delicatewatkins's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful lyrical poem with a great refrain for young readers. Absolutely stunning artwork. This book would be fantastic for a readaloud.
panda_incognito's review
5.0
This is a phenomenal picture book biography. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and gorgeous, with vivid depictions of people's likenesses, and the text has great rhythm and power as the author poses rhetorical questions about Ona Judge's situation. This is very striking, and I highly recommend it to children and adults.
stenaros's review
3.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
You know what's in the historical record? That Ona Judge self-emancipated from George Washington's household.
Short sentences give a lot of information about Judge's daily life with the Washingtons.
You know what's in the historical record? That Ona Judge self-emancipated from George Washington's household.
Short sentences give a lot of information about Judge's daily life with the Washingtons.
krismarley's review
5.0
Another shout out to Donna at the public library. I had no idea about this book! Very well done.
emeelee's review
5.0
This is fantastic book about Ona Judge, who was the personal slave of Martha Washington and a well-regarded seamstress, before emancipating herself by running away at 23-years-old. Ona led a relatively 'comfortable' life, with beautiful trappings and 'good' treatment. The poetic prose asks over and over, "Why you run Ona Judge?" But a gilded cage is still a cage, and the narrative ends with, "Run, Ona Judge, run."
libraryrobin's review
4.0
A thought-provoking format for a picture book. Why would Ona Judge run away from a place where she has her own room, fine clothes, and servants to do chores for her? Great tool to spark a discussion with children about slavery.
bookishgrrrl's review
4.0
Different from the traditional "enslavement" story, RUNAWAY tackles the complex life of a young girl considered to be in a privileged position even though she was enslaved. The refrain of why you run? brings the lyrical narrative together. Backmatter includes a short biography and timeline. Good for older readers.
kibbles15's review
3.0
This was an interesting poem with gorgeous illustrations about the life of Ona Judge. I think it is a good intro to kids about the side of slavery that a lot of people don't think about. The title is a bit misleading; "daring" implies excitement in the story. It was actually a little bit dull to read. That being said, there are a lot of things brought up that would instigate a good discussion with your children about slavery, so I would still recommend the book to parents.
tea_rex_love's review
5.0
I’ve finally read my first book about Ona Judge, the enslaved woman who escaped the Washingtons to live out her own life as a free person. The poem doesn’t roll off the tongue, but it goes really well with the illustrations.
“Why you run Ona Judge?
You knew you were more
Than a ten-dollar pet
The lady wanted back.
In an attic, basement, or room no one could see
You waited for the boat
To carry you on the Underground sea
Where your future would not be enslaved
For the rest 0f your days
They called you a runaway, a fugitive
But Liberty rang for you
You dreamed a dream
You would make true
To read, to write
To do what you want, to go where you like
To make sure your children would not be enslaved
Like you
Like your mother
Your grandmother, and her mother, too?
Is that why you ran?
Then run, Ona Judge, run.”