The River Jordan: A True Story of the Underground Railroad

by Henry Robert Burke, Dick Croy

THE RIVER JORDAN is the fictionalized account of an actual escape on the Underground Railroad of a slave and her seven children from a western Virginia tobacco plantation on the Ohio River in 1843. The Ohio, the River Jordan to slaves, was the border between free and slave states. All the book's major characters and events are real, portrayed as reported in newspapers and historical documents of the time. This vivid, inspiring chronicle of a family's harrowing 2 1/2-week flight across Ohio to freedom in Canada is also a story of heroism and compassion, by black and white Americans alike. There may be no more important story in American history than that of slavery, its abolishment, and the commitment of ordinary Americans to help end this abomination by putting their lives, the lives of their families, and their livelihoods at stake to help the many thousands of slaves who escaped. Jane's story is more timely than ever, and not just because for the first time in our nation's history a black family occupies the White House. Virtually all wars and acts of terrorism in the world today are the result of ethnic hatred and racial prejudice. What better example has there ever been of compassionate, courageous cooperation between the peoples of different races than the Underground Railroad? That inspiring story may have been America's finest hour and is still vital not only for its historical significance but because of what it has to tell us about ourselves who we are as Americans, black and white, and what, together, we can accomplish. In the way that enough healing time has to pass before a society is truly ready to examine and learn from its past, the Underground Railroad is a story whose time has finally come.

Genres: Historical Fiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2001

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on a goodreads first reads giveaway last month.


This book was very insightful and an amazing story. Jane and her seven children decide to risk their lives to escape the plantation to go on the underground railroad up to Canada (from Ohio) to freedom. This journey was all done on foot and wagon with peril in every breath they took.

This story is just amazing from the start. The first chapter or two was a little confusing learning all the people, and Jane's family members and all that they did, but after that the story was just amazing. The authors did a good job on telling this family's story and it helps give people a better idea of what life was like back then. Would recommend it to any and all of my friends, I didn't know much about how the underground railroad worked up in the northern parts, but it was interesting to learn!

[Suzyberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free book from Goodreads First Reads. I was always aware of this chapter in our history, but this story brought into reality the hardship, trauma, fear and bravery that existed for those who so desperately did what they had to do to escape slavery. This is a well written book, a true chronicle of a mother and her seven children who made their way through the Underground Railroad, all for a freedom that others took for granted. An inspiring, historical read...not to be missed, for it reminds us of what once was and should never exist again.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of a slave family taking the underground railroad to freedom in Canada. An easy read and interesting enough to keep your attention. I was a little confused with the random letters from Henry thrown in at first they took away from the flow of the story a bit but were interesting to read.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good way to learn first-hand, in a simple manner, what it is like to be a runaway slave on the Underground Railroad. I love the references to familiar local sites. It lacks grammar and has some crude language and scenes.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this from Goodreads First Reads. Amazing story, love love loved it! I like how the childrens' stories were also included here and there and the epilogue was my favorite part.