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Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
I set the North Star in the heavens and I mean for you to be free....
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman hears these words from God one summer night and decides to leave her husband and family behind and escape. Taking with her only her faith, she must creep through the woods with hounds at her feet, sleep for days in a potato hole, and trust people who could have easily turned her in.
But she was never alone.
In lyrical text, Carole Boston Weatherford describes Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one. Courageous, compassionate, and deeply religious, Harriet Tubman, with her bravery and relentless pursuit of freedom, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
This is a unique and moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad. Kadir Nelson's emotionally charged paintings embody strength, healing, and hope.
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman hears these words from God one summer night and decides to leave her husband and family behind and escape. Taking with her only her faith, she must creep through the woods with hounds at her feet, sleep for days in a potato hole, and trust people who could have easily turned her in.
But she was never alone.
In lyrical text, Carole Boston Weatherford describes Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one. Courageous, compassionate, and deeply religious, Harriet Tubman, with her bravery and relentless pursuit of freedom, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
This is a unique and moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad. Kadir Nelson's emotionally charged paintings embody strength, healing, and hope.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2006
31 people are currently reading
4192 people want to read
About the author
Carole Boston Weatherford
103 books410 followersCarole Boston Weatherford is a children's book author and poet who mines the past for family stories, traditions, and struggles. A number of CAROLE's books tell the stories of African-American historical figures such as Harriet Tubman, Jesse Owens, and Billie Holiday. Other books recount historical events such as the Greensboro Sit-ins and the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. CAROLE's books have received a wide variety of awards, including a Caldecott Honour for “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 612 reviews
August 30, 2016
This book is a fictional story about Harriet Tubman, which is based on some historical facts. The foreword and author's notes have some additional history. I would have preferred the story to have more history and less of a religious theme.
Kadir Nelson had great illustrations in this picture book.
Kadir Nelson had great illustrations in this picture book.
August 9, 2019
This is a powerful story about Harriet and slavery. It does a good job talking about slavery and how bad it was without being too much for kids. Harriet made 19 trips into the South and freed around 300 people. That is pretty incredible. She was in constant conversation with God. She was the most successful conductor on the railroad and it seems to me something was leading her through all those dangers. She never lost a person on her trips. It’s amazing. She did threaten to shot someone if they wanted to turn back.
The story is set up as Harriet talking to God and God talking back. The pictures are very beautiful and the story is powerful.
The nephew does not get the concept of slavery. This was rather serious for him, but he seemed to be interested in the story anyway. He gave this 3 stars. He was impressed that God spoke to Harriet. The niece thought this was a good book. She thinks Harriet is very brave because it sounds scary what she was doing. She gave this 4 stars.
The story is set up as Harriet talking to God and God talking back. The pictures are very beautiful and the story is powerful.
The nephew does not get the concept of slavery. This was rather serious for him, but he seemed to be interested in the story anyway. He gave this 3 stars. He was impressed that God spoke to Harriet. The niece thought this was a good book. She thinks Harriet is very brave because it sounds scary what she was doing. She gave this 4 stars.
February 5, 2011
So, I loved the foreword at the beginning and the author’s note at the end. I liked the illustrations. The historical fiction story didn’t do it for me. Part of it was in the incessant religion, with which I couldn’t relate. (I could say something about her head injury here but I’m not going to go there.) But the religion wasn’t really my problem with the story. This woman was extremely religious and so telling her story in this manner makes sense. It was that the words didn’t flow in a pleasant way, I wanted more about her leading slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, which is how I learned about her growing up, and there was just something lacking for me; I’m not sure what. The ancillary material does give me all the “missing” information. I did learn quite a bit. I didn’t know she’d never lost someone she was helping escape from slavery, I didn’t know (or remember) how she saved her own family members, or how she got her name, or much about her life when she was a slave. I’m having a very hard time rating this. I didn’t personally enjoy it all that much; I’d rather have read another book about this woman. But, I think it’s a worthy book: fine illustrations, good information about slavery and the Underground Railroad and its helpers, and Tubman herself. I do think most readers will appreciate this book more than I did. Most people will not be turned off by the religion and many will like it better because of the religion. She was a remarkable woman and I’m glad that a book about her was chosen for this month’s (theme of Black History Month) Picture Books Club at the Children's Books group.
