108A TE Fall 2011 discussion

I just had to finish this book asap because of the comment that Judi made to Hayley about the book being sad and amazing and whatever. Anyway, the book did not end the way I predicted at all. It wasn't my favorite book, but it did touch my heart. I liked how Elijah ended up being a hero. He was treated like a grown-up by the slaves he met in America. I wasn't sure if this was because he was old enough to be treated that way or if the educated air about him made them treat him that way. Perhaps the slaves thought he was better than them because he just acted much more sophisticated than a slave.
I thought that the tale was a wonderful way to expose kids to the nature of slavery back in those days. It was also a great way to show how a boy became a "grown-up" of sorts by freeing a slave. I thought it was weird that talking like a grown-up was actually lying because Elijah lied to the lady to take the baby, even though she wanted her child to be free, it was still lying.
The one thing that I would have changed about this book was that I would make it more gripping and suspensful. I don't really like books when I can actually dream up something way more intense that could have taken place to make the book much better than it was. I definitely thought Elijah was going to get kidnapped and sold into slavery and then escape at the end. I think that something more intense than just seeing slaves in chains would have been more impactful, but perhaps that would be too scary for a young person to read about.
Overall, the book was interesting enough and helpful for seeing what life would be like back in that time. These goals were reached and I would probably read this with my class to introduce them to issues of slavery.

I have to agree with you Kiersten, the end was slightly disappointing. After reading the back of the book, and wondering when the adventure was going to begin, the last few chapters of the book were a slight let down. I have to say I liked how Elijah is addressed as an adult, actually seeing the "real world" outside Buxton, slavery at the forefront. But, I was not happy with the ending, not knowing what the town of Buxton would say when he comes back, with a baby in-toe as well. It seemed a little too neatly put together. And after our meeting last time, we all thought of so many ways the book was going to end, yet nothing really prepared us for the way it did end. I am still conflicted about the Preacher, he pretty much led himself into trouble but he also died...that seemed like a waste of Mr. Leroy's life, wanting to free his family.

I do have to say that the book is a good introduction into the history of slavery for young adults to read and see a different perspective, a free young boy struggling with the past of his many former slave friends and family. I think that for all the build up of the settlement and the people Elijah surrounds himself with, leaving the reader with only an image of Elijah at the end seems strange. I guess I just want to know more, but maybe that was the purpose of the entire book, just making the reader keep guessing and imagining what would happen. A good book, but seemed to wrap up too quickly at the end.

I must agree with both of you girls. The ending of the book was not what I expected. I also thought Elijah was going to be captured and sold into slavery and there he would find Mr. Leroy’s family. But, this did not happen. As well as Michelle, I feel that all of Mr. Leroy’s work and hope was a waste of time. I would had liked if Mr. Leroy had not died and that along with Elijah, they would bring Mr. Leroy’s family to Buxton. Also, I did not want the Preacher dead, I wanted him to go to jail and pay for stealing the money. Besides this, I must say I was glad that Elijah did not physically suffer the horrors of slavery. At the end he did prove to be a grown up by becoming a hero and freeing baby Hope.
This was a great story filled with exciting adventures and great characters. I think that this is an excellent book to introduce slavery to a young adult. The book touches upon slavery in an interesting way. It combines the horrors of the past and the present but, it gives the promise of the future that starts in Buxton. I enjoyed reading this book and I wish there was a sequel to it that talks about Elijah’s life after he came back to Buxton. Maybe soon we can read it!

So I have to agree with all of you girls! I wish the book had ended differently. I felt let down about a lot of things that I wish had gotten resolved. First I was really disappointed that Mr. Leroy died when he did because I think it would have been more meaningful if he had at least known the the Preacher had been killed and that some sort of justice had been served. However, I was also disappointed that the Preacher died, I would have liked him to have gone to jail or at least Elijah could have recovered some of the money to use to save Mr. Leroy's family. A major story line, Mr. Leroy trying to save his family, never got resolved and Mr. Leroy's family is still in slavery at the end of the book which I wish hadn't been the case. I was also conflicted about the events of Elijah coming across real slaves. While I think it impacted Elijah to have interacted with real people who were in slavery and seemed defeated, I really wanted him to be able to save them. The scene with Elijah giving the woman the gun was stressful to me because I thought she was going to use it to kill herself and the rest of the people captured so that they wouldn't have to be sold back into slavery. I agree with Michelle that the book ended a little too early for me, I would have liked to see the reaction of the people in Buxton when Elijah returns with the baby.
All in all, I did enjoy reading the book and think it would be a good read for young adult/middle schoolers. I think I would have changed a few things if I had written it myself, but it was still a good book, and provided an experience that most people haven't experienced before. However, I think that if the goal of the book was to expose people to the horrors and hardships of slavery, I think that it kind of sugar coated how hard slavery really was.