Wanted Dead or Alive: The True Story of Harriet Tubman

I think this is the book I read in elementary school in the 1960s in New Mexico. I wasn't a big reader, but I somehow discovered that I loved books about amazing women (budding feminist that I was). There were very few to fit that bill on the library shelves at that time and that might explain why I didn't read a lot more until I was a young woman. Some kids need books they can relate to. Me, I needed real female heroes, otherwise I'd rather be outside playing.

I vividly remember one scene in the book that described an elderly, illiterate Tubman sitting on a bench when a Quaker (as I recall) came by and told her she was sitting under a poster for her capture, and possibly saved her life. It was harrowing to me. I wonder now if that was show more true or artistic license. I should research that.

[Update: No, not in this book. I just read it via Open Library and although this book is a good young reader's introduction to Harriet Tubman's life, there is another book, also available via OL, Freedom Train published in 1954 that does include a story about "friends" discovering her dozing on a park bench under a poster for her capture. It's just one line, but imagining that really stuck with me. Or maybe there is yet another older book I read.]

In the early 2000s, I visited my daughter in NY state and while driving we stopped by Tubman's post Civil War home in Auburn. It was really lovely. We went in Spring and there were daffodils blooming everywhere. Sadly, it was closing time, but I did get the honor to step briefly on the same ground she walked. show less

Runaway Slave is the story of Harriet Tubman and the many trials she faced for hers and others freedom. She not only ran away for her freedom but she helped many other slaves to become free.

I have heard the story of Harriet Tubman for as long as I can remember and it always touches my heart the life that slaves had to endure. I think she is a great woman and should be in history always for the hundreds of slaves she had a part in to making them free.

This is a great book with lots of information from who is Harriet Tubman to what did she do. You could use this book in a history lesson, black history month, or just to make students more aware that slavery was once a very real thing in the United States.

This book is a story about the incredible life of Harriet Tubman. Harriet was born a slave on a Maryland plantation while cleaning the house for her master. Harriet had a rare condition where she would fall asleep at random bouts. Despite the illness, Harriet decided to escape slavery and run to Philadelphia by using the underground railroad. Despite making it to freedom, Harriet went back to save more than 300 slaves throughout her lifetime. The book goes through issues like the fugitive slave law where northerners were obligated to send run away slaves back to their southern owners. This pushed Harriet to extend the tunnels into Canada. It goes into key points during the civil war where Harriet was a scout and spy for the Union. She show more was the first female and first African American to lead an armed expedition and liberated many more slaves in South Carolina. Known as "Moses" for her liberating the blacks just as Moses did for the Jews, this autobiography accounts the details of courage that makes Harriet Tubman one of the greatest figures of American History. show less

Harriet Tubman was a woman born into slavery who managed not only to find her own freedom, but to lead over 300 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. She had two parents and 3 brothers, also slaves and helped lead them to freedom. She was regarded as Moses for leading her people to freedom in the North.

I think slavery is one of the saddest things to talk about in American history. It's sad that it took a whole war to end it and sad that we had to fight about it in the first place. I think the tone of the book is hopeful despite all the sadness. Harriet's point of view is very faithful in God.

For extensions, we could map the Underground Railroad. We could also put together a play as a tribute to Harriet Tubman's life. We could show more also each pick a slave and do research on how they lived, if they escaped,their family, etc. show less

This book is a very interesting book that shares the story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Excellent read aloud when teaching about the war and slavery. Also good book for an easy book report.

Born a slave on a Maryland plantation, Harriet Tubman dreamed of following the North Star to freedom. When she did escape, she risked her life many times to lead 300 slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. This is the dramatic biography of a woman whose faith, courage, and intelligence have carved her a place in history.

This book had the most beautiful cover. It was gorgeous. I absolutely loved reading this book. It was very old and fun to see how books were.