The gift of freedom How Harriet Tubman rescued her brothers

After escaping from slavery in Maryland, Harriet Tubman was living in Pennsylvania when she decided, despite several failed attempts, to lead enslaved members of her family northward to freedom. It was winter and her parents were too frail to make the journey, but three of her brothers decided to follow her. They completed the 100-mile journey to Philadelphia, traveling mainly at night. Since formerly enslaved people were no longer safe from slave hunters in the U.S., Tubman's brothers boarded a train to Canada and freedom at last. With an academic background in children's literature and history as well as a longstanding interest in Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, Turner is the right storyteller for this tale. In addition to a selected bibliography, the book's back matter includes Turner's account of her interview with Harriet Tubman's last living relative, who personally knew her and remembered listening to her tales of her adventures. In this intriguing book, Turner provides enoughhistorical context to help younger children understand the importance of Tubman's gift to her brothers and enough details to hold the interest of older readers. Created using dark, rich colors, Freeman's stunning night scenes, sometimes lit by a single lantern, capture the drama of this well-told, memorable story.

Turner and Freeman illuminate a lesser-documented episode in the life of Harriet Tubman (1822--1913) via a narrative that, per an author's note, draws on interviews with the figure's last surviving relative to personally know Tubman. First contextualizing Tubman's own escape from a "widowed master... advertising those she had enslaved," the story next traces the figure's Christmas 1854 return to Maryland's Eastern Shore to rescue her brothers before they could be sold at public auction. Anecdotal-feeling storytelling and measured pacing outline the Freedom Seekers' journey from a coded message to a perilous 100-mile trek. Employing warm tones that conjure brightness against wintry landscapes, digitally rendered illustrations give emotional heft to the strategically grounded telling, capturing candlelit nights and faces alight with determination. Foregrounding Tubman's courage, strategic capacity, and enduring love for her family, it's a work that meditates on the figure's unyielding pursuit of freedom. Includes a letter to readers and an author's note. Ages 4--8. (Jan.)

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. (letter to readers, author's note, bibliography)(Picture-book biography. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.