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A review by bookishrealm
Runaway: The Daring Escape of Ona Judge by Ray Anthony Shepard
5.0
This book is a book that I will be purchasing for my daughter. Thank you so much to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with a copy for review.
Ya'll. I've read a lot of picture books that deal with slave narratives, but this was different. It centers around the story of Ona Judge who was a slave in the Washington household (yes President Washington). She specifically worked for Martha Washington as her seamstress and more. What was so unique about this particular narrative is that the author, Ray Shepard, frames the book in the form of questions. He continuously asks her why she wants to run away when it's clear that she's being provided with so many "fancy things." The point that Shepard makes is that no matter "how good" a slave was treated they were still a slave. There isn't enough good treatment in the world that could possibly change that. Ona realized that she couldn't continue to live her life as "well-treated" slave and made the decision to run away. To be honest, I even enjoyed the fact that Shepard questioned the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. It wasn't created to provide freedom for all considering that White women, Black people, and Native Americans were not included.
The artwork was also stunning. It looked as though it was done with oil paint. Colors were rich and deep. The portrait style of capturing faces really transports the reader into the time in which the author is setting his narrative. Overall, this was an AMAZING picture book. I cannot wait to see what other books this author has to offer.
Ya'll. I've read a lot of picture books that deal with slave narratives, but this was different. It centers around the story of Ona Judge who was a slave in the Washington household (yes President Washington). She specifically worked for Martha Washington as her seamstress and more. What was so unique about this particular narrative is that the author, Ray Shepard, frames the book in the form of questions. He continuously asks her why she wants to run away when it's clear that she's being provided with so many "fancy things." The point that Shepard makes is that no matter "how good" a slave was treated they were still a slave. There isn't enough good treatment in the world that could possibly change that. Ona realized that she couldn't continue to live her life as "well-treated" slave and made the decision to run away. To be honest, I even enjoyed the fact that Shepard questioned the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. It wasn't created to provide freedom for all considering that White women, Black people, and Native Americans were not included.
The artwork was also stunning. It looked as though it was done with oil paint. Colors were rich and deep. The portrait style of capturing faces really transports the reader into the time in which the author is setting his narrative. Overall, this was an AMAZING picture book. I cannot wait to see what other books this author has to offer.