By Christopher Paul Curtis
"Fragile" is how others describe 11 year old Elijah who cries easily. Elijah is from Buxton, an 1860 Canadian settlement of free former slaves. Elijah is the first child born here -unaware of the horrors of slavery and the fate of those who escaped when caught. I loved listening to the book. The narrator in the audio version, Mirron Willis, sounds just like a happy and innocent boy. Yet, his voice changes to reflect a maturing Elijah who encounters the harsh treatment of his people when venturing into the United States. In the end, Elijah proves his strength and loses his "fragility" while facing danger where slavery is a reality. I admire authors who can draw us into the reflections of a child. The tenderness in children reminds us of their gullibility. Though Elijah is funny, he faces the grim truth with hope and courage.
RSS Feed