- Bibliography
Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2008.
Elijah of Buxton. Narrated by Mirron Willis. New York:
Scholastic Listening Library. ISBN 9780739364161
- Plot Summary
Elijah Freeman is 11 years old and the
first free-born child born in the unique Canadian frontier settlement
of Buxton. Buxton is special because it is populated by escaped and
freed slaves prior to the American Civil War. Elijah moves through
his daily life - going to school, playing practical jokes on his
parents, and working to build the settlement - never quite
understanding the preciousness of his freedom. Along the way he
experiences racial prejudice, witnesses the terrible effects of
slavery on newly escaped slaves, and ultimately must confront his own
weaknesses when he becomes involved in a plan to free several slaves.
Despite these challenges, Elijah must learn how to navigate the
sometimes overwhelmingly complex world of adulthood while retaining
his humanity. He learns about the horrors of slavery and the
sweetness of freedom as he goes through this transformative year.
3. Critical Analysis
3. Critical Analysis
Curtis captivatingly captures the
unique and fragile world of Buxton, Canada in his historic novel
Elijah of Buxton. His use of colloquial language and
colorful, likable characters transports readers to this tumultuous
time in history when slavery was still legal and brave men, women and
children had to run North to find their freedom and escape
oppression. Curtis is able to endear readers to his realistic and
approachable characters and the special place they live while
maintaining historical accuracy to the time. He remains true to his
subject without diminishing the horrors of slavery or the people it
forever changed. Curtis includes informative author's notes, a brief
history of the Elgin Settlement at Buxton, a time line of important
events from 1812 through 1999, and a short list of sources
cited in his research. Readers are able to
identify with Elijah's timeless journey toward maturity as he
navigates the confusing and difficult road between the innocence of
childhood and the heavy knowledge of the sorrows of the world that
come with adulthood.
The rhythm and sound of Curtis's
narrative lends itself well to the audiobook format. The WMA
audiobook unabridged reading of Elijah of Buxton is
masterfully narrated by Mirron Willis, an accomplished professional
performer. Using changes in tone, pitch, and pacing Willis is able
to believably and engagingly perform the different characters
throughout the novel, bringing out their individual personalities.
The recording is clear and free from background noise.
The performance is well articulated and easy to listen to, refreshingly lacking
distracting background effects or a soundtrack. The reading of the
book concludes with the author himself reading his historical notes found at the
end of the book. The audiobook
adds authenticity as readers are able to hear the authentic cadences
of Curtis's masterful language. Listeners will not be bored as they listen to this
lively and absorbing telling of Curtis' powerful tale. They are sure to be transported to the middle
of the nineteenth century and immersed into the unique culture of
Buxton, Canada and her amazing inhabitants.
4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s)
*Newbery Honor Book
*Coretta Scott King Award
*ALA Notable Children's Books
*Scott O'Dell Award for Historical
Fiction
*Canadian Library Association Book of
the Year
*Notable Children's Recordings
*Odyssey Award Honor
*S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones
Award
*AudioFile: “A rich story and
authentic sounding dialect distinguish this dynamic audio. Curtis's
Caldecott Honor Book tells the story of Elijah, an 11-year-old boy
who is the first freeborn black in his Buxton, Canada, settlement.
Elijah is working on overcoming his fears of snakes and living down
the story of how, as a baby, he threw up on Frederick Douglass.
Mirron Willis delivers depth of emotion as he shapes the story's
rhythms and pacing. He successfully shifts from a light comedic tone
of much of the story to a tone of chilling determination when Elijah
becomes involved in a dangerous mission to free a group of slaves.”
*Starred review in Booklist:
“...show[s] an emotional range and a subtlety unusual in children's
fiction. Many readers drawn to the book by humor will find themselves
at times on the edges of their seats in suspense and, at other
moments, moved to tears. A fine, original novel from a gifted
storyteller.”
- Connections
*Buxton was established in Canada,
where escaped slaves were considered free by the government. Find
out why many slaves had to journey all the way to Canada to find
freedom even though many northern US states had banned the practice
by this time in history. Try learning about the Underground Railroad
and the roll it played in helping escaped slaves find their way to
freedom.
*Learn more about this unique
settlement established by a white Preacher to provide a safe place
for escaped and freed African Americans to settle. Try visiting the
Buxton Historic Museum's website as a place to start at:
http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/. Write your own thoughts and feelings
about the purpose and history of this settlement and what it means to
you now.
*More books about slavery in the United
States:
Prince, Bryan. I Came As a
Stranger. ISBN 0887766676
Greenwood, Barbara. The Last Safe
House. ISBN 1550745093
Gorrel, Gena K. North Star to
Freedom: The Story of the Underground Railroad. ISBN 0385323190
