Module 10, Henry's Freedom Box

Cover

Henry's Freedom Box, By Ellen Levine 

Overview:  The book begins with Henry's life as a young slave. He is struggling with his identity because he doesn't know his birthday and he is seperated from his family. He collects things as he grows up but is torn apart again from his family once again when he is a man. In despair and desperation he comes up with a plan for his freedom to mail himself off to the North. 

Levine, E. (2007). Henry's Freedom Box. Boston, MA: Scholastic Inc.

Little Library Review: This is one of those powerful eye opening books for children to read about another perspective of how some people had to once live. I think children will connect to this book because of the value they have for their birthday and family and make a connection with Henry. I imagine young readers will empathize when they consider how tough things were for Henry that he felt he had no choice but to mail himself in a box. The illustrations as Henry is traveling gives the reader a perspective of how dangerous the situation was and how brave Henry was. 

Other Professional Reviews: 
Gr 2-5 — Inspired by an actual 1830s lithograph, this beautifully crafted picture book briefly relates the story of Henry "Box" Brown's daring escape from slavery. Torn from his mother as a child, and then forcibly separated from his wife and children as an adult, a heartsick and desperate Brown conspired with abolitionists and successfully traveled north to Philadelphia in a packing crate. His journey took just over one full day, (hiring which he was often sideways or upside down in a wooden crate large enough to hold him, but small enough not to betray its contents. The story ends with a reimagining of the lithograph that inspired it, in which Henry Brown emerges from his unhappy confinement — in every sense of the word — and smiles upon his arrival in a comfortable Pennsylvania parlor. Particularly considering the broad scope of Levine's otherwise well-written story, some of the ancillary "facts" related in her text are unnecessarily dubious; reports vary, for instance, as to whether the man who sealed Henry into the crate was a doctor or a cobbler. And, while the text places Henry's arrival on March 30, other sources claim March 24 or 25. Nelson's illustrations, always powerful and nuanced, depict the evolution of a self-possessed child into a determined and fearless young man. While some of the specifies are unfortunately questionable, this book solidly conveys the generalities of Henry Brown's story.

Threadgill, C. (2007). Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story. School Library Journal, 53(3), 176.

Using it in the Library 📖: This would be a good book to do some activities or lessons about character point of view and character traits. Henry goes through so many ups an downs in the story that the story naturally lends itself for stopping points to reflect.