Author: Jehan Jones-Radgowski
Illustrator: Poppy Kang
Genre: Picture Book, Children's Non Fiction, History
Publisher: Capstone Editions
Date: September 1, 2019
Length: 40 pages
Review copy from NetGalley
The mist in Charleston Inner Harbor was heavy, but not heavy enough to disguise the stolen Confederate steamship, the Planter, from Confederate soldiers. In the early hours of May 13, 1862, in the midst of the deadly U.S. Civil War, an enslaved man named Robert Smalls was about to carry out a perilous plan of escape. Standing at the helm of the ship, Smalls impersonated the captain as he and his crew passed heavily armed Confederate forts to enter Union territory, where escaped slaves were given shelter. The suspenseful escape of the determined crew is celebrated with beautiful artwork and insightful prose, detailing the true account of an unsung American hero.
Description from NetGalley
I am kicking myself that I have not heard of Robert Smalls before now. Such a great story and a great fit for multiple units in elementary or middle school. Thank you Jehan Jones-Radgowski for bringing this story to my attention.
Illustrations: Not a very emotive style, but very crisp and great for sharing with a large group.
What I liked
The tension: I had a few problems with the writing, but Jones-Radgowski's description of the actual escape really created a stressful atmosphere. By p.15 I was physically tensing up. (I had to remind myself to stop clenching my jaw.) I think the subject matter alone would be interesting to kids, but the suspenseful mood she's created would make this a fantastic read aloud.Illustrations: Not a very emotive style, but very crisp and great for sharing with a large group.
teacher-y things: As a librarian I really like that the book includes a "Read More" section and bibliography. Escape's offerings are a bit short but it's a guide, not an exhaustive list. They're handy tools for teaching elementary students on how to find reliable research material, they help educators do more research, and they help interested readers explore the topic.
What I'm on the fence about
Comes across as a bit simplistic: NetGalley states that the target audience is 9-12, but I don't think the writing totally supports that. Jones-Radgowski explains slavery and the types of punishments the runaway slaves could face but her tone comes across as simplistic. Not inaccurate, but more suitable to a slightly younger audience than the targeted Grades 3-6. I think the book could be used with first graders (7 years old). However, I would totally recommend that my sixth grade teachers or students use this as a resource for the Civil War unit. The Escape of Robert Smalls is a great hook for starting a unit, getting a student interested in their assigned topic, or a resource (that isn't Wikipedia) that helps one understand the story and start researching.
Rating: 4.0
I'm really taken with The Escape of Robert Smalls and how I could use it at school. If I were still an elementary librarian I would rework my first grade non fiction unit to include this book. This is also the type of story that kids love. It's a short but effective adventure: there's danger, good vs. evil, and a hero that you root for.I think this would be a great resource for a school or public library. For your personal library... well that depends on your interests. I do think that this is worth reading, but pick it up from your library.
What is a historical event or person that you find really interesting? I always thought the Navajo Code Talkers to be a really interesting story and something I enjoyed introducing students to. Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cells was a topic my dad used to bring up every year in his microbiology classes.
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