So, foreword and author’s note: 5 stars, illustrations: 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 stars, story: 2 to 2-1/2 stars.
So, foreword and author’s note: 5 stars, illustrations: 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 stars, story: 2 to 2-1/2 stars.
February 8, 2011
In the beginning, I wasn't sure how much I would like this book. The narrative just didn't grab me right away and seemed a bit disjointed. Yet, but the end, I was deeply moved by the story so I guess something worked right ;-) The illustrations by the talented Kadir Nelson are also stunning.
Prospective audiences should know that this book focuses on the spiritual side of Harriet Tubman's original escape from slavery. She is led by the voice of God on her way to Canada. I personally loved the approach the author chose to take in showing Harriet's spiritual journey. Since Tubman was deeply religious, I think it makes sense that there is a book out there highlighting her spiritual side, the inward journey and inspiration that led her to do so many remarkable things outwardly. But, it's in the Author's Note at the end of the book that one will find the details about Harriet Tubman that most of us are familiar with (leading slaves on the underground railroad) so the story itself may not be the best introduction to Harriet Tubman--it is probably better appreciated in conjunction with a story that explains more about her underground railroad days. However, I've read about Tubman before so I liked this different perspective. In any event, I am always so inspired and impressed by her courage in returning to the South so many times; while it is understandable that she would want to save her family, the fact she returned again and again to help other slaves is truly great. I appreciated that the author's note showed how Harriet had been so brave, intelligent and firm in her sense of what was right, even from a young age such as when she helped another slave or when she hid in order to escape a whipping.
Prospective audiences should know that this book focuses on the spiritual side of Harriet Tubman's original escape from slavery. She is led by the voice of God on her way to Canada. I personally loved the approach the author chose to take in showing Harriet's spiritual journey. Since Tubman was deeply religious, I think it makes sense that there is a book out there highlighting her spiritual side, the inward journey and inspiration that led her to do so many remarkable things outwardly. But, it's in the Author's Note at the end of the book that one will find the details about Harriet Tubman that most of us are familiar with (leading slaves on the underground railroad) so the story itself may not be the best introduction to Harriet Tubman--it is probably better appreciated in conjunction with a story that explains more about her underground railroad days. However, I've read about Tubman before so I liked this different perspective. In any event, I am always so inspired and impressed by her courage in returning to the South so many times; while it is understandable that she would want to save her family, the fact she returned again and again to help other slaves is truly great. I appreciated that the author's note showed how Harriet had been so brave, intelligent and firm in her sense of what was right, even from a young age such as when she helped another slave or when she hid in order to escape a whipping.
April 1, 2010
This fictionalized story of Harriet Tubman and her journey toward freedom takes place mostly as a conversation between Tubman and God. The book has a forward that explains slavery and an afterward with biographical information about Tubman.
Kadir Nelson's detailed, elaborate drawings are a study in shading, use of light, and perspective.
Kadir Nelson's detailed, elaborate drawings are a study in shading, use of light, and perspective.
January 8, 2016
Empowering, Emotionally Engaging & Moving! A Beautiful Read! We Loved It!
March 13, 2019
Nope.
The book is written with some odd theology and I think somewhere along the line the author forgot who they were writing about. It sure sounded more like God and Adam in the Garden, albeit, a very bizarre take, but more akin to that then a story about Tubman.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
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The book is written with some odd theology and I think somewhere along the line the author forgot who they were writing about. It sure sounded more like God and Adam in the Garden, albeit, a very bizarre take, but more akin to that then a story about Tubman.
**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it!
Visit my website!
