Freedom River Book Review

1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Rappaport, Doreen, 2000. FREEDOM RIVER. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. CH: Hyperion Book. ISBN 9780786803507

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

The story started before the Civil War and is based on a true story about a heroic black man, John Parker, who helped other slaves gain their freedom. Before the Civil War, Kentucky was a slave state and Ohio a free state. If the slaves were able to cross the Ohio River into Kentucky, they could start a new life and gain their freedom. John Parker was a former slave who owned an iron factory in the free state of Ohio, yet risked his life to help slaves from Kentucky escape on the famous Underground Railroad. This story looks at how John Parker helped one slave family escape, but not without many problems that had to be overcome. Initially, the father of the slave family refused to escape with John Parker because his wife and their baby were in danger. The owner of the slave family knew that they would never leave their baby, so the owner had the baby sleep at the foot of his bed. After finally persuading the family to leave, Parker managed to steal the baby, trick the slave owner, and lead the family to safety. John Parker was a free man who risked his life and his freedom to save this family.        

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This is my first time to read the book illustrated by Bryan Collier. After reading this book, I found particular strengths in the illustration design, emotional portrayals, color choices, and organization, as well as the word arrangement. This book has no weaknesses that I found.

Illustration Design

Bryan Collier used collage and watercolor dominated by deep blues and browns that added to the emotion of the story. By using this multi-layered inspirational art technique, the illustrator was able to help tell the story of a dark and painful time in American history.

Portraying Deep Emotions

By looking at illustrations Bryan Collier created, readers are able to feel and sense the main characters’ profound inner emotions. These illustrations helped tell the story of the life of slaves, their sadness, and the desire for freedom. On the page 6, Bryan Collier depicted a black women holding her hands together to pray with a pair of closing eyes. This illustration expressed the pain of being a slave and the desire for freedom.

On page 7 and 9, the black couple are represented in the dilemma about whether or not they need to follow John Parker to save their lives. On page 14, Bryan Collier vividly portrayed the anger of the slave owner when he saw that the family had escaped. These illustrations helped young readers have a better understanding of American history and the deep emotion expressions in this story.

The color and time setting

All of the illustrations were painted using deep blues and dark colors which represented the sadness of the history of slavery. These color choices helped emphasize the emotions and feelings. Even though young readers might not know all of the vocabulary and words, they still can understand the risks involved and the sadness of slavery through the vivid illustrations.

The organization

The author utilized capital letters, bold print, and repetition to highlight the anxious moments in the plot. By using this writing style, the writer was able to emphasize the danger and risks of Parker's exploits.

In summary, the illustrations of this book through the design, color choices. and organization enhance the reader's understanding of the emotions of the slave era, the desire for freedom, and the bravery it took to pursue freedom. The writer used various word arrangements to emphasize some of the intense story plots.

4.    REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

I found that the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books have won two awards, as well as an Amazon Bestsellers Rank of 5 stars.

Based on the School Library Journal from the Amazon website, the book was reviewed as a strikingly beautiful picture book relating the true story of John Parker. The title of Freedom River was notable and thought-provoking (Amazon, 2011). Based on the booklist review on the Amazon website, the book was an inspiring story with stirring narrative pictures which expressed the spiritual message (Amazon, 2011).

5. CONNECTIONS

For teachers who would like to introduce the role slaves played in American history, I believe this book is a good start for Pre-K and first grade students. Another connection book to this book I found is entitled Friend on Freedom River. After introducing Freedom River, teachers could introduce this book to students because the story is based on the same time in history, only it is about a 12-year-old boy helping a female to escape slavery with her two children.  

Whelan, Gloria. 2005. Friend on Freedom River. Ill. by Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen. Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN 1585362220

Another book teachers could use in connection to these two books is Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. illustrated by Bryan Collier, the same illustrator as Freedom River. These books help tell the story of slavery and the civil rights movement that are deeply embedded in American history.

Rappaport, Doreen. 2001. MARTIN'S BIG WORDS: THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CH: Hyperion Book. ISBN 0786807148

Reference

Amazon. com., accessed Feb 4, 2011, http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-River-Coretta-Scott-Illustrator/dp/0786803509

Amazon.com, assessed Feb 4, 2011, http://www.amazon.com/Martins-Big-Words-Martin-Luther/dp/0786807148