard-hitting and hopeful. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand a bit more about what the Civil War may have looked like from the viewpoint of Southern Black people.

[Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was not your typical school reading book. it was full of drama, and it keep you reading throughout the book. okay character development, but it could have used some work. I also liked the way the book was set up; starting at the present and then working its way back to the past. creative! overall, very good book and I recommend it to anyone.

[Penny Louks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it offers a different perspective of the war. I was hoping that it would be more of a chronicle of the black troops during the Civil War. However, it provided a glimpse and emphasized the horrific treatment of black Americans who were slaves so that students might learn to have more empathy for others' past and culture. I found it in my school's leveled library and decided to pre-read it and will definitely utilize it for some of my lower level readers during my Civil War Book Club. It is well done and even though it is geared for lower level readers is historically accurate and uses dialect for the slaves in a consistent manner launching it a bit beyond the suggested reading level.

[Kathleen A · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of a slave’s way to freedom through the Civil War, his treatment, struggles, lost and, eventually, his acceptance of looking at the future! Ended too soon! There was still part of the story untold!

[Rummana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book years ago but just now thought of adding it. A sad story for sure.... being it about slavery and all, but still a good one of course.

[Books Kids Like · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obi is a sixteen-year-old slave boy owned by John Jennings. Easter, a thirteen-year old girl, and Jason, a seven-year old boy also help work the farm. Master John and Mistress Martha are fair people and treat their slaves tolerably well. Then John's brother, Wilson, returns from the sea. It is the summer of 1861, and the rebels are requisitioning slaves from plantations and farms to work on fortifications. Wilson convinces John to sell the farm and move west. Obi and Easter are taken to the nearby Phillips Plantation. With the help of an older slave, Buka, Obi and Easter escape. Their destination is an island off the coast where Obi's mother went some time ago. When they reach the coast, they are captured by rebel soldiers and put to work. Easter, masquerading as a boy, becomes the colonel's cook. Obi goes to work in the fields. During an ensuing battle, Obi and Daniel, another slave, try to cross the river in a reed boat made by their own hands. The boat capsizes and they are plucked out of the water by soldiers on a Yankee gunboat. Taken to an island plantation close to Green Hills, Obi gets his first taste of "freedom" at the hands of the Yankees. His work is generally unsupervised. Later, Obi becomes a stevedore earning money loading and unloading Yankees supply boats. He continues to dream of finding his mother, getting Easter and Jason, and escaping to Mexico. When his friend Daniel is killed on a spying mission for the Yankees, Obi yearns to finish Daniel's task. The Yankees start enlisting able-bodied black men into an all black regiment, and Obi enlists. He is transferred to Fort Pillow, Tennessee. There on April 12 and 13, 1864, Obi and his regiment fight a horrendous battle against numerable Rebel troops. Experiencing death firsthand makes Obi realizes that he must give up his hopes of finding his mother and build a future for himself, Easter, and Jason.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a wonderful book. It's through a slaves perspective of his experience toward freedom.

[GPPL Youth]

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[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be a good book to read with upper elementary school students to teach about the civil war. Some pertinent questions that you may want to ask to get young people thinking about the content and context of the war are:

1. Each chapter begins with a quote. Which is your favorite? Why?
2. Why did the Southern troops ask for donations of slaves and livestock?
3. Why were so many of the Sixth U.S. Heavy Artillery of Colored Troops former slaves?
4.When did Obi decide to run away? Who helped him on his journey to become free?
5.How did the actions of the Yankee soldiers towards the Southern slaves change over the course of the war?