Henry's Freedom Box
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad is a children's storybook written by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson. The book got some prestigious children's book awards, including the Caldecott Honor in 2008. American Library Association Notable Children's Book and The National Council for Social Studies Notable Social Studies Book in 2009, and some others, named this book in their 'best books' lists. [1]
Plot
Henry Brown doesn't have any idea how old he is. No one keeps records of slaves' birthdays. He always dream about freedom, however that fantasy appears to be farther away than any time in recent memory when he is torn from his family and set to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he gets crushed again when his family is sold at the slave market. At that point, one day, he lifts a carton at the warehouse and he knows precisely what he must do: He is going to mail himself to the North. After a difficult excursion in the container, Henry finally gets his freedom, and the first day of his freedom becomes his birthday. [2]
Controversy
This book paints a picture for children of the cruel truth of what it was resembled to be a slave. Henry's Freedom Box recounts the genuine story of Henry, develops into a man under the cruel states of subjection, all the time longing to be free. Henry Brown was brought into the world as a slave. When his master died, Henry was sent away from his mom to work in an industrial facility. He met Nancy, a slave girl. They got married and had three kids, but one day, Nancy and the children were sold to another slave owner and taken away. Then, Henry realized that he must be free, and came up with the idea of mailing himself to the north where there were no slaves. [3]
References
- ↑ Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. The Best Childrens Books. Retrieved January 31 2021.
- ↑ Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad. Amazon. Retrieved January 31 2021.
- ↑ Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad.The Hope Chest Review. Retrieved January 31 2021.