March 28, 2020
This gorgeous picture-book, which more than deserves its Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration, follows the story of Harriet Tubman's own escape from slavery - a journey that (one imagines) would provide an example for all of the daring southward returns which followed, once she became a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Presented as a dialogue between Harriet and God, in whom she had an unshakable faith, and with whom she had a deep and loving relationship, it highlights the fact that many slaves had little recourse, in the face of brutality and injustice, save to the Divine. Tense, beautiful, moving, Carole Boston Weatherford's narrative envisions the process whereby Harriet the slave became Moses the liberator.
Like some other reviewers, I'm not sure that Weatherford's book would make the best introduction to the story of Harriet Tubman, for young readers who have never before encountered it before, since it focuses on the spiritual aspects of her life, and picks up when she is already a grown woman. I seem to recall that the biography of Tubman that I owned as a girl devoted some time to her youth, and that I was particularly struck (and horrified) by the incident in which her "owner" hit her in the head with a two-pound weight, thereby inflicting a life-long traumatic injury (an incident that appears here only in the informative afterword). But although not the best introduction to Harriet Tubman, Moses is a book that, for those young readers already familiar with her story, will add another dimension to their understanding and admiration of her.
As for the artwork by Kadir Nelson, it alone makes the entire book worth seeking out! Stunningly beautiful, with brilliant use of color and light, and one emotionally resonant scene following another, it warrants every superlative imaginable! Highly recommended to anyone who is looking for good picture-books about Harriet Tubman - particularly those looking for supplemental material - as well as to anyone who appreciates gorgeous picture-book art!
Like some other reviewers, I'm not sure that Weatherford's book would make the best introduction to the story of Harriet Tubman, for young readers who have never before encountered it before, since it focuses on the spiritual aspects of her life, and picks up when she is already a grown woman. I seem to recall that the biography of Tubman that I owned as a girl devoted some time to her youth, and that I was particularly struck (and horrified) by the incident in which her "owner" hit her in the head with a two-pound weight, thereby inflicting a life-long traumatic injury (an incident that appears here only in the informative afterword). But although not the best introduction to Harriet Tubman, Moses is a book that, for those young readers already familiar with her story, will add another dimension to their understanding and admiration of her.
As for the artwork by Kadir Nelson, it alone makes the entire book worth seeking out! Stunningly beautiful, with brilliant use of color and light, and one emotionally resonant scene following another, it warrants every superlative imaginable! Highly recommended to anyone who is looking for good picture-books about Harriet Tubman - particularly those looking for supplemental material - as well as to anyone who appreciates gorgeous picture-book art!
October 1, 2009
Summary-
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom was written primarily for children in grades 2-5. This is a fictional story about Harriet Tubman's journey to freedom and how she was able to help others to freedom. The entire story is a conversation between Harriet Tubman and God.
Harriet begins her journey without telling anyone (even her family) that she is leaving. When she leaves she prays for safety and guidance, and God stays with her the whole time. She finds safe places to go and hide. At one point along the way she hides in a potato hole for days until it is safe for her to come out. When Harriet Tubman finally reaches freedom she realizes that she wants to go back and help other slaves flee. She ends up saving hundreds of slaves by showing them the way to freedom through the underground railroad.
Response-
This powerful story shows the bravery that Harriet Tubman had. The conversational nature of the book seems natural and effective. To make it clear who is speaking the author chose to have Harriet's voice in one font, God's voice in another font, and the narrator's in yet another font. This helps children from confusing the character's voices.
The illustrator, Kadir Nelson does a wonderful job creating images in great detail. He uses light, shadow, and perspective to draw attention to Harriet Tubman's features and facial expressions. All of the pictures cover two pages so they are large enough to draw in the reader and to show students during a read aloud.
At the beginning of the book the author included a forward about slavery and an author's note at the end about Harriet Tubman. Both are helpful in building background knowledge of the historical time.
This book is inspiring and filled with great information about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom was written primarily for children in grades 2-5. This is a fictional story about Harriet Tubman's journey to freedom and how she was able to help others to freedom. The entire story is a conversation between Harriet Tubman and God.
