Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Weatherford, Carole Bost. 2006. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom. Ill. By Kadir Nelson. New York, New York: Jump At the Sun and Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN 9780786851751.

2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this book about courage and faith, Carole Weatherford captures the dangerous and soul searching journey that Harriet Tubman makes while making a long and difficult escape from slavery and brutality into the world of freedom. The freedom that Harriet will experience will bring her destiny full circle when she chooses to lead other slaves to freedom through the Underground Railway network thus earning her the title of “Moses.”

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In the book “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom,” Carole Weatherford’s writing is creatively done by using dialect that portrays the language used back in the days of slavery. The sentence structures and words are cleverly done to give the illusion of floating and swirling words throughout the text which will entice even reluctant readers to read. The story is written with religious tones that help create the conflict between Harriet Tubman’s inner self and courage to persevere and God’s soft words of encouragement. There is a powerful sense of emotions carried throughout the text. Readers will be able to relate to the emotions of sadness, despair, uncertainty, courage, hope and triumph. This story does offer insight into the harshness and brutality of slavery and will raise questions in younger children.

Kadir Nelson has successfully created illustrations that show clear and vivid images that generate a powerful connection between text and pictures. The dark colors that are used when Harriet is escaping and experiencing difficult times and despair are wonderfully used to set the mood of the pages. The bright colors that are used set a state of mind that portrays happiness, courage and the will to keep going.

This is a great book to introduce the concept of slavery and what it means to be persistent. This is a powerful book that will open discussions and debates with students young and old.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Horn Book: “The interaction between these narratives voices make clear that it was Tubman’s strong faith that sustained her on the freedom journey so dramatically evoked in Nelson’s richly atmospheric nightscapes.”

School Library Journal: “The words and pictures create a potent sense of the harsh life of slavery, the fearsome escape, and one woman’s unwavering belief in God.”

Booklists: “Weatherford’s handsome picture book about Harriet Tubman focuses mostly on Tubman’s religious inspiration, with echoes of spiritual ringing throughout the spare poetry about her struggle.”

5. CONNECTIONS
An extension activity for students would be to have them locate and color the southern states and northern states different colors to identify them. Then students can research and label their maps according to slave states and the states that were part of the Underground Railway network. Then have them research routes that might have been taken by slaves and label that on their maps.

Other books to read on slavery:
Levine, Ellen. Henry’s Freedom Box. ISBN 9780439777339
Hopkinson, Deborah. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. ISBN 9780679823117