John Brown: His Fight for Freedom Book

When a picture-book author is at pains to distinguish his subject's actions from those of a modern-day terrorist, you know that said subject must be a figure of some controversy. Such is certainly the case here, in this children's biography of John Brown, the nineteenth-century radical Abolitionist who believed, not just that slavery should be abolished, but that all races of people were equal, and should be treated as such. Spurred on by a deep commitment to his religious and political ideals, and angered by the brutal injustice of slavery, Brown, who had worked as a conductor on the Underground Railroad from the time he was a young man, became increasingly involved in the violent side of the movement, fighting with the free-staters in the bloody pre-Civil War conflict in Kansas ("Bleeding Kansas"). Eventually, he conceived of a plan to free all of the slaves, a plan that would lead to his infamous raid on Harper's Ferry, Virginia, his wounding and capture, and then his execution. But even dead, John Brown's story wasn't over, as his name and actions became a symbol to people on both sides of the issue...

I'm immensely impressed that John Hendrix attempted this picture-book biography of a man who, even one hundred and fifty years later, still evokes strong responses in most Americans. I think he did an excellent job presenting John Brown's virtues, as well as his weaknesses, and I felt that I learned quite a bit. I'd had no idea, for instance, that Harriet Tubman had agreed to fight with Brown, but had been prevented by illness. Nor was I aware that Brown had the chance, during that fateful raid on Harper's Ferry, to take a multitude of innocent hostages, when a train passed through town, but elected not to. I did feel that there was a disconnect, from time to time, between the narrator's assurances that Brown didn't embrace violence, and the actual choices and actions being depicted, but it's possible that that contradiction accurately reflects the man himself.

This is undoubtedly a favorable account of John Brown, and I imagine that it will, as a result, cause discomfort for some readers, particularly those who disagree with Brown's methods. It's a tricky question, isn't it? I mean, the ends can't be said to justify the means, in my view. On the other hand, unless you're a complete pacifist - and hey, if you are, I respect that: I have lots of Quaker and Unitarian pacifist relatives! - then you have to believe that violence is called for at some point, no? And it's hard for me to think of something that cries for it more loudly than slavery... In any case, this is an engaging (and unique) biography of an important figure in American history, and I recommend it to young readers (middle school and up, I'd say) who have an interest in that topic. With the right teacher, I can see it sparking some interesting classroom discussion as well.