Parents who encourage and successfully develop children who read see greater school success and satisfaction. This series reviews various examples of children’s literature and provides insights for parents to discuss with their children. Reading and sharing the wonderful stories available to children sends a message that reading is important, creates positive “shared experiences” for families, and helps parents exert a subtle influence on their children’s development.
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Which Way Freedom?, by Joyce Hansen
The story opens with Obi, a recently escaped slave, as a member of the Union Army toward the end of the Civil War. He is described as an experienced soldier - someone who is kind, but tough and knowing in ways that those with a formal education are not.
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The second chapter goes back in time to the beginning of the Civil War. Obi is still a slave with other slaves on a small Southern farm. This surprising shift in time serves to enhance the excitement of the story: Instead of wondering whether or not Obi will escape, the reader becomes intrigued with HOW Obi will escape.
As the story progresses, Obi begins to contemplate running away more and more strongly. He has a desire to find his mother, from whom he was taken away when he was only a boy. He has to consider many factors…ways to escape, who to confide in and who to run away with. The daily events of his life bring new rumors to be considered and new obstacles to overcome.
As the escape progresses, a new twist is presented: Obi is captured by Confederate soldiers and put to work in one of their camps. Obi must draw on all of his intelligence and resourcefulness to get away from the Rebels and across a river to the Union encampment. Even after Obi and some others have escaped and are behind the Union lines, he isn’t sure he wants to join the Union army since it was never part of his original plan.
Obi eventually comes to see the Union fight as the same one in which he is involved and he joins. The story then continues from the spot it started in the first chapter and Obi and his unit fight against the Confederate army.
This is a nice work of historical fiction for young readers, set against the backdrop of slavery and the Civil War. Depending on reading level, this book is for ages 12 and up.
Raising Readers is written by Steve Arnold of Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services. He can be reached at 610.831.5101 or ChesMontClubZ@gmail.com. Find out more about Club Z! In-Home Tutoring at www.clubztutoring.com/ChesMont.
