Book review of Scott O’Dell award winner
1.Bibliography: Curtis,Christopher P. Elijah of Buxton. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN9780439023443
2. Plot Summary: This novel is the story of Elijah Freeman, the first child born free in the settlement of Buxton, Canada. Buxton was a settlement of freed slaves across the border from Detroit. Each of the members of this settlement lend a hand to help each other to have a better life as a freed person. Elijah’s adventures lead him to some dangerous experiences as he is asked to help with returning money needed to by the freedom of slaves who are still in captivity.
3. Critical Analysis: Elijah is a character that young readers can identify with. Elijah is a young man who enjoys spending time with his friends, fishing and sometimes gets into trouble with his friends. He is a very believable character because boys of this age are like him-liking the same hobbies, getting into a “bit” of trouble. However, his adventures are set in a different period of time. The issue of slavery and the attitude of the freed slaves is explained in a way that reader can understand and even the historical figure of Frederick Douglas has an important part in the story. The theme of the story is focused on family and taking of those in the community. The survival of the settlement is important to those who are now freed slaves and the importance is passed down to the children. Christopher Paul Curtis uses the speech patterns of the era. The setting of this story is essential because the members of this community belong to no one, they each take pride in being a productive member of society. Yet, across the water in Detroit, members of their families are still slaves and have no hope of freedom. The proximity of freedom is so close, but still so far. Elijah is the symbol of freedom to many in Buxton, because he was the first child who was born free, owned by no one.
4. Awards won and review excerpts:
Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award-2008
Booklist(starred review)-“ Inexperienced and prone to mistakes, yet kind, courageous, and understanding, Elijah has the distinction of being the first child born in the Buxton Settlement, which was founded in Ontario in 1849 as a haven for former slaves. Narrator Elijah tells an episodic story that builds a broad picture of Buxton's residents before plunging into the dramatic events that take him out of Buxton and, quite possibly, out of his depth. In the author's note, Curtis relates the difficulty of tackling the subject of slavery realistically through a child's first-person perspective. “
5. Connections:
Other books by Christopher Paul Curtis-
Curtis, Christopher P. Bud, Not Buddy. ISBN-10: 0553494104
Curtis, Christopher P. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money. ISBN-10: 0440229197
Curtis, Christopher P. Bucking the Sarge. ISBN-10: 0440413311
Curtis, Christopher P. Mr. Chickee's Messy Mission. ISBN-10: 0440229227
Curtis, Christopher P. The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963. ISBN-10: 044022800X
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