MOSES When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

 

 Title: MOSES

When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford

Illustrated by: Kadir Nelson

Published by: Hyperion Books for Children (2006)

Cladecott Honor Book

This Historical Fiction book starts with an amazing cover. Just looking at this cover is emotional for me. The colors are a sky blue and right tin the center of the cover is Harriet Tubman sitting with her hands held out and eyes closed with the sun shinning over her head as if she was an angel of God. It makes you wonder what is going on. The picture of Harriet is authentic clothing of a slave as pictured and described in the history books.  I also like the feature inside the book with the foreword describing the history of slavery, what it means, and how it affects United States history. It ends with an introduction to the Underground Railroad. This gives you the reader information that is pertinent to the book that you are about to read.

The book is authentic to it historical background. As you read the book, you can sense the feeling of hopefulness in the character. This book is not at all sugarcoated. It tells how Harriet Tubman was feeling the trials and tribulations that she endured as a run away slave and her fight for survival and freedom. This book preserves the fabric of time, the story is based on historical facts that we know and admire. Harriet Tubman was a woman before her time.

The settings in the book are authentic to the time- period and integral with the story. The events and the people in the book allow the reader to place the characters in the correct historical framework. The language in this book is authentic for the time-period. An example is, "Please, Lord, don’t let them catch me and take me back to face Master's whip. Don't let my journey end here." The clothes that she and the others wear are authentic to the time-period.

The main point of view comes from that of Harriet Tubman and her relationship with God. I guess the other points of view are for you to infer as the reader. Obviously the men chasing her and wanting to take her back to the plantation is a point of view by the slave owners. They want to stay in control of the slaves and discipline anyone who dares to disobey them. Then you have the people that help Harriet to freedom they believe that slavery is wrong and want to help.

As a teacher, I would use this text to question, connect and transform strategies with a timeline. I could use this text for character mapping, story mapping and use technology to integrate this story into a literature/writing lesson. This book would make a great visual report for a person.

I also liked how the author ended the book with a note from her with more information about Harriet Tubman and how her journey in life ended with all her accomplishments noted.