Freedom Crossing (Apple Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Margaret Goff Clark (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Apple Paperbacks

When Laura Eastman comes home from a vacation with relatives in the South, her loyalties are challenged by abolitionist ideals. Her own father and brother are helping runaway slaves escape. Will Laura help them?.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590445693
• ISBN-13: 978-0590445696
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Runaways

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My class won't let me stop!, November 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Freedom Crossing (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I stumbled upon this book about nine years ago. When I read it I loved it. As a fifth grade teacher I decided to add it to my historical fiction book list. It quickly became my favorite book to recommend for pre-civil war, slavery,& or underground railroad exposure. I cannot tell you how surprized I am that this book is not on a number one list somewhere... It is now one of my read outloud books for Black History Month. I have never read a book to my class where the children were so excited for me to continue, they would moan when I came to the end of a chapter and stopped. They did not want me to stop reading.

Clark does an outstanding job of pulling the children into the story. Her cliff-hanger chapter endings are sensational. They get so caught up in the question of slavery or how the underground railroad actually worked that it generates further research on their own about the subject matter. I truly love this story and enjoy sharing it with my students each year. I have also shared it with my fellow teaching staff and they can't beleive how wonderful the story line develops. They too are amazed at how engulfed the children get while reading the story.

Clark does an outstanding job with antagonist Walt, without his staunch view of slavery and runaway slaves Laura would not have a change of heart. Martin the runaway slave is so lovable, you can only hope Laura will help him to escape to freedom. The surprize twist in the story is sure to keep any group of kids on the edge of their seats.

I went to Lewiston, N.Y. this summer out of pure curiosity to explore the city for Tryon's Folly (home). The house was burned down and a new one now stands in its place.The underground cellars are still in place as are the stairs that lead to the Niagra River where Martin escaped to freedom.

This is a grab a cup of hot cocoa & a comfy seat kinda book, "you gotta read this one" cuz you anit gonna put it down! I encourage you to share it with your class, good for grades 4-6.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is almost the best book I have ever read!, November 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Freedom Crossing (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

I read the book Freedom Crossing. It was very exciting. One of the reasons I liked this book so much was it tells you your history depending on your culture. Some people might have not learned how slaves were treated. Another reason is the people take chances of freeing slaves (letting freedom ring). Some of the reasons I don't like this book is that I really don't like the way they explain how slaves were treated. They made it sound more dramatic, and I didn't like that. Another thing I dont like is how slave catchers just get to go into people's houses with out being invited over or in.Some of the other things I disliked about this story is how the slaves had to run away. This is a very exciting story! You should try reading it! By: Sheonta

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Flow with Laura's changes and adventures, August 5, 2009

By 

S. Silverman "ReaderGeode" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Freedom Crossing (Apple Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Pre-teen Laura's mother died in New York several years ago, and with her father's remarriage, she returns from living in the south with an aunt and uncle's family since her mother's passing. Set in the time when slavery still existed and the Underground Railroad was in operation, Laura's time in the south provided her with southern notions about slavery. In her return, she finds out that not only are her family members abolitionist, but they are a stop in the Underground Railroad. Laura's initial reluctances gradually change to abolitionist views, but there are fertile questions here about obeying laws one sees as wrong. Drawn into the Railroad activities by meeting sheltered runaway Martin Paige and by her family, particularly her bother Bert's involvement, Laura finds herself facing issues about maintaining secrecy that she's not sure is right and eventually, taking on a role with Martin that she never expected. Gentle change, intriguing questions, enough adventure and intrigue to hold a youngster's attention, this is a worthwhile read for a student in American history, fifth grade here, and I would comfortably recommend it.