Customer Reviews

Lincoln and Douglass (Hardcover Book & Audio Cd Set)

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Had the story not been documented, one would believe that the story of a fugitive slave shipping himself to freedom by freight mail was merely a urban legend. In Henry Freedom's Box this unbelievable but daring true story is brought to life. The story authored by Ellen Levine succesfully traces Brown's early life to his ultimate escape to freedom at the age thirty-three. Award-winning illustrator Kadir Nelson creates such realistic intimacy with his muted but intense illustrations of former Virginia slave Henry "Box" Brown. In just two pages, the artist convincingly conveys the painful and risktaking trip of Mr. Henry "Box" Brown. This scene, this story will touch any person who can empathize with any harrowing escape.

Born a slave, Henry and his siblings worked in the "big house" for his master -- who, on his deathbed, gave Henry to his son. During the years he worked for the son in his tobacco warehouse, Henry grew to manhood
and married a girl who was enslaved by a neighbor. They had children. His wife accurately discerned that her master had debts that might cause him to sell his slaves. This was done one day while Henry was working.
At lunchtime, he caught a departing glimpse of his family members, and then he never saw them again.

After weeks of despair, Henry had an idea while he was moving a crate. He would mail himself to freedom.This true story is told in understated prose which only enhances its power. With realistic paintings in a dark
palette appropriate for Henry's sad experiences, there are no smiles in this book except on the page depicting Henry's family together. His wife has a gentle half-smile. On the last page when Henry is climbing
out of his box in Philadelphia, both the mailed and the recipients are smiling.

Synopsis: This picture book shows the character as a young boy on the cover, but this story is really about Henry Brown as a n adult and the incredible decision he made to reach freedom through an ingenious plan. That "Box" as a middle name was adopted by Brown in commemoration of the method by which he gained his freedom. He had himself crated up and shipped from slavery to liberty. His risky plan worked, and this is his story.


Evaluation: Many children in the primary grades may have heard the stories of slave escape through the Underground Railroad but this well written book brings to life the time of slavery and the voice of Henry "Box" Brown. As a child Henry dreams of freedom and the author appeals to the heart and minds of all readers K-3 as the metaphors are simple but effective. The reader is able to get engrossed in the language and pictures for they are truly representative of the time of slavery. The well chosen words the author uses are beneficial for helping a young child see just how devastating slavery was to the slave and their families. When Brown's family was sold, he was determined to escape to the North. His determination and pain leaps off the page and right into our hearts. We are holding our breath as the author describes the decision and the process of which Henry will escape. The story of that escape provides an inspiring view to the younger reader. Along with well-written narrative and metaphors, the awesome and moving illustrations provided by Kadir Nelson create a journey not only for Henry but for the reader. We are able to grow with young Henry to adulthood. This adds to the story so that the reader feels a part of the time and life of Henry. The illustrations tell a story of their own. Kadir Nelson gives the pictures the detail and beauty they need so that the reader is able to visualize Brown's life. Kadir uses minor details to bring this story to life. For instance we see the tear in Henry's eyes as his learns the fate of his family. You also see the seriousness in his eyes and fear in the eyes of his friends as he plots to escape. All these details are shown to the reader so that the curious mind will seek the answers and ask question more to the fae of Henry and the fate of his family. This book will appeal to the young reader and tug at the hearts of adults so that they will be encouraged to seek a biographical account to learn more about the infamous Henry "Box" Brown on their own. This very personal account can be used in classrooms and students could come Henry's escape to that of Harriet Tubman's. They could also write a journal describing the events during Henry's 27 hour journey to freedom.

Not only is the story itself uplifting and inspiring, but it is truly one of the most beautifully illustrated books I have ever seen. I was nearly moved to tears just reading the book for the first time. The stories of courageous men and women from an era not too long-gone is told and illustrated with poignancy, dignity, and respect. A book like this should be on the shelf of any child studying issues of slavery and freedom in the context of American history, as well as the shelf of any adult who could stand to be reminded of just how far we've come and how far we must still go.

