Synergy: Black Seminole People

The Black Seminole people are the descendants of Seminole Indians combined with free Blacks and escaped enslaved people of African lineage. Although Florida had been a refuge for freedom-seeking enslaved people, the Black Seminole people ultimately migrated to Oklahoma, Texas, and Mexico in the mid 1800s.

Read the recently published biography for youth then learn more at the websites.

A MAN CALLED HORSE by Glennette Tilley Turner tells the true story of a man of Seminole and African descent who lead his people from Florida to a new home in the West during the 19th century. This well-researched biography reflects the many roles of John Horse from counselor and army captain to conductor on the Underground Railroad. Told through short, visually-rich chapters, Turner follows John Horse’s quest while also providing the larger context of the challenges facing the Black Seminole people. The book concludes with the lasting legacy, additional information, timeline, author’s note, notes, and bibliography.

Rebellion: John Horse and the Black Seminoles is an online project telling the story of John Horse and the Black Seminoles.

To visit the website, go to http://www.johnhorse.com/.

Florida’s Underground Railroad: The Black Seminoles is an online article from Florida Memory describing how runaway slaves fled south into Florida during the 18th and early 18th centuries. 

To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/3waqPX8.

Black Seminole Indians by Tracé Etienne-Gray is an online article tracing this ethnic group from Florida to their migration to Oklahoma, Mexico, and Texas.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/2Yaxowe.

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Reads, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Synergy: Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad was the term used to describe a network of people and places used by slaves in the American South in search of freedom in the Northern United States and Canada. William Still is sometimes referred to as the father of the Underground Railroad. In addition to being a conductor, he also recorded the personal accounts of fugitive slaves escaping through Philadelphia.

Read the recently published picture book, then learn more at the website:

WILLIAM STILL AND HIS FREEDOM STORIES: THE FATHER OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD by Don Tate is a picture book biography exploring the life of William Still who helped hundreds of slaves escape to freedom. The story concludes with a timeline and author’s note.

UNCOVERING WILLIAM STILL’S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD is a digital history project that includes Still’s journal and original records.

To view the digital collection, go to https://bit.ly/2K6Y35P.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD: THE WILLIAM STILL STORY tells the story of William Still’s experiences as an abolitionist. Teachers may wish use excerpts from this hour long documentary.

To view the documentary, go to https://to.pbs.org/3kmn2OF.

DISCOVERING THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD from the National Park Service is a Junior Ranger Activity Book available online.

To download the PDF, go to https://bit.ly/3luJM0y.

ARC courtesy of Peachtree.

Book Review: Passenger on the Pearl

PASSENGER ON THE PEARL by Winifred Conkling tells the true story of Emily Edmonson’s flight from slavery. The work of nonfiction for youth is an authentic portrayal of the heartbreaking reality of slavery. Readers are immediately immersed in the story as Emily and her sibling’s attempt to escape on a ship called the Pearl. After their unsuccessful quest for freedom, the story continues to follow Emily’s life in slavery as well as the plight of the abolitionists who planned the escape. Ultimately, Emily and her sister are freed, educated, and became abolitionists themselves. They even develop a friendship with Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The book includes a variety of compelling primary source documents including photographs, paintings, manifests, and posters that dramatically visualize the story. Graphic elements including maps, a timeline, and a family tree that help orient readers. The source notes, bibliography, and index are helpful to young researchers.

Focused fact sheets interwoven into the story help readers understand the laws and practical threats to slaves seeking freedom in the mid 19th century.

Conkling does a masterful job merging the real-world story of Emily with background information about the time period and specific events associated with the famous failed escape. The combination creates both empathy for the runaway slaves as well as an understanding of the context of the escape.

The National Park Service Underground Railroad Map at http://www.nps.gov/subjects/ugrr/discover_history/underground_map.htmprovides a map showing hundreds of locations related to the Underground Railroad.

To learn more about author Winifred Conkling, go to http://www.winifredconkling.com/.

After reading this wonderful book for youth, some teens might be interested in a more in-depth examination of the attempted escape and the aftermath. Read ESCAPE ON THE PEARL (2007) by Mary Kay Ricks, a work of nonfiction for adults.

NetGalley ARC used for review

Website Review: Mission US

MISSION US is a “revolutionary way” for 5th-8th graders to learn about American history through immersive, multimedia, interactive games.

The project currently involves three missions. Additional missions are coming soon.

In MISSION 1: FOR CROWN OR COLONY, learners become a printer’s apprentice in 1770 Boston where they encounter both Patriots and Loyalists.

In MISSION 2: FLIGHT TO FREEDOM, students escape slavery as they journey north to Ohio in 1950 during the time of the Fugitive Slave Act.

In MISSION 3: A CHEYENNE ODYSSEY, players take on the role of a Northern Cheyenne child experiencing the encroachment of settlers, railroads, and expeditions.

The EDUCATORS section provides standards-aligned educational materials related to the interactives.

The THINK FAST! game tests student knowledge of history through a fact-paced trivia game. In addition to the website, the THINK FAST! section is available for the iPad and Android Tablet for free.

The Facebook page provides ideas and activities to extend the experience.

To learn more, go to http://www.mission-us.org/.

For the Facebook page, go to https://www.facebook.com/MissionUS.

Book Review: The Madman of Piney Woods

Christopher Paul Curtis provides a wealth of literature that connects historical fiction with fact.

THE MADMAN OF PINEY WOODS by Christopher Paul Curtis is an outstanding followup to the award-winning ELIJAH OF BUXTON. While both are set in Ontario Canada, Curtis’ latest work of historical fiction takes place in 1901 forty years after the first novel. The story follows two children one African Canadian and the other Irish Canadian living in nearby towns. After a chance encounter, the boys become friends and ultimately connect with the mysterious man living in the woods.

Like ELIJAH OF BUXTON, Curtis’ latest work weaves together a series of short adventures connecting the themes of friendship and family. Humor is used to bring these anecdotes to life for readers, while elements of intrigue keep readers engaged.

Although the two books can be read separately, youth will have a more rounded experience by reading both books while exploring the history of the area. The region is known for it’s involvement in the Underground Railroad and abolitionist movement of the early and mid 19th century. Also during this time period, many immigrants arrived from Ireland to escape the Potato Famine. This history lays the foundation for this turn-of-the-century story.

The areas of Buxton and Chatham Ontario play an important role in this story. Use Google Maps to visit this area online. Find the Buxton National Historic Site. Visit their virtual exhibits at http://www.buxtonmuseum.com/

To learn more, explore the Scholastic Discussion guide at http://goo.gl/XY4ovp.

Publisher ARC used for review