Parents' Guide to

Elijah of Buxton

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Funny, powerful tale of free Black community in 1859 Canada.

Book Christopher Paul Curtis Historical Fiction 2007
Elijah of Buxton Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Lisa B.
Lisa B. Parent of 12-year-old
March 31, 2018
age 12+

Great Piece of Historical Fiction and Suspenseful Story

First recommendation... use the listening version. It allows you to understand the dialect, and it builds up suspense and understanding by allowing the book to be read to you at a slower pace. My 13 year old daughter and I had great discussions about this fabulous book, while we studied slavery in US history. This was an eye awakening first exposure to slavery- as the boy, Elijah, ( read by a man, which makes it a good book for older kids, too) the first "born free" Black baby in Buxton, Canada, discovers with you how slavery exists in the the county called America.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
MediaXpert
MediaXpert Adult
April 14, 2014
age 11+

Devoid of faults!

THE BOOK: Is about 11 year old Elijah, who lives with a non-slave family durinh the times of slavery at a settlement in Canada. His good life is interupted when his friend Mr.Leroy's money is stolen by "Preacher" and Elijah feels obligated to get the money back for him. THE RATING: The book is funny and historically significant at the same time. Books like these are hard to find. Its light tone prevents it from becoming too depressing. Thinking back, there is not one thing wrong with this book. It is a masterpiece! AGE: While it is funny, it IS about slavery. Rated ON 11 and up for: violence, blood, infrequent nudity, and strong subject matter.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In ELIJAH OF BUXTON, Elijah is the first child born in freedom in the Buxton, Ontario, settlement for formerly enslaved Black people. Elijah has a pleasant life. He attends a good school, does his chores and goes fishing after, and lives with his loving parents in their own home. However, he has heard lots of stories about the brutality and hardships others have endured while enslaved and on the run. Some of his neighbors devote all of their efforts to earning and saving money to try to purchase the freedom of loved ones still trapped in slavery, and occasionally, news arrives for a Buxton resident about one of those loved ones. Elijah is sometimes called upon to read a neighbor's letter, because not everyone in the settlement can read, but he dreads doing this, because the news is usually sad. When Elijah lets a woman know that a family member has passed away, the woman gives all the money she has saved to a Buxton man, Mr. Leroy, who still has a chance to free his family. Elijah and his father try to help Mr. Leroy figure out whom he can trust to deliver the money to someone who can facilitate the transaction. When things don't go according to plan, Elijah desperately wants to make things right.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8 ):
Kids say (24 ):

This exciting and moving historical novel is told in the voice of a winningly naive child brimming with compassion and curiosity. In his award-winning debut The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, author Christopher Paul Curtis established the style that also serves well in Elijah of Buxton: Both books start out with a charming and amusing tone (some of the humor a bit off-color, perhaps, but true to the narrator's age and personality) before giving way to a worrisome situation. The affection and familiarity the reader feels for the characters by the time things get heavy add to the impact of the events. As with The Watsons, Elijah's story is informed by history -- in this case, the horrific history of slavery and the inspiring free Black settlement that Buxton is patterned on.

Elijah of Buxton makes a wonderful teaching tool that can be great for classroom and home discussions, and can help children imagine life in 1859 by seeing the world of the novel through a child's eyes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the settlement described in Elijah of Buxton. Had you heard about any place like Buxton before you read this book? What did you learn about slavery in the United States that you didn't know before?

  • Pa talks about Elijah being "fragile," and Elijah worries about this. Do you think Elijah is fragile? How would you describe his character?

  • How does the Liberty Bell in this novel compare with the United States' famed Liberty Bell in Philadelphia? What does each bell signify, and how are they different?

Book Details

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