Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom by Whit Taylor and Kazimir Lee

 

                                                    Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom Cover


    "Harriet Tubman: Toward Freedom" is a graphic novel about the infamous Harriet Tubman's life. The book opens with an introduction explaining some of the historical context as well as Harriet's significance. The story then starts with Harriet in her late 20's, after her initial escape, and then jumps back and forth between different points in time to depict different parts of her life. The main event it chronicles is when she returns to where she was formerly enslaved to help her brother's escape their enslavement and find a free life in Canada. The book is approximately 100 pages long, if the reader goes through the Introduction and the "Panel Discussions" in the back of the book, which explain the different characters of the story as well as a few important factors, such as Harriet's head injury and what the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 entailed. 

    I did enjoy the book overall; it has great artwork and I think captures the fear someone would feel when they were trying to escape enslavement. To be completely honest though, I do not think I would recommend it as something an entire class reads. I think a person would need a solid understanding of the Underground Railroad and who Harriet Tubman was to understand the story- since it is jumping to different points of time. I think this would be a great book to suggest if Secondary students want to do further reading on the Underground Railroad, or it could be an option for an assignment. I think this book is kind of short, but I still would not suggest it for elementary level students. The writing suits Middle School level readers and up, who are learning about this time period or already have.

The artwork is really interesting, and it adds to the tone of the novel. The colors are dark and moody, and much of the story takes place at night, which reflects the reality of the Underground Railroad. 

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