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A review by elizabethlk
I Came As a Stranger: The Underground Railroad by Bryan Prince
5.0
I Came As A Stranger far exceeded any expectations I started with. I expected to find the book informative and interesting, but mostly thought it would refresh my memory on topic I hadn't read up on in quite awhile. Not only was it far more informative and interesting than I had anticipated, it also provided far more information than anything I've previously read.
This is well written and easy to understand without being overly simplified; it could easily be read by adults, teens, and preteens. I wish I had had access to this over a decade ago, as it thorough and welcoming without being watered down or lengthy. While I was fully aware that slavery had taken place in Canada, and racism had run rampant here when the Underground Railroad was at its peak, I've never actually read anything on the Underground Railroad that included that information as part of the narrative. The use of specific firsthand accounts and noted landmarks really bring history to life. The photographs used are well chosen, and illustrate history to perfection.
Not only do I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone from ten year old children to adults, I think this should be required reading in middle or high school. While slavery and racism is a topic that many would certainly prefer to ignore, it's a part of history that is best remembered so that we may prevent such atrocities in the future, cope with similar situations more effectively, and honour those who were forced to struggle through such hardships. I Came As A Stranger presents difficult subject matter in such a way that as long as you have something new to learn on the topic (as most of us do), then the book is more than suitable for you.
This is well written and easy to understand without being overly simplified; it could easily be read by adults, teens, and preteens. I wish I had had access to this over a decade ago, as it thorough and welcoming without being watered down or lengthy. While I was fully aware that slavery had taken place in Canada, and racism had run rampant here when the Underground Railroad was at its peak, I've never actually read anything on the Underground Railroad that included that information as part of the narrative. The use of specific firsthand accounts and noted landmarks really bring history to life. The photographs used are well chosen, and illustrate history to perfection.
Not only do I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone from ten year old children to adults, I think this should be required reading in middle or high school. While slavery and racism is a topic that many would certainly prefer to ignore, it's a part of history that is best remembered so that we may prevent such atrocities in the future, cope with similar situations more effectively, and honour those who were forced to struggle through such hardships. I Came As A Stranger presents difficult subject matter in such a way that as long as you have something new to learn on the topic (as most of us do), then the book is more than suitable for you.