The Escape of Robert Smalls

June 1, 2019
The true story of an unsung African American hero who deserves to be remembered. Born a slave in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1839, Robert Smalls began working on the Charleston waterfront at 12 and convinced his master to allow him to keep some of his earnings. In 1861, Smalls became a crew member on the Planter, which transported supplies, personnel, and artillery to the Confederate forts. Eventually becoming wheelman--the crew member who steers--Smalls learned all the necessary skills for navigating the ship. One night, when the captain was on shore visiting family, Robert steered the Planter--loaded with supplies, weapons, the other enslaved crewmen and their families--out of the harbor, past the heavily armed Confederate forts Johnson and Sumter to Union-controlled waters, where the crew raised a white sheet and surrendered to the Union. "Freedom, at last." The illustrations, primarily in browns, greens, and blues to evoke the nocturnal and maritime setting, will help readers envision the time and place of Smalls' escape. The informative backmatter, including a photograph of Smalls, offers an overview of his life and later career as a U.S. congressman and a landowner (of his former master's home). The glossary and bibliography identify other good sources of research on Smalls. Ideal for piquing readers' interest in a determined and inspiring historical figure. (Picture book/biography. 7-11)

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September 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 2-In 1862, an enslaved man named Robert Smalls led a crew of other enslaved persons and their families on a daring escape by piloting a steamship through Confederate territory and into safe waters controlled by the Union Navy. This picture book covers the background of how Smalls began working at docks and on steamships, but focuses mainly on the night of the escape. The heart of the story spotlights the bravery and resourcefulness of Smalls as he plots and carries out his plan. The afterword includes a photo of Smalls, more information about his life, slavery, and the Civil War. There is also a glossary and suggested "read more" list. The illustrations are well done, often using darker colors to represent the night time and gravity of the voyage. None of the harshest parts of slavery are examined too closely, which is unsurprising in a book for young children, but the consequences for attempting such a risky escape is made very clear. VERDICT A good purchase for public and elementary school libraries wanting to expand a nonfiction collection on slavery and the Civil War. This book will work well for one-on-one sessions with younger readers and in groups of older children.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AK

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