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Reviewed by: Taylor Coonelly, Elementary School Librarian Title: Freedom on the Sea: The True Story of the Civil War Hero Robert Smalls and His Daring Escape to Freedom
Author: Michael Boulware Moore
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Publisher: Godwin Books
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 2-6 Genre/Type of Book: Biography
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: N/A Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book:
Nominated for the CYBILS award for Elementary and Middle Grade nonfiction
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
The incredible true story of a father's fight for the freedom of his family.
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Review:
Robert Smalls moved to Charleston as a young boy, skilled in fishing and boats. He found work on a steamer called the Planter unloading and loading freight for the Confederate army. As he worked on the ship, he learned sailing and became the wheelman of the ship. Unknown to him at the time was how important his job on the Planter would be for his life. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Robert and his family (his wife Hannah and their two kids) were enslaved to a Samuel Kingman. Robert's only goal was to free his wife and children from slavery, and he formed a plan to buy their freedom from Mr. Kingman. A plan was created, Robert paying Mr. Kingman $100 as a down payment and planning to make payments reaching $800, which seemed impossible. It was then that Robert formed a new plan, an extremely dangerous plan that would bring his family to freedom much sooner if he succeeded. Robert spent a year on the Planter, watching the schedule and actions of the Confederate soldiers. Robert knew that just past the Charleston harbor lied a Union blockade, and that if he stole the ship and sailed with his family there, they could be free. In May of 1862, Robert's family and 16 other enslaved people's snuck on to the ship and set their sights to freedom. The boat had to make it through five forts, each with different passcodes, and if anything went wrong, all on board would not survive - either attacked by Confederate cannons or by their own dynamite at the bottom of the boat. Robert made it through the first four forts with no issue, and with immense anxiety, they were permitted to pass the largest, Fort Sumter. The most dangerous part of the journey, however, lied at the Union blockade. As they approached, in the largest Confederate ship unannounced with enemy flags, Union solders prepared to fire. Little did Robert know that Hanna had expected this tension, and she hoisted a handsewn white flag on the mast to plead surrender. Union soldiers lowered their weapons, and as they sailed into the harbor, Robert and his family were officially free.
This is an inspiring story about individual bravery and perseverance during a dark time in American history. I hadn't heard of Robert Smalls before reading this biography, and I thought it was a well done story. The text was aimed at an upper elementary audience, and I think it did a good job at sharing the story with readers in a way that was accessible and interesting. I thought the illustrations in this book were well done, having some parts seemingly illustrated, cut out, and layered on top of other illustrations to draw the readers eye.
At the end of the story, there is a note from the author in which he tells the reader that he is the great-great grandson of Robert Smalls, which I think makes this book much more sentimental and special. I would have loved to see something in the back of the book too that detailed what happened to Robert Smalls after this journey, because from my research he held a seat in Congress and did other amazing work.
While I don't necessarily think this book would be picked up off the shelves individually by students, I think that this is a great book to use as a read aloud or secondary source in discussing the Civil War, Black History Month, or important historical figures.
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