Huída Al Canada Book

Reminded of this book with all the promo around Black History month. Very glad I picked it up to read. Smucker does an incredible depiction of life as a twelve year old slave girl, June Lilly, separated from her Mama Sally when slave traders come to buy up slaves at the plantation where she'd been born. Historically accurate and great introduction to key members of the Abolitionist movement active in Julilly's journey to freedom. Canada. The destination word on the lips of those hungering for more of life than whippings and beatings, broken spirits and battered bodies.

Alexander Ross, the first contact Julilly meets. A Canadian physician and naturalist, who intentionally chose his path of justice for the slaves. "In undertaking this mission to help the slaves to freedom I did not disguise from myself the dangers I would most certainly have to encounter, and the certainty that a speedy and perhaps cruel death would be my lot in case my plans and purposes were discovered." He used ornithology to cover his involvement in the abolition movement, spending time exploring for birds in the southern states whilst supplying interested slaves with information on the route and requirements to reach freedom.

During the gruelling journey, the escaped slaves also meet the 'President' of the Underground Railroad by which they're travelling. Mr Levi Coffin, businessman, Quaker, and Abolitionist who opposed, " the whole system of slavery, and conscientiously believe it to...reduce God's image to the level of a brute, to be bought and sold in the market as cattle or swine."

Which was one of the book's significant scenes for me. Slave children being fed with slop poured into a trough where they had to slurp it by mouth rather than learning to feed as humans.. horrifying.

Tension ran high throughout the story. A momentary relaxing then the imminent danger of sheriffs and bounty hunters looking for runaway slaves had me clenching my jaw or holding my breath. Excellent descriptions of the slaves' life hiding in caves, locating 'depots', meeting unknown supporters, on the 'railroad' to their future. Right to the very moment of embarking on the ship that would carry them across Lake Erie to Canada's shore and their new life. I emotionally celebrated every victory with our young heroines.

The arrival couldn't have been sweeter and the ending for which every lover of justice would hope. Including ever abolitionist of the Underground Railroad.

Fast and fascinating read. Highly recommended. For learning and for incorporating in living even today. In the words of the Abolitionist that set Julilly on her run to freedom, Alexander Ross, "Injustice is the weapon of evil men. Bur there are always brave and noble souls who proceed on the course of right and are impervious to the consequences. I feel rewarded for all my efforts, just to free the two of you."

Barbara Smucker came to Canada in 1969. She worked as a reporter, teacher and librarian. In 1988, she received the Vicky Metcalf Award for a distinguished body of writing. Smucker focused on the historical plight of minority groups. In Underground to Canada (1977), winner of the Canada Council Children's Literature Prize, the story of escaping black slaves... - Canadian Encyclopedia