Harriet begins her journey without telling anyone (even her family) that she is leaving. When she leaves she prays for safety and guidance, and God stays with her the whole time. She finds safe places to go and hide. At one point along the way she hides in a potato hole for days until it is safe for her to come out. When Harriet Tubman finally reaches freedom she realizes that she wants to go back and help other slaves flee. She ends up saving hundreds of slaves by showing them the way to freedom through the underground railroad.
Response-
This powerful story shows the bravery that Harriet Tubman had. The conversational nature of the book seems natural and effective. To make it clear who is speaking the author chose to have Harriet's voice in one font, God's voice in another font, and the narrator's in yet another font. This helps children from confusing the character's voices.
The illustrator, Kadir Nelson does a wonderful job creating images in great detail. He uses light, shadow, and perspective to draw attention to Harriet Tubman's features and facial expressions. All of the pictures cover two pages so they are large enough to draw in the reader and to show students during a read aloud.
At the beginning of the book the author included a forward about slavery and an author's note at the end about Harriet Tubman. Both are helpful in building background knowledge of the historical time.
This book is inspiring and filled with great information about Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.
February 28, 2023
Moses is the story of Harriet Tubman’s spiritual journey. Led by the voice of God, Tubman escapes slavery. Later, the voice of God sends Tubman back to the south to lead nineteen groups, as many as three hundred people, out of slavery.
Brilliant illustrations. Brilliant text. Moses is deeply deserving of the Caldecott Honor it was awarded.
Brilliant illustrations. Brilliant text. Moses is deeply deserving of the Caldecott Honor it was awarded.
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February 23, 2022Harriet ( just Harriet ) :
" - Can someone tell me who was the most important person in human history ? "
Sean ( Irish ) : " - St. Patrick, of course".
McQueen ( Scottish ) : " - St.Andrew, certainly. "
Shlomo ( Jew ) : " - Jesus Christ ".
Harriet ( just Harriet ) : " Shlomo ?? "
Shlomo : " - In fact, the most important person was Moses, but.....business is business ! "
" - Can someone tell me who was the most important person in human history ? "
Sean ( Irish ) : " - St. Patrick, of course".
McQueen ( Scottish ) : " - St.Andrew, certainly. "
Shlomo ( Jew ) : " - Jesus Christ ".
Harriet ( just Harriet ) : " Shlomo ?? "
Shlomo : " - In fact, the most important person was Moses, but.....business is business ! "
August 9, 2020
The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is inspiring (duh, it’s about Harriet Tubman) but I found the text to be awkward. Much of the book is a conversation between Harriet and God and, for me, it came off as less spiritual and more a person taking to themselves.
February 27, 2012
Review was completed with the hardcover 2006 edition.
Even the title, Moses; When Harriet Tubman Led her People to Freedom causes the reader to pause and think of an extraordinary person empowered by his or her belief in God. This historic fictional picture book, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson conveys Harriet Tubman’s struggle to free as many African American slaves as possible. We have read many stories about Harriet Tubman before but this one has a new twist. The author brings to life the incredible faith and trust Harriet had in God to guide her to safety and this story doesn’t disappoint.
The text is lyrical and poetic in third person narrative and dialogue between Harriet and God (in different typeset).
“Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to You.”
And God whispers back in the breeze,
“I’m going to see you through, child.”
It has her conversation with God that brings her to freedom and greatness. She is free but misses her family so she returns to guide them even though she risks once again becoming enslaved. She returns nineteen more times to the south to free more than 300 slaves. The simple text works well with the beautiful illustrations. The reader can see how Nelson would win the Coretta Scott Award. With muted earthy blues and browns Nelson’s illustrations becomes an additional character all on its own.
The age range for this text is 5-8 years (determined on the front flap) and the Lexile level is 660 (according to Novelist Plus). The foreword blurb and author’s note at the end give needed background information for the young reader. This would be an excellent read aloud for K-3. Older children 5th grade and up might be able to write a poem from the point of the view of one of the slaves traveling with Harriet as she brings them to freedom.
