Title: Elijah of Buxton
Author: Christopher Paul Curtis
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub genre: Chapter Book
Themes: Hope
Characters: Elijah, Fredrick Douglas, Bob Majilica, Mr. Leroy, Cooter, Mrs. Holton, Emma Collins, Preacher
Awards: Coretta Scott King, Newberry Honor
Publishing Date: 2007
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Summary: The book is set in 1860 when Elijah Freeman is eleven years old. His is forced to be "grown up" with his parents and other freed slaves in the Buxton Settlement in Canada. He hears about slavery from members of his community who were once slaves and recall stories from the past. Elijah fortunately was born free, so he has no idea the true meaning of being a slave. Elijah learns not to trust everyone when Mr. Leroy trusts the wrong person to help his family and ends up getting money stolen from him. Elijah is now the youngest conductor in the underground railroad in which he helps transport a baby girl to freedom. Elijah makes a journey back to the United States to have Mr. Leroy's family out of slavery to give back to Mr. Leroy for telling him that it was okay to trust him. Elijah is their only hope.
I would use this book to address slavery in the 1800s. This could supplement a lesson on the slave trade and the underground railroad. I would ask the students their thoughts about the underground railroad and what they think it really means. I would also ask why it is called the underground railroad if it is indeed not underground. This would get the students using critical thinking skills and engaged in history.
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