Friends on Freedom River

Friends on Freedom River

Author: Gloria Whelan

Illustrator: Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen

Publishing Company: Sleeping Bear Press

Copyright Date: 2004

52 pages

Historical Fiction

                This book was found much like Coming On Home Soon that was mentioned in a previous blog. I came across this book while trying to find different books that were historical fiction. As soon as I picked up this book I was immediately intrigued by it, and I wanted to read it right away. As I started to read I was not disappointed by the content. This book is an account of Sarah and her two children Lucy and Tyler. They are runaway slaves trying to escape through traveling the Underground Railroad. On one of the very last stops they meet a twelve year old boy Louis. He has been left his father’s farm for the winter. Before his father left, he told him one thing, “If you don’t know what to do, just do what you think I would have done.” So Louis did what he thought his father would do in a situation like this one. He helped Sarah and her children cross the Detroit River to Canada, where they would then be free. But they encounter some difficulties along the way. Will they make it to Canada?

                I really enjoyed the illustrations that are seen within this book. I feel that Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen’s realistic depictions of the characters displayed great emotions. While never explicitly stated, I believe Frankenhuyzen’s illustrations are painted. His illustrations are double spread. The text is placed on one single page.

                I really enjoyed this story. I believe that this would be a great story to use in an upper elementary classroom. I thought that Louis’s tale was a great way to teach several different concepts within the classroom. The first way I saw to incorporate this into my own classroom would be when teaching about slavery and the Underground Railroad. This is because this text is a great way for students to connect the information with realistic characters, giving the information meaning. After reading this book I would have students map out the different rivers the characters crossed. The students could also map out Sarah and her children’s destination. And finally I would use this book to teach theme. I found that this book has many great underlying themes that students could really connect with.