Henry's Freedom Box

Title: Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

Author: Ellen Levine

Genre: Non-fiction, Informational, Diversity, Biography

Summary: Henry was a slave. He wasn’t sure how old he was, because slaved weren’t allowed to have birthdays. Henry worked in the master’s house with his brothers and sisters, but Henry’s mother knew that things could change regarding his freedom. One morning, the master called Henry and his mother into his room. He was very ill. The master told Henry that he was a good worker and he would now be working for his son. “You must obey him and never tell a lie,” the master told Henry. Later that day, Henry said goodbye to his family. Henry started to work for his new master. This master would beat you if you made a mistake. One day, Henry met Nancy, who was shopping for her mistress. They walked and talked and agreed to meet again. Since slaved didn’t dare sing in the streets, Henry hummed all the way home. Months later, Henry asked Nancy to be his wife. Both masters agreed. Soon enough, they had three children together. They were lucky to be able to live together. Nancy feared that her master would sell their children because he had just lost a lot of money. Henry tried to forget what Nancy said. Later on, Henry’s friend, James, came into the factory to tell Henry that his wife and children were just sold at the slave market. Henry’s heart twisted in his chest. At lunchtime, Henry rushed to the center of town to see his wife and children tied up. He wiped away his tears, and they were gone. Henry was no longer happy. He knew he wouldn’t get to see his family ever again. Weeks had passed, and one morning, a little bird flew out of a tree singing in the open sky. All Henry could think about was being free. Henry asked Dr. Smith to help free him, for Dr. Smith was a white man who thought slavery was wrong. The next day, Henry arrived with a box. He said he would mail himself to a place where there were no slaves. Dr. Smith addressed the crate to William H. Johnson, who lived on Arch Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He printed “THIS SIDE UP WITH CARE” on the crate in big letters. Henry poured a bottle of oil of vitriol onto his sore finger to make it worse as an excuse to stay home from work. He burned his skin to the bone. Dr. Smith bandaged his hand and arranged to meet the next morning and four o’clock. Henry climbed into the box and James nailed down the lid. They drove to the station and begged the clerks to be careful, but they didn’t listen. They threw the box into the baggage car. Hours passed and Henry was thrown upside down. The blood rushed to his head, his face got hot and he eyes ached, but he was too afraid that someone would hear him if he moved. Finally, two people got tired of standing so they moved Henry’s box. At last, he was right side up! Henry was carried off the steamboat and placed on a railroad car. This time, he was head up, and he fell asleep to the sound of the wheels on the train. Finally, he heard someone ask if he was okay. The lid was opened and he was greeted by four men in Philadelphia. Finally, Henry had a birthday-March 30^th, 1849-his first day of freedom. From that day on, he also had a middle name. Everyone called him Henry “Box” Brown.

Characters: Henry, James, Dr. Smith, Nancy, three children

Setting: slave markets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Plot: Free Henry from slavery and get him to Philadelphia safely

Theme: Slavery

Opinion: I enjoyed reading this book because it was realistic. I think this would be very helpful in a history lesson about slavery because it’d show the kids what a rough time it really was-dealing with leaving your family.