First published 2008
Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement where former slaves have built new lives across the border from Detroit. Born free, he carries a special distinction as the first child born in this haven. His neighbors know him as the boy who once met Frederick Douglass and left quite an impression on the famous abolitionist. Elijah's protected world shatters when a former slave betrays the community's trust. The man steals money that Elijah's friend had painstakingly saved to purchase his enslaved family's freedom from the American South. Determined to recover the stolen funds, Elijah crosses into dangerous territory to track down the thief. His pursuit leads him into the heart of America, where he confronts the brutal realities his parents escaped. For the first time, Elijah witnesses the savage conditions that defined the lives of those who came before him. Now he must find the strength and courage to survive this nightmare and return to the safety of home, carrying with him a new understanding of freedom's true price.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, american, african-american, 19th-century, african-american-historical-fiction, canada, american-history
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Buxton, Canada, Detroit, United States
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
9 pages · Audio CD · Listening Library
Content warnings: racism, slavery, violence