The Gift of Freedom was inspired by author Glenette Tilley Turner’s interview with Alice Brickler, the last living relative of Harriet Tubman to have had personal interactions with the renowned Underground Railroad conductor. When Brickler shared the story of Harriet’s 1854 Christmas Day rescue of her three brothers, Turner knew she wanted to share the remarkable tale with young readers.
When Harriet escaped slavery in Dorchester County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, she set out prepared with her knowledge of the stars as her guide, helping her to navigate dense forests, to follow waterways, and to find loyal helpers amongst the white Quakers and the black mariners. When she finally reached freedom in Philadelphia and found work, she received for the first time in her life the wages due her.
But Harriet felt unsettled: “Freedom was bittersweet. Her family and friends were still in shackles, and she was far away from the husband she loved. Harriet had already risked her own life to get north. She was prepared to risk it again for the sake of those she had left behind.”
Illustrator Laura Freeman’s stunning, emotive artwork and Turner’s engaging storytelling capture the sorrow that Harriet and her three brothers felt as they said goodbye—possibly forever—to family members, the danger they encountered on their journey, the ever-present fear of capture, and the joy of newfound freedom.
In an author note, Turner spells out for young readers the qualities she thinks led to Harriet’s success on her 13 rescue missions: “As an enslaved person, although she was denied the opportunity to learn to read and write, she took advantage of every opportunity to learn how to: navigate by the stars, survive in the wilderness, and work with people who could do things that she couldn’t do.”
Though the qualities Turner mentions assisted Harriet in her courageous work, Turner overlooks the most fundamental reason for Harriet’s success—her faith in God’s leading, protection, and enduring presence in the face of untold dangers.
The Gift of Freedom is an excellent resource for parents who want to share with young children the story of a remarkable Jesus-follower, to talk about God’s love for justice and his desire that all people be free, and to be inspired to care for others who are oppressed.
(Abrams Books for Young Readers)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.