i think that elijah of buxton is a pretty good book. this is coming from an 11 year old. i think that it is ok for children 8 and up. they need to know what slavery is to first read the book.all of the students i know that read this book think its pretty good too. But dont give up on the book. i know the begining of the book is boring but it really takes off at the end. So read it!
Elijah of Buxton
(2007, Fiction - Historical Fiction, Written by Christopher Curtis)
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Humorous, powerful, masterful escaped-slave tale.
Themes in this book include: emotional abuse, friendship, physical abuse
updated 01.21.10
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 9 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Elijah of Buxton was written by Matt Berman
Parents need to know that, while this isn't as graphic as some books about slavery, it has its share of horrors, including beating deaths (only the aftermath described), lynching, scars from beatings and brandings, and adults and children shackled, starved, and deprived of water.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about Pa's statement regarding escaped slaves: "Don't no one get out of America without paying some terrible cost, without having something bad done permanent to 'em, without having something cut off of 'em or burnt into 'em or et up inside of 'em."
- What does his statement mean, and do you think it was true?
- How is it shown in each of the characters in the book?
- What do you think about the aftermath of slavery?
Have you read it? Review It!
More on Elijah of Buxton
Book Summary
Elijah is the first child born in freedom in the Buxton settlement for escaped and freed slaves in Canada. Though he has certainly heard his elders talk, he has never experienced slavery directly. Instead, he has a good life, is getting a solid education, goes fishing, and lives with his loving family in their own home.
His closest experience of slavery has been the occasional rumors of slave catchers in the area, and when newly escaped slaves arrive at the settlement. That is, until the money Mr. Leroy was saving to buy the rest of his family out of slavery is stolen. Then Elijah, feeling partly responsible, agrees to cross over to America to try to get it back.
Includes Author's Note on Buxton, a real place, now an historic site.
Is It Any Good?
In Christopher Paul Curtis' award-winning debut, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, he firmly established the style that serves him so brilliantly in ELIJAH OF BUXTON. This is another first-person narrative, in vivid dialect, by a winningly naive child loaded with personality. Both books have a delightfully funny first half (some of the humor a bit off-color perhaps, but very true to the narrator's age and personality) and a powerfully moving historical event in the second half -- in this case, slavery -- made more powerful by the familiarity the reader has with the characters it will impact.
Despite one of the more hideous dust jackets in recent memory (you might want to remove the dust jacket before recommending it to a child), this wonderful, moving novel is sure to become a staple of discussion groups in schools and libraries across the country. Curtis' signal contribution to children's literature is his creation of novels that address important historical issues and events in an emotionally powerful, intellectually challenging, compassionate way, yet are simply rollicking good fun as well.
Publisher’s Details
Publisher: Scholastic Inc., Publication date: 8/1/2007
Number of pages: 341, Price: $16.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 9, Read Alone: 10
Number of pages: 341, Price: $16.99 (hardcover)
Read Aloud: 9, Read Alone: 10
Our Members Say
See all 8 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
Perfect for kids that have very good comprehention
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Can't Really Understand It
I'm reading it for this thing we're doing in fourth grade. I can't really understand what it's saying, but it's a great book!
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK
I did not enjoy this book at all. Don't waste your time reading it.
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Hard To Understand The Way It's Written
I bought it at the used book store and by the start it was very boring and hard to read because its written where people talk like "he ole know hes gone" for example and thats not from the book
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
My fifth graders LOVE it!
I am reading this book to my class. They have loved this more than any book I have read so far. Christopher Paul Curtis is a master of children's literature.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
| 50% | of parents say it's educational |
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