ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
This is truly an amazing story. We forget, because we like to make the founding fathers such wonderful men, that many of them kept slaves, including George Washington. Ona Judge was one of his house slaves that he took to Philadelphia, when she was president, in fact.
This picture book is the simplified story of how she managed to escape capture, after she ran away. And remember that an enslaved person did not become free, simply by running away. They remained a slave, even while living in a free state.
Washington did not take well to having lost her, and tried several times to get her back.
A great picture book to show the underside of one of the founding fathers, as well as a very smart woman.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This picture book is the simplified story of how she managed to escape capture, after she ran away. And remember that an enslaved person did not become free, simply by running away. They remained a slave, even while living in a free state.
Washington did not take well to having lost her, and tried several times to get her back.
A great picture book to show the underside of one of the founding fathers, as well as a very smart woman.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
gothicvamperstein's review against another edition
3.0
This is a story that needs to be told, especially as it's also about an American president. I liked the story, but I wish the illustrations were a bit better.
bexcapades's review against another edition
5.0
I had never heard of the story of Ona Judge before. This story can be read by children or adults and it summarises very clearly the events. There is a recurring focus that the Washington’s and their friends only wanted her to return because they considered having a runaway slave as a dig to their pride.
tswanson103's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoy this story of bravery and a willingness to take risks to give yourself the life you deserve. I especially appreciate that this is a story of a slave of George Washington. It is important for children to learn that even people that were revered in their time also chose to have slaves. This story is a way to talk to children about the idea that “it was just what was done then” is not an excuse for behavior that you know is wrong.
Hooks told this story simply but richly. It will be an exellent entry point for conversations.
The art style of this is not my favorite, but there is something about the simplicity of it that fits perfectly with the text.
I received an ARC of this book from Capstone on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hooks told this story simply but richly. It will be an exellent entry point for conversations.
The art style of this is not my favorite, but there is something about the simplicity of it that fits perfectly with the text.
I received an ARC of this book from Capstone on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
raoionna's review against another edition
4.0
Powerful ~ HIstoric ~ Painful
tl;dr: An enslaved person owned by the Washington's escapes.
I am unsure about how to rate this book. The story is important, an enslaved WOMAN escaping and outsmarting our first president's family. The writing is strong. The text would work well in a 4th or 5th-grade classroom, particularly as students explore the strengths of our early presidents. Seeing heroes as complicated and flawed is important, and a good way to grow critical thinking skills. The challenge is that the illustrations are naive. I am ambivalent about if the author chose this approach purposefully. In the Revolutionary War era, naive illustrations were often used as a form of resistance. Additionally, early American painters, called limners, often made naive portraits of people for pay. Perhaps Hooks is recalling these items. The thing though is that the illustrations can sometimes detract from the text. With that caveat, I do recommend this book.
3.5
Thanks to NetGallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
tl;dr: An enslaved person owned by the Washington's escapes.
I am unsure about how to rate this book. The story is important, an enslaved WOMAN escaping and outsmarting our first president's family. The writing is strong. The text would work well in a 4th or 5th-grade classroom, particularly as students explore the strengths of our early presidents. Seeing heroes as complicated and flawed is important, and a good way to grow critical thinking skills. The challenge is that the illustrations are naive. I am ambivalent about if the author chose this approach purposefully. In the Revolutionary War era, naive illustrations were often used as a form of resistance. Additionally, early American painters, called limners, often made naive portraits of people for pay. Perhaps Hooks is recalling these items. The thing though is that the illustrations can sometimes detract from the text. With that caveat, I do recommend this book.
3.5
Thanks to NetGallery for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
hollymbryan's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good introduction for young readers to the reality that our nation's first president was a slaveholder, and one who was determined to recapture Ona Judge, one of his slaves who had escaped. We must help children understand that humans are complicated and that even those we consider heroes are not 100% good. It is important to recognize that George Washington enslaved people, even as we recognize the amazing things he and the other founding fathers (and mothers) did in creating this country. At the same time, the book really keeps the focus on the rather amazing woman that Ona Judge was, how strong and brave she was to escape and to maintain that she was now a free woman and would not go back to Virginia, even if it meant never seeing her family again. I cannot imagine how agonizing that must have been for her. This is a wonderful book to help children understand what it meant to be enslaved and what one had to go through to obtain the freedom that was their natural right. Well done.
chewdigestbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I've Read of Ona Judge before in an adult context, but this is fabulously done, even if there might need to be some added explanations to go along with it. This touches on a subject that we need our kids to learn, understand, and hopefully, form an opinion of inclusivity or embrace diversity ASAP.
etienne02's review against another edition
1.0
1,5/5. Another book with a great message on an important person i history but unfortunately that isn't enough to make a good book. The illustration are very children-made like which didn't please me at all and the story was written in a way that didn't captivate the reader at all either. Also there is way too much text, in long paragraph and all, for the targeted reader age.
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