Freedom Ship

In my opinion, this is a fantastic book. I liked this story because the plot was extremely engaging and suspenseful. While I was reading this story, I was tense and on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next. The story takes place during the Civil War and is told from a young child’s point of view. The story was passed down from the child’s great-great-grandfather. In the story, slaves commandeer a Confederate ship and sail to freedom. Stealing the ship and sailing to freedom was no easy task. The slaves slip away in the middle of the night to try to avoid being caught. The young boy who is telling the story, Samuel, has no clue what is going on. He does know what would happen if they are caught, “If show more the police find us out with no pass, they’ll throw us in jail. And tell Master Smith, who’ll surely whip us.” Once on the ship, he realizes they are escaping, and he is terrified. “My knees are shaking. But Robert doesn’t look at all afraid as he pulls the whistle cord a second time.” The slaves join up with the union forces; they offer the Union forces Confederate cannons and ammunition. The slaves were finally free. The illustrations in the story are beautiful, and they enhance the story. While the slaves were escaping, the illustrations are dark. It adds to the fact that the slaves are sneaking away and that the situation is very dangerous. The people shown in the illustrations have worried looks on their faces. You can tell the people are uneasy, and most are afraid. The last page of the book is drawn in bright colors, and the family is smiling. This page is so different because the family is finally free. “Mama runs to Papa and me. They press me to them. Tears stream down their faces. ‘We’re free now, Samuel, we’re free!’ Papa says.” The big idea of this book is to give readers a glimpse of what slaves had to go through to get to freedom during the Civil War. show less

This book was absolutely amazing! Based on a true story, it takes place during the Civil War. An African American family steal a ship and run away from their lives as slaves to be free. This was a book that I could not stop reading. The writing also made me feel like I was with the characters. While they were running away, I was nervous that they would be captured again! I felt their fear from the detailed text. Even at the end, I felt joyful with them when the father said, "We're free now, Samuel, we're free!" With the theme of never giving up on your dreams, this book was perfect from the emotional text to the beautiful illustrations. If reading this to children, it is a great book to ask for their predictions on what will happen show more next. I definitely recommend this book! show less

Freedom ship is a story about a little boy who is stuck dealing with the civil war. He details and teaches us about who the confederate soldiers and who the union soldiers are. Samuel seems like a boy who knows his limits. He is well behaved and works hard to help his family. This story shows the hardship of African Americans and what they had to do just to have the freedom they deserved. Samuel and his family manage to flee the confederate soldiers in the middle of the night by fooling them and going over to the union sides. I think the fact that Samuel was nervous throughout thee story about being caught kept me as the reader in suspense also. I think that is what I loved the most about the book. Once I started, I was so curious about show more how it was going to end. The story teaches kids things about history in a fun way. show less

This story was a wonderful portrayal of the journey to freedom during the time of the Civil war. The son and father duo paint a vivid picture of unity and determination. With the smarts of his father they devise a plan to be free. They look out on the water wishing to be with the union ships in the distance but are stuck on the confederate ship. Until the father comes up with the plan to flee during the night on the confederate ship and flee past the fleet of confederate ships to freedom. The story historical in itself, showing the hardships and wants of African Americans. That the urge for freedom was so strong and so near they had to take the leap. In this story they are fortunate enough to trick the confederates into letting them show more pass, which leads them to the union ships, and to freedom. This story is great to inform readers that freedom was not always here and that when someone yearns for something that yields a better outcome they can achieve anything. Whether it goes against the rules of society, risky decisions can turn out to be worth wild in the end. This battle for freedom is heart jerking and sympathetic feelings are poured out throughout the story. show less

I enjoyed the suspense that was created in this story. Not many picture books create a true suspense in their readers and I think this one acheived this. I liked the historical note at the end which told of the future paths of these escaped slaves.

This book could be used in a library program that celebrated Black History Month and the stuggles that slaves took to gain freedom.

Freedom Ship is about a boy's journey to escape the south with his family during the civil war. This story does an excellent job depicting the dangers the slaves had to face when escaping as well as their duties and lifestyles before hand. The beautiful illustrations perfectly help build the tension and set the mood when the story needs it. Like many of the books in the historical fiction genre, I would pair this with a lesson on the time period/events the book is representing, in this case the civil war and slavery.

Freedom Ship is about a young boy named Samuel during the Civil War. His family worked on a Confederate ship and secretly escaped to the union side on a dangerous covert mission in the middle of the night. The artwork is very dark to simulate the mostly night theme of the narrative.