Even the title, Moses; When Harriet Tubman Led her People to Freedom causes the reader to pause and think of an extraordinary person empowered by his or her belief in God. This historic fictional picture book, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson conveys Harriet Tubman’s struggle to free as many African American slaves as possible. We have read many stories about Harriet Tubman before but this one has a new twist. The author brings to life the incredible faith and trust Harriet had in God to guide her to safety and this story doesn’t disappoint.
The text is lyrical and poetic in third person narrative and dialogue between Harriet and God (in different typeset).
“Lord, I’m going to hold steady on to You.”
And God whispers back in the breeze,
“I’m going to see you through, child.”
It has her conversation with God that brings her to freedom and greatness. She is free but misses her family so she returns to guide them even though she risks once again becoming enslaved. She returns nineteen more times to the south to free more than 300 slaves. The simple text works well with the beautiful illustrations. The reader can see how Nelson would win the Coretta Scott Award. With muted earthy blues and browns Nelson’s illustrations becomes an additional character all on its own.
The age range for this text is 5-8 years (determined on the front flap) and the Lexile level is 660 (according to Novelist Plus). The foreword blurb and author’s note at the end give needed background information for the young reader. This would be an excellent read aloud for K-3. Older children 5th grade and up might be able to write a poem from the point of the view of one of the slaves traveling with Harriet as she brings them to freedom.
November 3, 2017
This is a wonderful tale about Harriet Tubman. With its amazing illustrations by Kadir Nelson and sparse poetic narrative by Carole Boston Weatherford, this book presents a moving and spiritual picture of Harriet leaning on her faith to save herself and hundreds of slaves during numerous trips along the underground railroad.
Her tale is compared to Moses leading the Jews away from slavery in Egypt (hence the title) and the foreward speaks to the inspiration and hope that slaves drew from this story in the bible.
The author's note at the end provides more biographical information about Harriet Tubman, nicely rounding out this book. I must say that I learned as much as our girls did about this famous historical figure and we really enjoyed reading this book together.
I am very thankful that this book was one of the selections for February 2011: Black History Month with the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books group here on Goodreads. It's another great example of a book that I might not have discovered on my own.
This book was also selected as one of the books for the May 2017- Caldecott Honors 2003-2007 discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
Her tale is compared to Moses leading the Jews away from slavery in Egypt (hence the title) and the foreward speaks to the inspiration and hope that slaves drew from this story in the bible.
The author's note at the end provides more biographical information about Harriet Tubman, nicely rounding out this book. I must say that I learned as much as our girls did about this famous historical figure and we really enjoyed reading this book together.
I am very thankful that this book was one of the selections for February 2011: Black History Month with the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books group here on Goodreads. It's another great example of a book that I might not have discovered on my own.
This book was also selected as one of the books for the May 2017- Caldecott Honors 2003-2007 discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
November 20, 2017
This picture book is a beautiful account of Harriet Tubman’s escape of slavery. Carole Boston Weatherford’s fictionalized story included many historical facts. The reader is shown her journey to freedom through her conversation with God. The author does an amazing job of spotlighting the feelings and struggles Harriet Tubman had along the journey. This is definitely a wow book for me because is not only tells of how Harriet Tubman led hundreds of slaves to freedom but it also gives insight to the trials she was able to overcome. This text would be appropriate for elementary students of all ages. The author chooses to focus on Harriet Tubman’s accomplishments, how she was able to help so many slaves, and how other men and women helped her and others get to freedom. This text can be used in multiple ways a classroom. Teachers can use this text to show the life of Harriet Tubman, and the history of how she and others escaped slavery. The picture book could also be used when teaching writing techniques. The teacher could show students through this text how to incorporate dialogue in their writing. This could inspire students not only to write using dialogue, but also shows them how with faith and persistence they can also accomplish great and mighty things!
March 1, 2010
Approximate Interest Level/Reading Level: Upper Elementary
Format: Picture book
Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2007), Caldecott Honor (2007), Coretta Scott King Award (2007) Horn Book Fanfare (2006), Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2007)
Accompanied by her faith in God, Harriet Tubman risks her life, braving a terrifying escape from slavery. With a deep sense of determination and purpose, she courageously returns several more times to lead hundreds of other slaves to freedom.
