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Almost to Freedom

(2004, Fiction - Picture Book, Written by Vaunda Nelson, Illustrated by Colin Bootman)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Moving story on plantation in antebellum Virginia.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence :

    The brutal treatment of the enslaved people is clearly depicted.
  • Sex :

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Almost to Freedom

Parents need to know that this book deals directly with many of the hardships endured by enslaved African-American people in the pre-Civil War South, from verbal and physical abuse on the plantation to the terrors on the dangerous Underground Railway. For children old enough to comprehend some aspects of the historical setting and political situation in the story, this is an emotionally rewarding and ultimately optimistic story.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the Underground Railroad. How did it begin, and how did it operate? What was at risk for the organizers, the hosts, and the people fleeing slavery? Kids may want to talk about slaves' family disruption -- parents can help explain the long-lasting consequences for African Americans. How did Sally provide stability for Lindy? How do you think she felt after she lost her doll?
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