Monday, April 6, 2009

Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis has created another masterpiece with his new (award winning) novel, Elijah of Buxton. Like his previous books, Bud, Not Buddy and The Watson's go to Birmingham - 1963, Elijah of Buxton depicts the struggle of a young boy to understand and overcome the atrocities of racial injustice. Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman takes readers on a journey to the final destination of the Underground Railroad, the Canadian settlement of Buxton. As the first child born free to parents who were former slaves, Elijah is sheltered from the harsh realities of slavery. His only knowledge of slavery is obtained through secondhand accounts painfully recounted by residents of Buxton. A vivid cast of characters peppers the book with spicy personality and captures the reader's interest. Readers will laugh out loud as they accompany Elijah on hilarious adventures, and will feel empathy for him as he realizes that he isn't the brightest bulb in Mr. Travis's class. When at last Elijah crosses the Detroit River into America and encounters slaves, the reader feels as if he or she is alongside Elijah, facing danger, feeling nauseous, and desperately searching for methods to free the trapped victims of slavery.

Lyn brought in interesting information about the author, and the real settlement of Buxton that still exists across the river from Detroit, near Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where the author now lives with his wife and two children.

1 comment:

  1. I'm wanting some of the recipes from that night. I can't remember them all, but I definitely want Lyn's brownies and Sue Ann's warm rice or pasta (?) dish.

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