The author, outwardly inspired by Harriet Tubman’s religious convictions, creates both a physical and spiritual journey to freedom shared between Harriet and God. The dark illustrations of the night, the trepidatious illustrations of dawn and twilight, and the sunlit skies of freedom dramatically convey the emotional intensity of the story.
This fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman’s journey is accompanied by historical information on slavery and Harriet Tubman on the opening and closing pages. This book would make a great addition to classroom's libraries during social studies units covering this period.
Format: Picture book
Awards: ALA Notable Books for Children (2007), Caldecott Honor (2007), Coretta Scott King Award (2007) Horn Book Fanfare (2006), Notable Social Studies Trade Books (2007)
Accompanied by her faith in God, Harriet Tubman risks her life, braving a terrifying escape from slavery. With a deep sense of determination and purpose, she courageously returns several more times to lead hundreds of other slaves to freedom.
The author, outwardly inspired by Harriet Tubman’s religious convictions, creates both a physical and spiritual journey to freedom shared between Harriet and God. The dark illustrations of the night, the trepidatious illustrations of dawn and twilight, and the sunlit skies of freedom dramatically convey the emotional intensity of the story.
This fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman’s journey is accompanied by historical information on slavery and Harriet Tubman on the opening and closing pages. This book would make a great addition to classroom's libraries during social studies units covering this period.
February 10, 2011
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom was a moving book to read. I only realized after reading it that it was a fictional story based on true events. I find author’s notes to be just as fascinating as the stories themselves. The illustrations are beautiful and in fact, I went back to the particular page where Harriet’s has an extreme close-up several times to admire it. The artists captured her determination superbly. I enjoyed the story equally as well. It was quite inspiring. I also found it amazing how Harriet made the trip south 19 times and freed so many. Harriet was a very religious woman and this book is quite spiritual.
This book was a Picture Book Club read for the month of February found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
This book was a Picture Book Club read for the month of February found here: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...
February 4, 2017
A stunningly beautiful picture book about Harriet Tubman focusing on her faith to guide her to freedom. Nelson's striking illustrations and Weatherford's narrative of Harriet's journey -- which include her conversations with God -- make this story an inspiring and deeply personal retelling of how Harriet became known as Moses.
January 9, 2017
This was an interesting telling of Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey through the underground railroad. I appreciated how the text sometimes appeared within the illustrations.
December 24, 2018
I love the artwork in this book so much, though my hubbo thinks it's cheating to use a duplicate picture as the cover. ::eye roll emoji::
August 17, 2021
My kids rally enjoyed this book while I was reading it to them. They embraced the message and they had so
Many questions which to me was amazing because they really were engages with the book and wanted to know more. This book is great and I’ll definitely read this book again and again to me children.
Many questions which to me was amazing because they really were engages with the book and wanted to know more. This book is great and I’ll definitely read this book again and again to me children.
February 20, 2021
A beautiful picture book about Harriet Tubman as a modern day Moses. Great story about her faith and trust in God to lead her to freedom and being others to freedom as well.
June 27, 2020
This is a really beautiful book that focuses on the religious aspect of Tubman's escape and decision to become a conductor.
March 2, 2013
As the author writes in an afterward, this fictional story, illustrated by the inimitable Kadir Nelson, is based on the spiritual journey of Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave who went on to lead many more to freedom.
Harriet was born into slavery around 1820 on a plantation in Maryland. She decided to escape in 1849 when she was in her late twenties. Her master had died and she feared being sold farther south where she heard it was even worse. Harriet had been beaten often. In addition, she was once hit in the head with a two-pound weight by an overseer (who was aiming for a different slave but hit her instead). For the rest of her life, Harriet suffered disabling seizures, headaches, and powerful visionary and dream experiences. She believed these visions to be revelations from God. (The author incorporates into her lyrical text Harriet’s messages and signs she attributed to God, without mentioning Harriet’s head injury.)
