Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis

[zeborah]

This is a young adult novel, fiction set in the real town of Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves. Elijah is the first child born into freedom in Buxton. The book starts with him telling about his ordinary life of school, chores, fishing, and getting in trouble with his friends. As the story progresses it keeps its sense of humour but shows us more and longer glimpses of the scars that slavery has left and is still leaving on his family and neighbours.

I can't really talk sensibly about it more than to recommend it, along with a box of tissues if you're what his mother would call "fragile". :-)

SchoolWAX TV has a Meet the Author interview with Christopher Paul Curtis.

Comments

[gingicat]

I must read this book. One of my favorite songs ever is "Buxton" by Tanglefoot, who are, AFAIK, Whie. It's an amazing song about hearing about what Black people really experienced, and having white privilege shoved in one's face.

So therefore, I would really love to read a story about Buxton from someone who's part of that history.