  | Seeking freedom : the untold story of Fortress Monroe and the ending of slavery in America Author: Castrovilla, Selene | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
In this dramatic Civil War story, a courageous enslaved fugitive teams with a cunning Union general to save a Union fort from the Confederates--and triggers the end of slavery in the United States.
| Illustrator: | Lewis, Earl B. |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (11/01/21)
Booklist (+) (11/01/21)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/12/21)
The Hornbook (00/01/22)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 11/01/2021 *Starred Review* In 1861, George Scott had been living in the forest and swamp near Hampton, Virginia, for two years, hiding from those who would force him back into slavery. After hearing that Black freedom seekers were protected inside nearby Fortress Monroe, he sought shelter there. Major General Benjamin Butler interviewed Scott and gave him a mission: to locate the Confederates rumored to be in the nearby woods, preparing to attack the Union stronghold. Scott found their hideout, escaped under gunfire, and returned to tell Butler, who sent infantry troops into a bloody battle that ensured the fort’s safety. Besides telling Scott’s dramatic story, the narrative highlights Butler’s pivotal decision to regard people who escaped slavery as contraband—a legal strategy enabling the U.S. Army to protect them. Archival photos illustrate the back matter, which includes the shifting legal status of the people regarded as contraband, Butler’s further contributions to his country, and a little more (perhaps all that is known) about Scott’s life. With a muted palette featuring grays, greens, browns, and pale, tawny yellows, Lewis creates a series of haunting watercolor paintings that make Scott’s story intense and memorable. This beautifully illustrated picture book enables readers to see the Civil War from a different point of view. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
