True North by Kathryn Lasky: Book Review

True North by Kathryn Lasky

Lucy Bradford lives in Massachusetts as the youngest child in her family. She has grown up all her life learning to be proper and polite. Lucy tries to fit in with her older sisters, but even her mother admits she is a very different kind of girl. She likes adventures. At the same time Afrika, a fugitive slave girl, is fleeing the South with only the North Star as her guide. She has known a lifetime of hardship, cruelty and back- breaking work, and is willing to risk her life in order to gain her freedom. When Lucy discovers Afrika hiding in her grandfather‘s old Grandfather Clock she decides she is going to do whatever she can to help Afrika gain freedom.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It really helped me realize what life was like for fugitive slaves and safe-House conductors. It also helped me to further understand the many difficulties in the underground railroad such as slave catchers, corrupt safe houses, and even sickness. I would definitely recommend it.

Reviewed by 14 year-old reviewer