Under the Freedom Tree
  • Published: 3 December 2019
  • ISBN: 9781580895514
  • Imprint: Charlesbridge Children
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99

Under the Freedom Tree

Formats & editions
EBook
7 Jan 2014
Paperback
3 Dec 2019
Buy from…
The Nile Mighty Ape BookHub Whitcoulls The Warehouse Paper Plus Fishpond Book Hero Unity Books University Book Shop Find Local Retailers

The little-known story of the first contraband camp of the Civil War--seen by some historians as the beginning of the end of slavery in the United States.

Taut free verse tells the little-known story of the first contraband camp of the Civil War—seen by some historians as the "beginning of the end of slavery in America." One night in 1861, three escaped slaves made their way from the Confederate line to a Union-held fort. The runaways were declared "contraband of war" and granted protection. As word spread, thousands of runaway slaves poured into the fort, seeking their freedom. These "contrabands" made a home for themselves, building the first African American community in the country. In 1863, they bore witness to one of the first readings of the Emancipation Proclamation in the South—beneath the sheltering branches of the tree now known as Emancipation Oak.
  • Published: 3 December 2019
  • ISBN: 9781580895514
  • Imprint: Charlesbridge Children
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 32
  • RRP: $19.99
Categories:

Praise for Under the Freedom Tree

Praise for Under the Freedom Tree

  • "The concise verse brings a piece of history to life and begs to be read aloud, evoking the names and desperation of those long-ago escapees, while Ladd's full spreads complement the text and give faces to the figures. . . . Simple but unforgettable."--School Library Journal
  • "Compelling, informative and emotive. . . . A valuable addition to the expanding canon of books on slaves escaping to freedom."--Kirkus Reviews
  • "Slavery is a challenging topic to introduce to young readers, but they have to start somewhere. This . . . is a terrific place to begin."--The Horn Book Magazine
  • "[An] immersive true story of courage and grit."--Publishers Weekly