Harriet’s escape was aided by the network of sympathizers known as the Underground Railroad. She journeyed ninety miles to Philadelphia, but soon after returned to Maryland to bring back her family members. And she kept going back to rescue others, in spite of the dangers. The famous abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison began to call her Moses, after the Biblical prophet who led the slaves out of Egypt. She claimed it wasn’t her; it was the Lord, guiding her through her visions.
But Frederick Douglass insisted on her own role when he wrote to her in a letter in 1868:
Harriet was never captured. When the Civil War erupted, she became a common fixture in Union camps, assisting fugitive slaves seeking refuge with the northern army. She also provided intelligence to the military based on her knowledge of the terrain of the Underground Railroad.
In her later years, she was frequently ill and penniless, but still worked for black rights and women’s suffrage. She died of pneumonia in 1913 at age 93.
Moses is a lovely book, even if it only deals with a narrow slice of Harriet’s life. It puts events into a very positive light, focusing on Harriet’s bravery, compassion, and deep religious beliefs.
What really makes this book exceptional however are the amazing paintings by Kadir Nelson. He portrays such a wide range of emotion in the faces he depicts, and there is so much power in his work. I can’t rave enough about his illustrations!
Evaluation: This take on the story of Harriet Tubman will appeal to those who would like the emphasis on faith. If that is not your thing, however, the prose is still quite lovely, and the illustrations are spectacular.
Harriet was born into slavery around 1820 on a plantation in Maryland. She decided to escape in 1849 when she was in her late twenties. Her master had died and she feared being sold farther south where she heard it was even worse. Harriet had been beaten often. In addition, she was once hit in the head with a two-pound weight by an overseer (who was aiming for a different slave but hit her instead). For the rest of her life, Harriet suffered disabling seizures, headaches, and powerful visionary and dream experiences. She believed these visions to be revelations from God. (The author incorporates into her lyrical text Harriet’s messages and signs she attributed to God, without mentioning Harriet’s head injury.)
Harriet’s escape was aided by the network of sympathizers known as the Underground Railroad. She journeyed ninety miles to Philadelphia, but soon after returned to Maryland to bring back her family members. And she kept going back to rescue others, in spite of the dangers. The famous abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison began to call her Moses, after the Biblical prophet who led the slaves out of Egypt. She claimed it wasn’t her; it was the Lord, guiding her through her visions.
But Frederick Douglass insisted on her own role when he wrote to her in a letter in 1868:
The midnight sky and the silent stars have been the witnesses of your devotion to freedom and of your heroism. Excepting John Brown—of sacred memory—I know of no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people than you have."
Harriet was never captured. When the Civil War erupted, she became a common fixture in Union camps, assisting fugitive slaves seeking refuge with the northern army. She also provided intelligence to the military based on her knowledge of the terrain of the Underground Railroad.
In her later years, she was frequently ill and penniless, but still worked for black rights and women’s suffrage. She died of pneumonia in 1913 at age 93.
Moses is a lovely book, even if it only deals with a narrow slice of Harriet’s life. It puts events into a very positive light, focusing on Harriet’s bravery, compassion, and deep religious beliefs.
What really makes this book exceptional however are the amazing paintings by Kadir Nelson. He portrays such a wide range of emotion in the faces he depicts, and there is so much power in his work. I can’t rave enough about his illustrations!
Evaluation: This take on the story of Harriet Tubman will appeal to those who would like the emphasis on faith. If that is not your thing, however, the prose is still quite lovely, and the illustrations are spectacular.
February 21, 2013
So it's really historical fiction, but I don't have a shelf for that yet...
This biography does what much similar fiction does, which is to psychologize the structure of facts. Weatherford does have a very interesting stylized way of writing in three voices: a narrator, Harriet, and God. There is a clear shift in the rhythm of the voices when they shift, which helps with the imagining. Readers' Theater anyone?
