THE GIFT OF FREEDOM

With courage as her compass, Harriet Tubman sets out to rescue her enslaved family.

Using the stars and other natural signs as her guide, Harriet Tubman escapes from her enslaver in Maryland and heads north. As a free woman in Philadelphia, she finds paid work with the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, but her thoughts are still with those she’s left behind. Through a news report, Harriet learns that her niece and her niece’s children are soon to be sold, so she embarks on a journey to rescue them. After successfully delivering them to safety, Harriet resolves to help three of her enslaved brothers escape to freedom. Setting her plan in motion on Christmas Day of 1854, she takes advantage of impeccable timing, an almost-confiscated coded letter, and a secret meeting place as she leads her brothers and several other Freedom Seekers to safety, traveling 100 miles in four days. Though the expository blocks of text run long for the intended audience, the story nevertheless captivates. Attractive digital illustrations have a textural, cut-paper collage feel. Dark, dramatic scenes visually dominate the spreads, with pops of bright color and a dynamic play of glowing yellow light peppered throughout.

A powerful, seldom-shared chapter from Tubman’s storied path to freedom.