I Am Harriet Tubman: Ordinary People Change the World

Sensitive kids may be upset by scenes depicting life under slavery, as when Harriet's two older sisters are sold to a different owner and taken away despite their cries. Shows that beatings or worse awaited enslaved people who disobeyed their enslavers, learned to read and write, or sought freedom. A farm supervisor throws heavy weight at a fugitive from slavery and it hits Harriet on the head and knocks her out. "It was an injury that forever changed my life," she says. "Since I didn't die, I decided God had a plan for me, and was guiding and protecting me."

Parents need to know that Brad Meltzer's I Am Harriet Tubman is a stellar addition to the Ordinary People Change the World series, which uses engaging cartoon-type illustrations and interesting facts to introduce important historic figures -- who were all once regular kids. Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman learned courage and determination from her parents, finally fleeing north to freedom when she was about to be sold at age 22. There's plenty of drama and adventure here -- the Underground Railroad, the U.S. Civil War, and more -- and some harrowing scenes of slavery, including Harriet's young sisters chained to the wagon of the man they've just been sold to, who's taking them away forever. There are strong positive messages about helping others, following your beliefs, and being willing to do the right thing when it's neither safe nor easy -- which may lead to some age-appropriate discussion of real-life examples.