Nelson's illustrations are phenomenal. The double near the end where Tubman is leading a group of people and hushing them is one of the most gripping compositions I've seen in a children's book. Nelson's use of the cinematic shots is again clear: the mid range shot is most prevalent throughout the book, with only a couple of the impressive wide shots and extreme close-ups. The cinematic sense of storyboarding is clearly a strength of Nelson's.
This book makes no bones about being a myth-making book, and it wears its religion on its sleeve. It's an honest approach, and one that would give a group of readers an opening to talk about religious beliefs as an aspect of social studies.
This biography does what much similar fiction does, which is to psychologize the structure of facts. Weatherford does have a very interesting stylized way of writing in three voices: a narrator, Harriet, and God. There is a clear shift in the rhythm of the voices when they shift, which helps with the imagining. Readers' Theater anyone?
Nelson's illustrations are phenomenal. The double near the end where Tubman is leading a group of people and hushing them is one of the most gripping compositions I've seen in a children's book. Nelson's use of the cinematic shots is again clear: the mid range shot is most prevalent throughout the book, with only a couple of the impressive wide shots and extreme close-ups. The cinematic sense of storyboarding is clearly a strength of Nelson's.
This book makes no bones about being a myth-making book, and it wears its religion on its sleeve. It's an honest approach, and one that would give a group of readers an opening to talk about religious beliefs as an aspect of social studies.
January 17, 2013
By: Carol Boston Weatherford
Recommended Ages: 4th-5th grade
Harriet Tubman was known as "the moses of her people". She escaped slavery and freed many others. Harriet Tubman's journey to freedom was not easy. She walked 90 miles to freedom for several days. Tubman freed herself and risked her life many times to free her family and others. They say she could communicate with God, and that he talked to her during her journey. Harriet Tubman was an amazing woman in my eyes. What she did for slaves is priceless. I don't know if it's true that she talked to God, but whoever or whatever helped her escape slavery is phenomenal. Tubman was a person who not only cared about her family, but cared for others, she risked everything to save many lives. I also liked the way this book was written. It has so much emotion and the way God speaks to her is breath taking!! That's why I give this book a 5 star!!!
Recommended Ages: 4th-5th grade
Harriet Tubman was known as "the moses of her people". She escaped slavery and freed many others. Harriet Tubman's journey to freedom was not easy. She walked 90 miles to freedom for several days. Tubman freed herself and risked her life many times to free her family and others. They say she could communicate with God, and that he talked to her during her journey. Harriet Tubman was an amazing woman in my eyes. What she did for slaves is priceless. I don't know if it's true that she talked to God, but whoever or whatever helped her escape slavery is phenomenal. Tubman was a person who not only cared about her family, but cared for others, she risked everything to save many lives. I also liked the way this book was written. It has so much emotion and the way God speaks to her is breath taking!! That's why I give this book a 5 star!!!
December 15, 2008
Amazing illustrations! Kadir Nelson's use of lights and darks is inspired. When Harriet Tubman reaches freedom, the entire page lights up. I wasn't as thrilled with the text. It was very poetic, but I would have preferred a little more information about Harriet Tubman and her experiences. Although I guess that was a conscious choice by the author since she says in her note at the end that it is a "fictional story based on the spiritual journey of Harriet Tubman." For teaching about Harriet Tubman, this would need to be paired with other books.
July 31, 2012
This is a fictionalized account of Harriet Tubman's first escape and journey to freedom from Maryland to Philadelphia in 1849. Constructed as a conversation between Tubman and God as she seeks strength in her journey. It is an interesting, and very personal take on the Harriet Tubman story. In the forward there is an explanation of slavery and an afterward with biographical information about Tubman. Kadir Nelson contributes very detailed and elaborate illustrations that are superb.
November 22, 2020
Harriet Tubman reminds me of St. Patrick, who was also a slave that ran away and returned with a mission. This is a beautiful book and I'm glad that it's true to Harriet, as she truly was a Christian who had a lot of faith in The Lord.
March 26, 2019
Beautiful and powerful story of how Harriet Tubman’s faith carried her through to lead not only herself but many others out of slavery.
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