5,000 Miles to Freedom

Title: 5,000 Miles to Freedom
Author: Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin
Illustrator: varies
Publisher: National Geographic
http://www.ngsp.com
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: History
Audience: Gr. 6-8
Overview: This book tells the true story of a slave couple and their journey to escape from a Georgia plantation during the period of slavery in the United States. An amazing amount of details has been preserved that tells a very detailed account while also serving as an entertaining and griping story. With large print and a variety of pictures, sketches, and excerpts from newspapers this work is really engaging for students.
Activity: This book would serve well for an activity for making history interesting for students. While it is entertaining, it is so informative students find out about life in different states, information about the Underground Railroad, and major figures during the time period. An interesting activity might be to have students put themselves in the shoes of one of the characters and write a journal entry about a moment or scene described in the book. This would really get children thinking about slavery and how those involved felt during the time period.

Reviwer's Name: Meghan O'Leary