Elijah of Buxton by Cristopher Paul Curtis
Eleven year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, a settlement at Raleigh West in Canada. It is a safe haven for runaway slaves. His parents, both runaway slaves, have made a home and are always helping their neighbors out. Elijah was the first free born child in Buxton and his parents worry that he is too gullible, scares easily, and is a fragile child. Things are good in Buxton, until the Preacher does something unimaginable. He steals money from Mr. Leroy, a runaway slave that was trying to buy his family from their slave owners. Mr. Leroy and Elijah go in search of the Preacher and the money in Detroit. All of a sudden, Mr. Leroy dies and makes Elijah promise he will find the money and buy his family out of slavery. Elijah is not about to break his promise and he goes off in search of the Preacher and the money. He finds the Preacher dead and the money gone. He also finds five runaway slaves bound to chains and a baby. The woman slave wants Elijah to take the baby to Buxton so she could be free. Elijah feels guilty not being able to free the other slaves, but their is nothing he could do. He takes the baby home to be free and away from the future shackles of servitude. This is a wonderful novel that I would highly recommend to middle grades. The novel could be used in a literature or history class where students could learn about how former slaves were able to overcome their dark past and flourish. I enjoyed reading this story of a young boy that was blossoming into a fine young man, thanks to his parents and the community of Buxton.
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