Eleven-year-old Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. He’s best known in his hometown as the boy who made a memorable impression on Frederick Douglass. But things change when a former slave steals money from Elijah’s friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey to America in pursuit of the thief, and he discovers firsthand the unimaginable horrors of the life his parents fled–a life from which he’ll always be free, if he can find the courage to get back home.
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""Elijah of Buxton" covers such a criminally neglected moment in American history--the years following emancipation. I think most public schools treat Emancipation as a clean business, a final triumph over slavery that allowed African-Americans finally to enter into white society. It wasn't so, of course, and "Elijah of Buxton" offers a poignant account of those difficult years. Elijah's voice reminds me of some of Faulkner's stronger characters: colorful, unique, and intensely introspective. And Curtis' historical world reminds me of Toni Morrison's Ohio in "Beloved." "Elijah of Buxton" would make a great companion piece to Southern and African-American literature classes in middle or high school; it's a fun read, and would be for students a stepping stone into more difficult American literature." — Kevin (5 out of 5 stars)
""Elijah of Buxton" covers such a criminally neglected moment in American history--the years following emancipation. I think most public schools treat Emancipation as a clean business, a final triumph over slavery that allowed African-Americans finally to enter into white society. It wasn't so, of course, and "Elijah of Buxton" offers a poignant account of those difficult years. Elijah's voice reminds me of some of Faulkner's stronger characters: colorful, unique, and intensely introspective. And Curtis' historical world reminds me of Toni Morrison's Ohio in "Beloved." "Elijah of Buxton" would make a great companion piece to Southern and African-American literature classes in middle or high school; it's a fun read, and would be for students a stepping stone into more difficult American literature."
" Enjoyed how the author took his time to develop the main character, Elijah. "
" Intriguing story based in a real place and a great boy book. "
" Elijah was the first African American child born free in Buxton. Through his innocent eyes we get a feel for all the characters in the book. While helping a family friend try to find a two timing preacher, Elijah witnesses firsthand what all of the older people on his settlement have fled. Slavery in the flesh. In this book, Elijah learns many lessons. This book would be a great supplement to learning about life on settlements during slavery. I would recommend it for grades 5-8. "
" good historical fiction with strong characters and a vivid setting. the plot meanders at times, though. found myself wondering early on where the story was going. so glad i stuck with it. can't get some of the intense scenes out of my head. "
" Um, a book shouldn't take 250 pages to actually have a plot, and then to end it right at the interesting part...? "
" The best book I've read in a while - I recommend it to everyone, kid or adult. "
" Loved this book about a young free boy in Canada that goes to America to help a friend buy his family's freedom. This book had parts that made me laugh out loud (like Cooter's misinterpretation of "Familiarity breeds contempt.") and parts that brought tears to my eyes. I liked the author's note at the end, and would love to visit Buxton some day. Excellent historical fiction about slavery and those who escaped slavery to be free. "
" AWESOME! This is possibly my new favorite book. "
" I read this book for book club. It was interesting and informative. I love historical fiction. The main character was young, so it was very juvenile. Some parts were very funny, some were very sad. Overall a pretty good book. "
" Slow in the beginning but it got good in the end..... "
" Without a doubt, Curtis's best work to date. So realistic and so very sad. "
" I felt it started slowly but got better as the book went on "
" Elijah is the first freeborn in Buxton, Canada. There is great historical detail in this book as the author mixes Elijah's fraility and gulibility with the reality of life. This book is filled with Elijah's voice as he learns the truth of what slavery means. "
" This book is a great read for adults and young adults. The writing is clever, the stories are sweet but very meaningful, and the main character is impossible to not love. The book on CD was very well done and fun to listen to also. "
" Wow...There were hard-to-read moments but also really funny moments. Unsure how I feel about reading it with my girls. We are reading "The Mostly True Advantures of Homer P. Figg" (another funny and hard-to-read one) together right now, so maybe if that goes well we'll read this next. "
" The language in the first few chapters is hard to get through, but give it a chance. The story is a true one of a settlement of freed slaves in Canada. Christopher Paul Curtis never lets me down. Solid writing every time. "
" I know I'm in the minority here, and I don't know why...for some reason, I just could not get into this book. I was so excited and had heard so many good things, but didn't find them myself. :( "
" This book was so awesome! True story. I read the libraries copy and went out and bought my own afterwords. Wonderful characters. The author doesn't tell you about Buxton - he SHOWS you Buxton. I felt right at home. "
" This book dealt with the slavery issue in a new way. It didn't cram it down your throat and try and force emotions out of you. I really enjoyed it. I even cried!! (Course, maybe that's not a hard thing to get me to do nowdays!) "
" Gave up on this one - one of those books where it's all blah, blah with no point or I missed it. "
" I love this story so much that my students are studying it in class. Being the first freeborn child of Buxton settlement means that Elijah does not really understand the reality of slavery that most of the townspeople came from, until a chain of events makes him look slavery in the eye. "
" YOU HAVE TO READ THIS, IT IS ADORABLE, BEAUTIFULLY WROTE, AND ELIJAH IS THE BEST CHARACTER i have meet. Sorry for the caps, but this book makes me so excited "
" This is a book I highly recommend to everyone. "
" my teacher read this as a read -a loud. so good "
" I hated this book it was totally snorzzville "
Christopher Paul Curtis made an outstanding debut in children’s literature with The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. His second novel, Bud, Not Buddy, is the first book ever to receive both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Author Award.
Mirron Willis—actor of film, stage, and television—is the winner of the prestigious Audie Award for best narration in 2012 and a finalist for the Audie in 2015, as well as the winner of four AudioFile Earphones Awards for his audiobook recordings. He has worked extensively in film and television and on stage with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, and the Ensemble Theatre, among others. He has recorded some 150 audiobooks, including the Smokey Dalton series by Kris Nelscott and My Song by Harry Belafonte. He resides and records audiobooks on his family’s historic ranch in East Texas.
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