WINNER FOR TEXTElijah of Buxton
By Christopher Paul Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis has presented historical fiction through the story of Elijah, an 11-year-old boy who is the first freeborn black in Buxton, Canada. This Canadian town founded in 1849 by a white Presbyterian minister served as a safe haven for runaway slaves. Although life is better in Buxton, most are still disturbed by the horror of slavery. Many have left behind friends and family in order to find freedom. Then when a dishonest preacher (isn’t this an oxymoron?) steals money from Elijah’s friend who had been saving to buy his family’s freedom, Elijah bravely embarks on a dangerous mission to America to help. In America, Elijah comes face-to-face with the atrocities of slavery. This story does come with a historical warning. Be cautioned because after all this is a story told during a different time. Therefore, much of the language is, to many, grammatically unfamiliar, incorrect and/or misspelled. Because of this, younger readers may find this book difficult to read. Overall, I think Elijah's story is a powerful page-turner, full of humor, adventure, sorrow and promise while addressing the subject matter of slavery realistically through a child’s perspective. If this type of genre interests you, may I suggest 47 by Walter Mosley which also provides some fantasy elements.
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