Stripes Publishing ISBN: 9781788952224 £6.99
Harriet Tubman was an amazing lady. A slave who escaped from the South via the ‘Underground Railway’ to the North; who returned time and again to lead other slaves to freedom; who worked for the Unionist Army in the American Civil War; who campaigned for Women’s Suffrage, and who set up a home for old people with no other means of support. What a life story! She deserves to be much better known, although a feature film, [the first], about her was released in the autumn of 2019.
This title, in the ‘Trailblazers’ series, lets us discover her story. Contextual detail helps the reader to make sense of events, and charming black and white illustrations break up the text and try to personalize the narrative. Her bravery is portrayed in a ‘matter of fact’ way, which makes it even more impressive to read. For a woman who could neither read nor write she certainly left a real legacy. This book is a fitting tribute to her story, appropriately pitched at the right level to absorb young readers aged 8 – 10. Highly recommended.
Alf Wilkinson
