Elijah of Buxton

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Curtis, Paul Christopher. 2007. ELIJAH OF BUXTON. New York, New York: Scholastic Inc.

ISBN 0439023440

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Elijah Freeman is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada. Buxton is a safe haven for runaway slaves where they can rule themselves and are away from the abomination of slavery that is just across the border in Detroit. This story begins in 1859 when Elijah Freeman is eleven years old and has only known the comfort of freedom where he spends the majority of his time doing chores, fishing, playing and going to school. He spends a lot of time trying to convince his parents and others that he is grown-up but to no avail until a tragic incident happens. Elijah is thrown into a dangerous journey when his friend, Mr. Leroy loses the money he has saved to purchase his family from a slave owner, to the town preacher who is crooked. Elijah must venture over the border where slavery is still present to recover the money. This perilous journey will thrust Elijah into a world that is cruel and full of prejudice that he has never known before.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Elijah of Buxton is a Newberry Honor Book that includes humor, suspense, and heartache. Curtis has written this story in a first person narrative, through the youthful voice of eleven year old, Elijah Freeman. He built this story around elements of realism including the community of Buxton which was actually established in 1849 for runaway slaves, the abuse of slaves, and the separation of families The dialect used captures the true language of the time period and therefore sets the tone beautifully throughout the story. Example of the dialect include when Elijah’s pa is explaining to him that the joke he pulled on his ma will be dealt with when he tells him, Pa said, “ Past a wart or two, I don’t think the toady-frog’s gunn cause you no grieving. But your ma…” He whistled low and long, “ she’s a whole ‘nother story.”

Curtis begins this story by setting a carefree approach by explaining Elijah Freeman’s life of freedom by fishing, doing chores, playing and going to school and church. Elijah has never known slavery because he was the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada. Due to the fact that Elijah has never grown up in slavery, he does not appreciate the hardships and cruelty that his family and neighbors have had to overcome for their freedom. With his mom calling him “fragile” because he cries all the time, Elijah has a hard time convincing everyone that he is grown up. As the story becomes more involved, Curtis begins to change the carefree tone to a darker mood as the crooked preacher steals money that was to be used to purchase Mr. Leroy’s family from slavery. Elijah is kidnapped by Mr. Leroy and begins a dangerous journey that will begin his climb to maturity and reveal the brutality of slavery. Curtis does not sugarcoat slavery but addresses it through Elijah’s point of view, “ But now I could see our playing didn’t have anything to do with the truth. I could see how it was a whole lot harder when things were real and you had to worry ‘bout shotguns and chains and coughing little babies and crying folks without no clothes.” The ending is very powerful and uplifting but may be disturbing to younger readers due to the violent and somewhat graphic subject matter but for older readers it will keep them on the edge of their seats wanting more. The author’s note at the end will provide readers with more information on the authentic Buxton settlement and its establishment. This book is a great tool to use when studying slavery and freedom.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Voice of Youth Advocate: “A fascinating portrayal of history, a strong first-person narrative, and a most remarkable main character make this work perhaps the author's finest to date.”-

Booklist: “Central to the story, these scenes show an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children's fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted storyteller.”

5. CONNECTION

Other books to read:

Curtis, Paul Christopher. THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINHAM. ISBN 9780440228004

Curtis, Paul Christopher. BUD, NOT BUDDY. ISBN 9780553494105