This story documents the slavery and eventual freedom of one man. Henry and his brothers and sisters work for a good master. However, on his deathbed, the master gives Henry to his son, separating Henry from the rest of his family forever. Henry works well in the master's son's tobacco factory, presumably avoiding the beatings of the foreman. Later, he meets Nancy, a slave of another master. The two are allowed to marry and live together, and eventually they have three children. Unfortunately, Nancy's master suffers a financial loss, and Henry is informed one day that his wife and children have been sold.

The loss of this family is forever too, and Henry is now spurred to seek his freedom so he'll never have to suffer a loss like that again. With the help of two friends- one another slave, one a white doctor who doesn't believe in slavery- he literally mails himself to freedom in Philadelphia.

What I liked most about this book was that the author does not force an emotional response out of the reader because she doesn't have to. Young readers- as well as adults- can immediately appreciate the horror of being separated from your family as a child and then losing your children. The author presents the losses, but doesn't dictate the grief and anger that the main character must have felt. This makes the reader's response that much more powerful.

Although Henry does eventually gain his freedom, his previous losses haunt the end of the story, just as they must have haunted him and countless other American slaves.

You will not be dissapointed with this book. It may break your heart if you allow yourself to really think about what was going on. My daughter's teacher read it to her class and had an entire room full of 2nd graders enthralled until the end. The story is well told & the illustrations are (as usual with Kadir Nelson) excellent. This is worth owning.

This is a story that all children should hear - enslaved people fought to be free in very unconventional ways. I would also recommend the story of William and Ellen Craft's escape from slavery.

Most people have read or heard haunting and inspiring tales of the Underground Railroad, and Ellen Levine and Kadir Nelson's Henry's Freedom Box (Scholastic, 2007) is surely one of them. Henry is a young boy who has been separated from his mother. Forced into work at a tobacco field, his life ambles on--he marries, he has children. But when his family is sold at auction, a desire to escape is kindled within Henry. With the help of a doctor, Henry assembles a plan to get to freedom--by mailing himself there. The journey is as perilous as expected. Young readers will be amazed at the adventure his box takes him on, and finally delighted as he arrives in Philadelphia safe on March 30th. While Henry's story is an astounding journey in itself (and Levine brings it to light with sympathy, warmth, and factual information), it is Nelson's illustrations that steal the show. Unflinchingly honest portraits of slave life--the horrors and injustices--are painfully breathtaking. Henry's Freedom Box is a perfect introductory story for young readers interested in the history of slavery, and Henry's transit is one that will strike a haunting chord with readers for years to come.

Henry was born into slavery. He doesn't know how old he is. He doesn't have a birthday. His heart has been broken countless times, first when he was sold and separated from his mother, and then later, when his wife and children were sold while he was working. But instead of accepting the cruelty of an unjust system, Henry decides to make his escape. Henry's Freedom Box (Scholastic Press, 2007), written by Ellen Levin and illustrated by Nadir Nelson, tells the true story of Henry Brown's escape to freedom. Traveling in a wooden box, his "Freedom Box," which he built himself, Henry was sent through the mail from Virginia to Pennsylvania. And although Levin uses simple, straightforward language, and doesn't go into the graphic details of slavery, it still adequately depicts its horror. Nadir Nelson's illustrations, which are based off of a lithograph made of Henry Brown in 1850, are rich in their detail and color, and the varying angles and perspectives of some of the illustrations, including a close-up of Henry's face after he hears that his family has been sold; help add emotional depth to story. What Levin failed to do, and what you will only learn if you read the Author's Note, is that Henry Brown was one of the most famous runaway slaves. He also spent 27 hours holed up in his Freedom Box and eventually moved to England. For a reader who has never heard of Henry, it would have been interesting for Levin to include a few more details about what happened after Henry finally made it to safety.

This is a great resource for teaching about slavery. It is based on a true story. It gets the idea of what slaves went through across to children. I like to share it with elementary children before Martin Luther King day so that they understand why we needed the Civil Rights Movement. It is a little sad, but Henry does reach freedom.