Stealing Freedom Audiobook

Quotes

• “Riveting…a thrilling and hopeful novel.”

  — Columbus Dispatch

• “[This] dramatic, often poignant historical novel…gives youngsters an immediate, at times thrilling, account of the workings of the Underground Railroad; the view of the Weemses' family life provides some idea of the incredible determination and ingenuity of slaves aspiring to freedom. Imaginatively and sensitively adapted from historical records, this portrait will evoke admiration for the courage of both those who resisted slavery and those who endured it.”

  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• “The author has painstakingly recreated mid-nineteenth century Maryland to tell the compelling, true story of Ann Maria Weems.”

  — Children’s Literature

• “A deftly crafted story…In the author’s note, Carbone sketches the extent of her exhaustive research and provides as much further data on the characters as possible. This is a fine piece of historical fiction with a strong, appealing heroine.”

  — School Library Journal

• “This historical novel combines the appeal of exciting escape adventure with authentic details of the time and place. Carbone's research is meticulous…Of course, readers will be caught up in the suspense of narrow escapes and daring disguise on Ann’s journey with various brave conductors to freedom. The real story is in the characters’ personal lives: the sense of how it felt to be a child under slavery and to have your family broken up, your brothers sold away, then the shock of what it meant to be free. The scenes of family reunion are heartfelt drama.”

  — Booklist

• “This compelling tale of a passenger on the Underground Railroad is entirely populated with historical figures; not since Gary Paulsen’s Nightjohn has the physical and emotional impact of slavery been made so palpable…A richly detailed society emerges, in which the powerless hold their own through quick wit and strength of character and the powerful, scarred by the fact of slavery, know little real peace. Varying in tone from devastating simplicity to subtle irony underlying scenes in which abolitionists gather to fuss over Ann Marie as if she were some rare animal, this story pays tribute to the power of the very idea of freedom.”

  — Kirkus Reviews

• “There is great insight into the inner workings of the Underground Railroad including people in other countries, aside from just running and brief shelters in the dead of night…The narration was clear and satisfying with voice changes to distinguish between characters and convincing accents (Irish, southern) when applicable; the speed, pleasantly conversational. Highly recommended.”

  — Children’s Literature (audio review)

• “The Underground Railroad takes center stage in Elisa Carbone’s story…Robin Miles’ narration is strong…This compelling audiobook will be useful in social studies classes serving upper elementary and middle school students.”

  — School Library Journal (starred audio review)

• “Robin Miles brings the struggles and triumphs of one slave family to life with her expressive voice and emotional reading. Miles captures the vocal cadences of these Maryland slaves, and her deep tones, even and tempered but never meek, transport the listener into their lives. The stilted Irish brogue of the Prices, the family that owns Ann and her family, is a counterpoint to the voices of the close-knit Weems family. As Ann, assisted by abolitionists, makes her escape to Canada, she encounters many who help her—from the lawyer Mr. Bigelow, who is portrayed in a straightforward, relaxed voice, to the minister who accompanies Ann on the train across the border, whose voice is alternately weary and full of excitement at his part in securing her freedom. Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award.”

  — AudioFile