Freedom River

Freedom River
Written by: Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Published by: Hyperion Books for Children 2000
Grades: 2-6
Genre: Historical Fiction, Biography
Coretta Scott King Award 

Synopsis: This historical fiction book tells the story of a man, John Parker, and his fight for freedom.  At night John Parker, would cross the river from Ohio into Kentucky to save slaves and send them up North.  This was very dangerous but he had tremendous courage, careful planning, and faith which made it successful.  For one family in particular, he used his determination to help them escape from slavery along the Underground Railroad. 

Theme/Skill: Underground Railroad, Slavery, African American History, Courage, Honor. Poetry

About the Author: Doreen Rappaport

Doreen was born and raised in New York City. Doreen went to Brandeis University and majored in music. After she graduated she taught music and reading for seven years in New Rochelle, New York in junior high schools. In 1965, she taught at a freedom school in McComb, Mississippi. While she was there, she met many African American who were deprived of rights that she took for granted. As a result of this, she decided to set out and write about unknown heroes that have fought for their rights. She wanted to write about this lost history that she did not know of. Doreen loves to travel, cook, garden, visit schools, and talk to children. She now resides in New York City and Copake Falls, New York with her husband.

Source used: http://www.doreenrappaport.com

Pre-Reading Activities: Play a tape about life in the 1800s and the Underground Railroad.  Have students draw a picture about their feelings that they get when they listen to the tape.  Give students an outline on the Underground Railroad and slavery.  Teach facts about which states believed in slavery and which did not during that time period.  Show pictures to go along with the outlines as well.

Underground Railroad video:  http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=19374

Pictures and information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/

Post-Reading Activities:  As a whole class we will use a map of the United States and we will color code it by having students come up to color in which states believed in slavery and which did not.  Then individually have the students contribute in making a river bulletin board, by cutting up the river into pieces.  On each piece a student would write a fact about the Underground Railroad or slavery.  The river would be pieced together and become the “Freedom River” bulletin board. 

Map of free and slave states:  http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/geography/slavery_abolition_us.htm

About the Underground Railroad: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2944.html

Reflection: I think this book helps capture the significant importance of the Underground Railroad and people who took risks like John Parker.  It is hard to explain things like this to elementary school children without books like Freedom River which help explain it to them in a simple way through a story.  I love how the pictures in watercolors are used to show the emotion and the actions of John Parker.  I think this book is very informative yet has a message drawn throughout it that says with determination and struggle you can help others and make a difference.