Freedom River

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Freedom River Cover Book

This is a children's storybook based on a true slave escape story, this picture book for older children combines an exciting, heartrending narrative with dramatic collage and watercolor pictures. This storybook is written by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Bryan Collier. It also got nominations for Coretta Scott King Award for Illustrators [1]

Plot

Kentucky was a slave state, but Ohio -- just across the Ohio River -- was free. Over and over, Parker sails across the waterway in the corner of night and carries captives to Ohio. One night in November, Parker attempts to liberate a family from the Shrofe plantation. But one man won't leave, fearful for his wife and child. Parker needs to return empty-handed, and the beginning of winter keeps him from crossing the river for a long time; in April, he tries again but is informed that Master Shrofe is aware of the family's near escape and now watches out for all that they do -- even keeping their baby at the foot of his bed at night. Parker vows to help them. The following night he advises them to stand by in the forested areas while he goes into the expert's home. Gambling life and limb, he retrieves the infant, as Shrofe's furious yells echo in the distance. [2]

Controversy

Despite the fact that this book got such countless great reviews, there is a reader who gives a critique to this book, they gave 3/5 stars for this book with a comment that "it might be too difficult for younger students to process. The content of slavery and the Civil War is very intense, and may not be age-appropriate for some students." [3] The illustrations in this book shows the account of the existence of slaves, their bitterness, and the craving for opportunity, one of the outline shows a black woman holding her hands together to pray with a pair of closed eyes. This illustration expressed the pain of being a slave and the desire for freedom. There is also another illustration that shows the anger of the slave owner when he saw that the family had escaped.

Reception

This would be a wonderful read aloud story during a lesson plan dealing with history of the civil war, or black history month. The story is drawing in and encourages children about the fight African Americans went through in order to receive freedom. The story could likewise be utilized as a free read while examining culture, diversity, or history in class. If a lesson plan about culture is needed, this book can be recommended to African American students that wanted to learn about their history. This book could also be recommended this story to students who were interested in the civil war or the civil rights movement. As an instructor, this book could be utilized to show culture, diversity, history, and theme. [4]

References

  1. Freedom River. Google Play. Retrieved January 26 2021.
  2. Freedom River. Goodreads. Retrieved January 26 2021.
  3. Freedom River. Goodreads. Retrieved January 26 2021.
  4. Freedom River. Goodreads. Retrieved January 26 2021.