Libertry Street

Liberty Street
Candice Ransom
Walker Publishing Company, Inc
Copyright 2003
Pages: 28
Reading Level: 6-9 years
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
 Kezia was born into slavery before the civil war. Her dad was sold to pay off her owner's debts. Every day of the week, there was a specific job to be done, and that job was always done on that day. Sunday was the day they had off after dinner was made for the owners. They would walk down Liberty Street to so visit their friends. Before Kezia's dad was sold, people would come visit their family and have fun. One day, Mama told her about a secret school taught by a free woman. Kezia loved school and learning, she would practice the ABC's and spelling while Mama did laundry. Mama was doing laundry one Tuesday (laundry day is Monday) and Kezia asked why. Apparently Missus Grace (their owner) was planning on lending Kezia to her sister in Richmond for an indefinite amount of time and Mama was working hard to try to buy Kezia's freedom.
At school, they hide in the back room to learn their letters and one day the constable stopped outside the door suspicious, but went on his way. Mama put a white shirt on the line, eventhough it was going to rain, she still hadn't saved enough to buy Kezia and Kezia was to leave the following week. The following day, the constable knocks on the door of the house holding school and they all have to be silent in the hidden room so they wouldn't get caught. After the constable left, all the students except Kezia went home. Her teacher tells Kesia about Canada and a secret tunnel that leads under the streets and to the river. That night, with a red shirt hanging from the clothes line, Mama tells Kesia of the same tunnel and tells her that she (Kesia) will be leaving that night through this tunnel and onto a waiting boat to go to Canada, but that she couldn't go with her. That night Kesia is led to the tunnel adn she meets the others who are on their way to freedom. She makes a promise to work hard and to earn enough money to send for Mama
Recommendations and Conflicts:
One possible conflict I see in this book is slavery, and thence racism. I would recommend this book to young readers because the story line is good and the pictures are amazing.
Reaction:
I enjoyed this book because it has good art work and an excellent plot. I didn't realize that Mama was part of the organization to get slaves onto the underground railroad until Kesia recognized it.